Authors: Robert Sachs, Dorje Gyaltsen (Illustrator), Lobsang Rapgay
ISBN-13: 9780892819362, ISBN-10: 0892819367
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear & Company
Date Published: May 2001
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Robert Sachs has spent the last twenty-five years studying with some of today's most noted Tibetan spiritual leaders and Ayurvedic physicians. He is a member of Sogyal Rinpoche's Spiritual Dying Network, a Licensed Social Worker, and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. The author of Perfect Endings and The Complete Guide to Nine-Star Ki, he lives in California.
Discover the four levels of traditional Tibetan healing science with this preventive health care manual for people of any age, culture, and physical type.
• Includes material on little-known therapies such as Pancha Karma and Kum Nye, as well as guidelines for nutrition, longevity, detoxification, and meditation.
• Author has studied with many of the best-known Tibetan and Ayurvedic physicians alive today.
Tibetan medicine was probably the first truly integrated system of ancient healing science. From the seventh to the tenth centuries, Tibetan kings encouraged physicians from India, China, Nepal, Persia, and Greece to teach their traditional medical sciences to Tibetan physicians, who at that time were primarily influenced by Ayurveda and shamanic healing modalities. This cross-cultural marriage of the greatest healing traditions makes Tibetan medicine ideally adaptable to Western health needs.
Tibetan Ayurveda provides a comprehensive guide to the four levels of traditional Tibetan medicine with a wealth of traditional health practices and teachings. Much of the contemporary material on Tibetan medicine focuses solely on herbal medicine and acupuncture; Tibetan Ayurveda goes beyond these to look at other important forms of treatment such as Pancha Karma for detoxification and rejuvenation and Kum Nye for integrating mind and body. A self-profile test is included to allow readers to determine their own health needs and embark on the path toward realizing their full potential for health and well-being.
Robert Sachs has spent the last twenty-five years studying with some of today's most noted Tibetan spiritual leaders and Ayurvedic physicians. He is a member of Sogyal Rinpoche's Spiritual Dying Network, a Licensed Social Worker, and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. The author of Perfect Endings and The Complete Guide to Nine-Star Ki, he lives in California.
Tibetan Ayurveda is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to live a life based on the wisdom of Ayurveda. I recommend it highly.
Acknowledgments | 11 | |
Preface | 15 | |
Foreword | 17 | |
Introduction | 19 | |
I. | Self-Evaluation | 25 |
Constitution: Our Blueprint for Well-Being | 28 | |
How to Score the Four Tests | 33 | |
Test 1 | Stature and Physical Characteristics | 35 |
Test 2 | General Symptoms | 37 |
Test 3 | Tibetan Personality Profile | 41 |
Test 4 | Specific Symptoms Observed Over Time | 47 |
Adding Up the Scores | 49 | |
Using the Constitutional Type as a Guide | 50 | |
II. | Nutritional Practices | 53 |
Tastes | 55 | |
Quantities of Food | 56 | |
Seasonal Considerations | 57 | |
Chewing | 57 | |
Food Selection and Preparation | 58 | |
Food Recommendations for the Six Constitutions | 60 | |
Nutritional Practices for the LUNG-type Constitution | 60 | |
Nutritional Practices for the TrIPA-type Constitution | 63 | |
Nutritional Practices for the BEKAN-type Constitution | 66 | |
Combination Nyepa Constitutions | 69 | |
Food Combining | 73 | |
Food Quality and Special Food Groups | 75 | |
Other Environmental Considerations: Water and Air | 79 | |
Supplementation: Vitamins, Herbs, and Super Foods | 81 | |
Tibetan Urine Testing for Supplements and Medicines | 83 | |
Tibetan Precious Pills | 85 | |
Digestive Fire | 89 | |
Assessing Nutritional Programs | 92 | |
III. | Exercise | 93 |
Exercise for the LUNG Constitution | 95 | |
Exercise for the TrIPA Constitution | 95 | |
Exercise for the BEKAN Constitution | 96 | |
Seasonal Considerations | 96 | |
Tibetan Tai Chi and Chi Kung | 97 | |
Tibetan Chi Kung | 99 | |
Kum Nye | 100 | |
Tibetan Rejuvenative Exercises | 102 | |
Yantra Yoga | 112 | |
Relaxation Therapy | 113 | |
IV. | Skillful Behavior | 119 |
General Behavior--Daily Practices | 120 | |
Sleep | 121 | |
Hygiene | 124 | |
Sexual Intercourse and Practices | 125 | |
Spiritual Practices--Cultivating True Healthiness | 131 | |
Seasonal Behavior | 133 | |
Occasional Behavior | 137 | |
V. | Meditation and Spiritual Practice | 141 |
What Is Meditation? | 143 | |
Meditation on Equanimity | 144 | |
Healing Meditation--as taught by Dr. Lobsang Rapgay | 147 | |
Individual Spiritual Orientation | 153 | |
Dealing with Problems Arising in Meditation | 161 | |
VI. | Detoxification and Rejuvenation | 165 |
Len Nga (Pancha Karma) Therapy) | 166 | |
The Techniques | 167 | |
Massage and Steam Hydrotherapy | 168 | |
The Five Actions | 170 | |
Netra Basti | 179 | |
Shiro Dhara | 183 | |
Tailoring a General Len Nga Therapy Regimen for You | 186 | |
Rejuvenation | 188 | |
A Len Nga Therapy Case History | 190 | |
VII. | Time and Place | 195 |
Setting and Geomancy | 196 | |
Timing and Astrology | 198 | |
The Elements | 203 | |
Ambience and Social Support | 212 | |
Appendix 1 | Ego and Suffering: A Buddhist View | 215 |
Appendix 2 | Theory of the Three Nyepas | 223 |
Appendix 3 | A Concise Meditation on Medicine Buddha | 227 |
Appendix 4 | Mewas and Buddhist Spiritual Practice | 230 |
Notes | 232 | |
Glossary | 237 | |
Bibliography | 239 | |
Resources | 242 | |
Index | 245 |