Sowa Rigpa Online

Tibetan spiritual healing methods have traditionally served as an important, supplementary branch of Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan medicine), which complement other forms of medical treatment. Tibetan healers and yogis have used meditation, ritual, and mantra therapy as ways to assist patients in rebalancing their bodies, minds and emotions to restore health and to boost immunity against potential future disease.

In this seven day practice-focused retreat, livestreamed from Pure Land Farms, Drukmo Gyal will introduce the theory Tibetan Mantra healing ༼སྔགས་བཅོས་རིག་པ། ngakchö rigpa), an ancient spiritual practice in which special sounds and words in Sanskrit and Tibetan are used to facilitate physical, energetic and mental transformation. Through the recitation, visualization and inscribing of mantra syllables, practitioners focus their concentration and relax their minds and bodies, entraining their voice, breath, and awareness to create subtle yet profound shifts in being. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word ‘mantra’ is ‘mind [man] protection [tra]’ and as such, mantra healing can be thought of as an ancient form of psychotherapy, used to protect the mind from different types of suffering and to assist in the cultivation of mental clarity, stability and spiritual insight. 

We will learn how mantras are used for healing in both the Tibetan yogic and medical traditions and receive the transmission and explanation of the uses of a comprehensive ‘Mantra Pharmacy’ which has been practiced for centuries by Tibetan yogis and physicians to address various health concerns.  Students will learn about the forms of spiritual cultivation needed to make the mantras effective and  the different ways they can can be used for self-healing. We will accumulate mantras as a group to empower substances like water, oil, and salt which can be used oneself and shared with others. 

The weekend will conclude with teachings on “Yuthok’s Healing’s Activities,” a simple and powerful method of spiritual healing that comes directly from Tibet’s great 12th century physician and meditation adept Yuthok Yönten Gönpo known as the father of Tibetan Medicine as an extension of his Guru Yoga practices. Combining visualization, offering, and prayer, this practice which can be done for oneself or others helps to clear away energetic blockages and restore health and vitality. 

Teachings sessions will include a combination of theoretical instruction with group chanting and mantra accumulations, meditation and movement, leaving one feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and empowered to bring more healing into one’s daily life.

No prior background in Tibetan medicine is required to attend this course.