(Yuthog Yonten Gonpo)
About the Buddhist Science of Healing (So Wa Rigpa).
The Buddhist Science of healing or “ So Wa Rigpa” is one of the five major sciences in Tibetan Buddhism and it was established as a Tibetan Medicine during the 7th-8th century in Tibet by Yuthog Yonten Gonpo the father of Tibetan Medicine. It is a natural science of healing based on Buddhist concepts and philosophy that Buddha said to have taught in India, The Four Tantras which is the main learning texts. It is a profound ancient art of healing that is holistic in its approach to health care which is not only about healing your body but your mind and spirit as well. Thus it doesn’t treat only the disease but as a person the whole system. It is one of the oldest and continuously practicing medical traditions in the world. It is also not only about curing the diseases, but also a maintaining healthy state and more focuses on preventive methods through its profound knowledge on understanding one’s own individual body system to bring optimal healthy state with one’s lifestyle, foods and guidelines. It is now gaining popularity in the west as complementary medicine as it brings balance in the physical and mental state through which mankind can find the ultimate cure.
It is a system of healing that is comprehensive, realistic, and natural science based on the enlightened wisdom of all knowing Buddha. This traditional medicine is not some kind of old system healing that passed down from generation to generation with assumption and beliefs. This traditional Medicine practices is based on the Four Tantras texts and has thousand years’ clinical tradition and research done by the great Masters throughout its history with many collection of texts and written books. Its comprehensive natural methods of treatment range from diet, herbs, golden needles, moxabustion, venesection to many therapies like massages to lifestyle counseling and meditation.
(Ugyen Menlha, Guru Rinpoche's Manifestation of Medicine Buddha)
Many people in fact depended on this Traditional medicine in olden times before the introduction of western medicine in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia etc. Now it has gained its recognition and popularity throughout the world as an Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Throughout these times because of its values of importance, even with modern medicine domination in our lives, the age old traditional medicine still continue its practices and benefit countless beings on its way. It deals not only with what should be done to cure when one falls ill but also with what should be done to maintain one’s health and vigor. Thus it proves to be more beneficial to help deal in the modern time with providing valuable health education, knowledge and to provide an alternative medicine for the inadequacies of present drug-based medicine.
It is the wise vision and wisdom of His Majesty, the 4th Dharma King of Bhutan that our traditional medicine is still being preserved and promoted to benefit many sentient beings in Bhutan with the integration of Modern Medicines and Traditional Medicines in the healthcare system.
