The Sowa Rigpa Institute (SRI), founded by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, is a specialized educational centre dedicated to the Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM). It provides professional training, online workshops and short, medium and long-term courses, as well as teachings from the Yuthok Nyingthig cycle of the Vajrayana Buddhism. The content is for both beginners and advanced practitioners, including people with no previous knowledge of sowa rigpa, doctors, healthcare workers, therapists and students.
The term sowa rigpa (གསོ་བ་རིག་པ།) means “the science of healing” or “the wisdom of nourishment”, referring to Tibet’s ancient medical system, which dates back thousands of years. It absorbed influences from the Tibetan Bön (shamanic tradition), India, Persia, China, and other regions. Over time, it expanded to Bhutan, Nepal, and Mongolia, while preserving its original essence and principles.
Sowa Rigpa is based on the interconnection of body, mind, and energy. Its philosophical foundation lies in the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and the three humours: Loong (wind), Tripa (fire) and Beken (earth and water). Health is understood as a state of balance between these elements, whereas disease arises from disharmonies caused by improper diet, lifestyle choices, negative emotions, or environmental influences. In this tradition, beyond the physical body, there are energy channels (tsa), vital winds (loong), and subtle essences (tigle), all of which are examined and treated.
Tibetan medicine employs distinct diagnostic techniques, such as pulse and urine analysis, along with five primary therapeutic methods to prevent or cure diseases, prolong life, and promote happiness:
1. Dietary and lifestyle adjustments
2. Medicines based on plants, minerals, and natural compounds
3. Manual therapies (such as KuNye massage)
4. External therapies (Tibetan acupuncture, moxibustion, hot and cold compresses, etc.)
5. Spiritual practices associated with the Medicine Buddha
The theoretical and practical foundations of sowa rigpa are found on the Four Medical Tantras, compiled by Yuthok Yönten Gönpo the Elder (729–854 CE) and later revised by Yuthok Yönten Gönpo the Younger (1126–1202 CE). These texts cover fundamental principles of health and disease, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic approaches. According to Yuthok, a skilled physician must cultivate genuine compassion and refine their meditative and spiritual practice, emphasizing that internal therapies are just as crucial as external treatments.
The mission of the Sowa Rigpa Institute and international organizations such as Sorig Khang International is to preserve this tradition, adapting it to modern needs and making it more accessible for students in the West. The long-term vision is to integrate ancient and modern medical systems, bringing the wisdom of Tibetan culture and Yuthok Yönten Gönpo into the contemporary world.