Men-Tsee-Khang marks 103rd founding anniversary
DHARAMSALA, March 29: Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astro. Institute celebrated its 103rd founding anniversary by the 13th Dalai Lama in Lhasa, Tibet in 1916 at its headquarter here in Dharamsala.
The event was attended by among others, Central Tibetan Administration’s Health Kalon(Minister) Choekyong Wangchuk and Kangra Chief Medical Officer(CMO) Dr Gurdarshan Gupta as the Chief guest ad special guest respectively along with other dignitaries.
The Chief Guest in his address commended every one at the Institute for their collective effort in putting the Sowa Rigpa (the Tibetan science of healing), the
Health Kalon(Minister) Choekyong Wangchuk in his address commended the Institute for the feat the traditional Tibetan medical system has achieved be it in India or the world at large.
Going forward, he urged the institute to work towards keeping its legacy alive to continue to serve humanity through joint efforts of health care with traditional Tibetan medicine and western medicine as well as Tibetan astrology with that of Indian astrology.
Kangra (CMO) Dr Gurdarshan Gupta in his address spoke about the importance of a holistic approach to health care and medicine.
“Health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is not just the absence of disease or infirmity. It is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being.
One single system can not address this issue. Therefore, we have to approach the issue of health in a synergetic way,” he concluded.
Tashi Tsering Phuri, the director of Men-Tsee-Khang the premier institute of Tibetan medicine, also known as Sowa Rigpa (the science of healing) appraised the gathering of the institute’s work report and thanked the institute’s staffs, students and wagers for their continued dedication and contribution to the institute’s success.
“As we rejoice on the 103rd founding anniversary of the Institute for collectively doing our best, we need to realise that what we have achieved is far from the expectations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so we need to rededicated our services, firmly believing in a global goal to benefit humanity,” he said.
He concluded with a quotation from His Holiness:
“Humankind needs a healthy mind and a healthy body and we Tibetans can contribute to that need even though we are living as refugees.”
Men Tsee Khang also launched several books while cultural performances were presented during the event and the institutes’ 2018 Graduating students of Tibetan Medicine (Menpa kachu pa) and Astrology (Tse kachupa), as well as menrampa were awarded certificates while several members of the institute were presented mementoes of appreciation for their 20, and 30 years’ service respectively.
The event also marks 58 years of Men-Tsee-Khang’s re-establishing in exile by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamshala and 323 years of establishing the Chagpori Medical College in Lhasa, Tibet by His Holiness the fifth Dalai Lama.
