ཨ་རི་ལྕགས་པོ་རི་
We are a registered 501c3 Charitable Religious Organization since 1986. Tax ID #84-100605
Our mission is to help spread, preserve and promote the spiritual and medical aspects within the Sowa Rigpa Traditional Tibetan Medical System.
We offer free and paid literature, teachings and information on traditional Sowa Rigpa, The Healing Science of Tibet. Through these activities inside America, we support and help educate Tibetan Buddhist nuns (students from the trans Himalayan region) through the traditional medical education process.
Honoring the Chagpori Tibetan Medical lineage as it currently functions within Asia is a critical aspect to the work we do. Through our publication projects, your support and donations, we aid clinics and the infrastructure of the entire Chagpori Institute: College, Clinics and Pharmacy.
Within this medical lineage, Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and its interplay with the pathophysiology emphasis of the three root poisons becoming agents for health or disease is emphasized. It is the intention to continue this lineage throughout the USA as Tibetan Medicine explains to the West, as well as strengthen and support our roots in the East.
The Fully Awakened One, he who has gone beyond samsara, known as “The King Of Medicine” - Sangye Menla, the Medicine Buddha, entered a mediation. Multicolored light rays emanated in all ten directions from his heart in all ten directions to all beings without exception to help eliminate the three root poisons of ignorance, anger and attachment. These three poisons directly arise from ignorance, the unknowing of our interconnectedness. The rays then drew back into his heart. Next heart emanated the Sage Rigpa Yeshe, the King of Healing’s own mind wisdom emanation. He spoke these words before his assembly of retinue and sages, each a master of their own system:
“Listen carefully to understand! Those who wish to remain healthy, and those who wish to heal others of disease must learn the Quintessential instructions of the Science of Healing. Those who wish to practice Dharma, accumulate wealth, and obtain happiness must learn the Quintessential instructions of the Science of Healing. Those hoping to free themselves from the sufferings of illnesses and gain the respect of others must learn the Quintessential instructions of the Science of Healing.”
Dharma is the Greatest of Medicine
Educational Literature and Teachings
One of the best ways to ensure preservation of the traditional Tibetan Buddhist system of healing inside and outside Asia is to have authentic explanations and teachings.
One of the core missions of Chagpori US is to translate, explain and develop core curriculum and articles which authentically represent the Sowa Rigpa system, just as it has been taught for thousands of years. The proceeds from these teachings and educational materials helps to fund the education of Tibetan Buddhist nuns (students from the trans Himalayan region) through the traditional medical education process as well as Chagpori’s infrastructure.
An important aspect to consider in the prevention of cultural appropriation and degradation of the system as it is becoming popularized by non-trans-Himalayan persons studying in the West, is through correct and careful translations, and the development of standards and regulations in the USA and other Western countries. Systematic curriculum need to be based on the traditional manner in which training has always been done, and include testing methods. Through such means a delineation of who is a fully trained Menpa (Doctor of Tibetan Medicine), and whom is practicing lifestyle and dietary principles derived from the Tibetan Medicine system within or alongside other healing practices.
Simultaneously, by maintaining, and supporting traditional opportunities for trans-Himalayan students, particularly monastics, to preserve their cultural heritage through formal education is key to the survival of an intact system. As more well trained English speaking trans-Himalayan students become fully accredited as Menpa, they can help shape training and standards in the West through invited workshops and longer training practicums within the West.
Protection of the lineage requires diligence, flexibility and thinking outside the box, while knowing the origin from within the box.
Donate to Provide a Tibetan Buddhist Nun her Medical Education
Chagpori US uses the revenue from our lectures, teachings, downloads of articles and offerings to help put nuns from the surrounding trans Himalayan regions who pass the quailing entrance exams through the five years course for Sowa Rigpa. These nuns then take their Menpa degree and serve others in their nunnery and in the various Chagpori clinics.
Menpa practicing abroad travel and volunteer teach at both Chagpori Institute and other Sowa Rigpa institutions throughout Asia for the benefit of both students and doctors. This is a way to give back to the global community. Offering free training and continuing education in various hands on Kunye and external treatments helps strengthen the tradition and what is called “lan-len” (hands on experience).
Yangsi Trogawa Rinpoche
As is seen in Traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture, reincarnations of such a highly trained Lamas, or Rinpoche’s are found fairly young. Out of great kindness and compassion, they return to offer their skills and service once again. Such is the case in our Chagpori medical lineage, with the young Yangsi Trogawa Rinpoche.
Yangsi Rinpoche is in process of completing his monastic studies and then will begin to retrain in medicine.
Chagpori Lineage
The late Very Venerable Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche, one of very few surviving doctors from the original Chagpori in trained in its traditional monastic system, worked for much of his life to see the lineage continued through re-establishing Chagpori in India.
Venerable Dr Trogawa Rinpoche
Continuing the Spiritual Traditions in Medical Training:
Chagpori Students and Staff Completing Yuthog Nyingthig Ngondro Practices
Learning Traditional Pharmacy Alongside Oral Transmissions
Chagpori maintains a strong spiritually based curriculum, blessed with an unbroken lineage stemming from the original Chagpori.
The traditional medical college format is a five year study program. Exams are written, oral and also include identification of herbs.
