Men-Tsee-Khang Observes Centenary Celebration in South America

A 5-member team, headed by Dr. Tenzin Lhazey accompanied by Dr. Norchung, Mrs. Lhamo Yangchen (Tibetan Astro. Science Practitioner), Mr Phuntsok Rigzin (Chief Account of Men-Tsee-Khang), and Mr Tenzin Choekyab, (Head of Sales and Medical Store Department of Men-Tsee-Khang), visited South America from March 23, 2017 to May 3, 2017, in honor of the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The team conducted a series of lectures on Tibetan medicine and Astro. Science, workshops on bsku nye (Tibetan Medical Massage), kag rtsis (yearly prediction) and bag rtsis (marital compatibility), medical consultation, Astro. oral consultation, and held an exhibition on Tibetan Medicine and Astro-Science in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Brazil  

Location: Cordoba, Argentina 

The team began the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang in Cordoba, the second largest city of Argentina, with a 3-day intensive program arranged by Mrs. Carolina, involving a daily series of lectures, workshops and consultations.

On the evening of March 28th, Dr. Norchung delivered a lecture on The Mind-Body Relationship and Its Implication on Health, and Mrs. Lhamo Yangchen, TASP, lectured on An Introduction to Tibetan Astro. Science to a gathering of over 100 people at the Conference Hall of Fundacion Villa Carlos Paz. On March 29th, Dr. Tenzin Lhazey gave a talk on Diagnostic Methods in Tibetan Medicine and took questions from a gathering of 30 doctors and 15 nurses at Cordoba Public Hospital, the oldest and largest health center in the city. On March 30th, Dr. Norchung spoke on Emotional Balance and its Impact on Health and Mrs. Lhamo Yangchen conducted a workshop on kag rtsis (yearly prediction). In Cordoba City, our doctors also provided 50 patients with Tibetan medical treatment and 21 people received Astro. oral consultation from our Astro. science practitioner.     

Location: Rosario, Argentina

Mrs. Lhamo Yangchen giving presentation

The team also observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang, in Rosario, a popular tourist destination in Argentina, with a 4-day intensive program arranged by Mrs. Gloria Bredice, the Founder and Director of Tendrel Fundacion.

On April 1st, the team conducted 2 lectures on Tibetan Medicine and one lecture on Tibetan Astro. Science at the Conference Hall of Tendrel Fundacion. On April 3rd, Dr Norchung and Dr Tenzin Lhazey talked about Tibetan Medicine and Diagnosis at the School of Medicine of the National University of Rosario, and discussed the development of a Cultural Exchange Program with the University. In Rosario City, two of our doctors gave medical consultation to 14 patients, and our Astro. science practitioner gave oral consultation to 12 people.

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The team successfully observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang, in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, with a 7-day intensive program arranged by Lama Rinchen Khadro and Lama Sangya, the Founder and Director of Kagyue Thikchen Choling.

During the 7-day program in Buenos Aires, the team conducted lectures on Tibetan medicine and Astro. Science, and bsku mnye (Tibetan medical massage), kag rtsis (yearly Prediction) and bag rtsis (marital compatibility) workshops at KTC (Kagyue Thikchen Choling). In order to promote and increase public awareness of Tibetan medicine and Astro-Science, the team also gave free lectures at different hospitals and healthcare centers throughout the city.  On April 8, Dr Tenzin Lhazey gave a presentation on the Diagnostic and Treatment Methods in Tibetan Medicine, Dr Norchung lectured on the Management of Mental Health, and Mrs. Lhamo Yangchen presented on The Relationship between Tibetan Medicine and Tibetan Astro. Science, to a gathering of over 300 people at the Salud Fundacion, Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires, our doctors also provided 56 patients with Tibetan medical treatment and 36 people received astro-oral consultation.

Location: Arica, Chile

Dr Tenzin Lhazey giving a lecture

Our team also observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang in Arica, the northern province of Chile, where the desert meets the ocean; an area which is surprisingly geographically reminiscent of Tibet. In Arica, the pilot project ‘Secular Ethics in Education’, in accordance with the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was launched a year ago as part of an experimental education program. A 3-day program on Tibetan Medicine and Astro-science was arranged by Deputy Vlado Mirosevic, the National President of Chile’s Liberal Party, and Mr. Fernando Salinas. On April 15th, two of our doctors gave lectures on The Treatment of Depression and Mental Health Management and The Unique Features of Tibetan Medical Diagnosis at the University of Tarapaca, Arica. More than 200 people attended our lecture, which demonstrates significant public interest in the centuries-old system of Tibetan Medicine. 20 patients from this province received Tibetan medical treatment from our doctors during the program.        

Location: Santiago, Chile

The team also observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang in Santiago, the capital city of Chile.  A 5-day program in the city was arranged by Mr. Fernando Salinas. On April 16th, Mrs Lhamo Yangchen presented on An Introduction to Tibetan Astro. Science followed by workshop on keg rtsis (yearly prediction) at Drigung Kagyue Center. Two of our doctors conducted bsku mnye workshop at the conference hall of Drimig Company. On the morning of April 17th, Dr Norchung gave a presentation on Mind-Body Relationship and its Implication on Health at Catholic University, and in the evening gave a presentation on the Treatment of Depression, Stress and Anxiety to a gathering of over 100 people at Literary Balmaceda Caffee.  Early in the morning of April 21st, Dr Tenzin Lhazey lectured on Diagnostics in Tibetan Medicine at the University of Chile, and took questions from a gathering of 50 doctors. In Santiago, 30 patients received Tibetan medical treatment from our doctors, and 11 people received Astro-oral consultation from our Astro. science practitioner. 

Location: Lima, Peru The team also observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang in Lima, with a 5-day program organized by Chavu-Verastegui involving workshops on kag rtsis (yearly prediction) and bag rtsis (marital compatibility), bsku mnye (Tibetan medical massage) workshop, and power-point presentations at Norbuling Zogchen Center. On the evening of April 24th, Dr Tenzin Lhazey lectured on Diagnostic and Treatment Methods in Tibetan Medicine at UPCH (Cayetano Heredia University of Peru), and on the next day, Dr Norchung gave presentations on Emotional Balance and its Impact on Health and Management of Mental Health at the same university. On April 26th, Dr Tenzin Lhazey lectured on Ageing in a Healthy Way and Dietary and Lifestyle Regime in Maintaining Good Health to a gathering of around 150 people at the Peruvian Medical University. In Lima, two of our doctors gave medical consultation to 61 patients and 21 people received oral consultation from our astro. science practitioner.

Location: Sau Paulo, Brazil

The team finally observed the Centenary Celebration of Men-Tsee-Khang in Sao Paulo, the capital city of Brazil, with a 3-day program organized by Mr. Tsewang Phuntsok of Tibetan House Brazil. Mrs Lhamo Yangchen gave a workshop on kag rtsis (yearly prediction), Dr Tenzin Lhazey talked about a Optimal Diet & Lifestyle to maintain optimal physical wellbeing  at the conference hall of Hotel Transamerica. While there, two of our doctors also conducted bsku mnye (Tibetan medical massage) workshop.  Mrs Lhamo Yangchen did Astro. oral consultation with 13 people at Tibet House Brasil.

On May 2nd, Dr Norchung delivered a 3-hour presentation on Tibetan Approach to Depression and Mental Health at UNIFESP (the Federal University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine) and took questions from a gathering of 280 people, most of whom were doctors and nurses. The lecture at this University was organized by Luiza Hiromi Tanaka. The evening’s lecture began with Mr Tsewang Phuntsok la briefing the gathering on UNIFESP and Men-Tsee-Khang’s formal agreement for exchange and joint research projects and publications.

Conclusion

The team conducted 45 lectures, 4 workshops on bsku mnye (Tibetan Medical Massage), 8 workshops on Tibetan Astro.Science, 226 medical consultations, 121 Astro. oral consultations and 3 TV interviews.

Vote of thanks

On behalf of Men-Tsee-Khang and the South America Tour Team I would like to thank the above-mentioned organizers, those who provided us with accommodation, and those who helped with translation and transportation. Without your genuine support, help and cooperation, the month-long trip to South America would not have been such a wonderful success.