Tibetan Healing

‘Gso-wa Rig-pa’ is Tibetan, which means the science of healing. It is the ancient form of medicine that Tibetans have been using for healing since centuries. The origin of the highly esteemed Tibetan medicine lies in the teachings of Lord Buddha.

In the medical tradition of Tibet, the well-being of a human being is achieved through healing based on the union of mind, spirit and the body. Tibetan Medicine has its roots deeply penetrated into Buddhist tradition, which employs therapeutic treatments of three kinds.

These treatments are the three m’s that include the power of medicine, mantra and meditation collectively.

The combination of these three has the power to channel one into the cosmic world where principles unite with their manifestations, striking a harmonious balance between the cosmic world and the human world. This is considered to be the prerequisite for health and well being, according to Tibetan medicine traditions.

It holds true not just in the sense that balance is essential for good health but it conceals a deeper meaning that the essence of health is the balance between the physical, spiritual and psychological aspects of our existence.

Despite adopting an unbiased approach towards well being and health using dietary and practical suggestions including medicines, Tibetan healing also focuses on the practice of Buddhist rituals and symbolism. Moreover, these rituals and symbols have many meanings all of which co exist and have a combined effect in the spiritual approach to healing. The use of mantra, chants, music, iconography, mandalas and symbolism such as the use of prayer wheels and flags together with visualization are used from the simplest to the most complicated rituals to enable the focus on the objectification of the ultimate source of healing power.

‘Bodhicitta’ means one’s aspiration to reach the heights of enlightenment so that he can free all other sentient beings from every possible suffering. The symbols and rituals that are used in the tradition of Tibetan healing pay the utmost importance to the mobilization of ‘Bodhicitta’ in the one being healed, while generating not only the knowledge that he perceives and learns from the outer world but also embrace one’s subjective understanding of emotional, spiritual and sensual spheres of life that lay within himself.

Merely one article on the subject cannot describe the truth, traditions and essence of Tibetan healing. Even though to understand the tradition of healing, the cause of the disease from the Buddhist point of view should be found out. Thereafter, other therapeutic alternatives to healing should be assessed carefully and finally, the spiritual sphere of healing should be understood by gathering the knowledge about the tantric rituals and practices involved in Buddhist healing. Only then can one understand the true nature and power of Tibetan healing tradition.