By Patrick Fitzgerald & Bob Borek
The Stanford Friends of Tibet lecture series — counting down until the arrival of His Holiness the Dalai Lama — wrapped up last night with an event on medical issues led by world-famous Tibetan doctor Tsondue Gyatso.
Gyatso, speaking as his son translated to an audience of students, faculty and interested community members, highlighted the differences between Eastern and Western medicines, but said he hoped for a bridge between the two schools of thought to emerge in the years to come.
According to Gyatso, China’s occupation of Tibet, beginning with its 1959 invasion, has put the preservation of Tibetan medicine at risk. Only a dozen traditional physicians managed to escape the province at the time, and nine of them have since died.
Those who remained in Tibet met a similar fate, he said. Many died prematurely, in some cases due to political clashes with Chinese occupiers.
“When I think about these things, I feel very bad and tears roll from my eyes,” an emotional Gyatso said.
Adamant that he was not a famous doctor in Tibet, and insisting that he would try to do it justice at best, Gyatso admitted that he was one of the few remaining experts in Tibetan traditional medicine.
“So please bear with me because I am all that you have got right now,” he said.
Explaining the history of Tibetan medicine while outlining a few of its important tenets, Gyatso maintained that it was important for Western and Eastern medical experts to collaborate.
“I earnestly hope that what we talk about will be able to help all of you,” he said. “And the people outside and the whole world will gain some insight on health and better living.”
Gyatso explained that in his belief system the human body is composed of four elements. According to tradition, disease exists in the equilibrium, as does the medicine. The body is composed largely of the “victim,” consisting of seven constituents, and the “victimizer,” made up of three humors. The elements are interdependent and when there is an imbalance between the two, one is considered unhealthy.
The humors are the main factors that determine the status of health in the body, Gyatso said. The first humor, or “lung,” is essentially air and controls the motor and sensory muscles of the body. “Tripa,” the second humor, is sharp and pungent, generating and maintaining the body and appetite. Finally, the third humor, or “badken,” is cool, smooth and sticky, providing the body fluids for lubrication and joint mobility.
An individual may belong to one of the three types of humors, according to Gyatso. While one may be dominated by one or the other, there is always some combination of the three.
“What we are as a normal healthy person is mainly dominated by the three humors,” he said.
With the lecture series coming to a close, senior Alissa Bernstein, president of the Stanford Friends of Tibet, said she was pleased with the outcome.
“They went really well,” she said. “The first event was small but momentum gained and the audiences grew.”
While she had hoped for a higher turnout at the events, Bernstein still called them a success.
“We had people from all over the community,” she said. “We’re happy to reach anyone.”
