Ep240: Foundations of Sowa Rigpa - Dr Nida Chenagtsang

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Feb 9, 2024

Dr Nida Chenagtsang discusses the traditional Tibetan medical system of Sowa Rigpa, including health as balance, pulse and urine analysis, body typology, Tibetan demonology, crossovers with tantra, magic rituals and spells for healing. He also explores the similarities between Sowa Rigpa and Ancient Greek medicine, the importance of sleep, the toxicity of emotion, and offers a direct warning to spiritual people worldwide.

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INSIGHT

Sowa Rigpa As Universal Medicine

Sowa Rigpa is a universal, integrative medical science originating in Tibet but adaptable globally.
Dr Nida frames the book as a foundational transmission to make that root knowledge accessible to Western readers.

INSIGHT

Shared Roots With Western Traditions

Sowa Rigpa shares core ideas with ancient Greek and Roman medicine, showing cross-cultural continuity.
Dr Nida highlights common emphases like diet, lifestyle, sleep and environmental factors across traditions.

ANECDOTE

The 8th-Century Medical Conference

In the 8th century Tibetan king Trisong Detsen hosted international doctors for six months, creating an early medical conference.
Dr Nida links that exchange to Sowa Rigpa's integrative formation along the Silk Road.

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In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Nida Chenagtsang, Buddhist teacher, doctor of Tibetan Medicine, and author of ‘Foundations of Sowa Rigpa: A Guide to the Root Tantra of Tibetan Medicine’. Dr Nida discusses the traditional Tibetan medical system of Sowa Rigpa and reveals its core doctrines such as health as balance, pulse and urine analysis, and how to discover your body’s typology. Dr Nida also delves into the esoteric side of Sowa Rigpa, including Tibetan demonology, the crossovers with tantra, and the use of magic rituals and spells to treat mental and physical illness. Dr Nida also discusses the similarities between Sowa Rigpa and Ancient Greek medicine, the importance of sleep, the toxicity of emotion, and offers a direct warning to spiritual people around the world. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep240-foundations-of-sowa-rigpa-dr-nida-chenagtsang Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include:  00:00 - Intro 00:53 - What is Sowa Rigpa? 03:27 - Connecting to the European medical tradition 07:02 - Pros and cons of modern medical science 10:05 - How Dr Nida’s teaching changed after integration into European culture 12:46 - Cultural conditioning in Asia vs Europe 17:58 - Similarities between Ancient Greek medicine and Sowa Rigpa 21:19 - 8th century international medical conference in Tibet 24:21 - A universal medicine 25:14 - What is medical tantra? 27:33 - The ‘4 Tantras’ 30:34 - Why study an 8th century medical text today? 32:34 - A new translation by Dr Ben Joffe 35:47 - Compiling Dr Nida’s commentary 36:56 - Sowa Rigpa Institute 37:47 - The core of Sowa Rigpa 41:11 - How to understand your typology 44:15 - Healthy sleep 45:03 - 3 methods of diagnosis in Sowa Rigpa 46:27 - Urine analysis 47:57 - 3 levels of pulse reading 52:03 - How to receive to the body’s signals 54:15 - Bedside manner 56:58 - Connecting to the unconscious mind 01:00:03 - Art of conversation 01:02:54 - Buddhist influences on Sowa Rigpa 01:07:48 - Emotional toxins 01:11:02 - Toxic energy 01:14:49 - 3 nyepas and the 3 doṣas 01:18:18 - Monastics vs ngakpas 01:22:36 - The esoteric specialisms of the village ngakpa 01:27:44 - Tibetan demonology 01:29:21 - How spirits cause health problems 01:33:57 - The esoteric side of Sowa Rigpa 01:36:37 - Dr Nida’s warning to spiritual people 01:38:37 - Dangers of materialism Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida To find out more about Dr Nida Chenagtsang, visit: - https://www.facebook.com/DoctorNida/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James