Tibetan Secrets of Longevity: Opening Talk with Dr Nida Chenagtsang and Robert AF Thurman at Menla June 2017
Opening talk from the “Tibetan Secrets of Longevity: Ancient Practices for Increased Health & Long Life Retreat with Dr Nida Chenagtsang and Robert AF Thurman recorded at Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York, June 2017.
In this archive recording from the 2017 “Tibetan Secrets of Longevity” Dr Nida Chenagtsang discusses the longevity and rejuvenation practices found in traditional Tibetan and Himalayan healing systems.
“The Yuthok Nyingthig (Tib. གཡུ་ཐོག་སྙིང་ཐིག་), the ‘Heart Essence of Yuthok’, composed by Yuthok the Younger, the great 12th Century Tibetan yogi-physician is a complete cycle of Vajrayana Buddhist practice, beginning with the preliminary practices (Tib. སྔོན་འགྲོ་ “ngöndro”) and progressing through the development and completion stage practices to the highest practices of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. It is characterized by its concise and simple methods which bring about both worldly benefits, including improved health and longevity, as well as the ultimate benefit of complete spiritual liberation. The Yuthok Nyingthig is the main spiritual practice of Tibetan physicians, and it contains many unique techniques to heighten the intuition and healing capacities of the doctor.
In this very special retreat Dr Nida will confer the empowerment for the Long Life practices from the Yuthok Nyingthig. These practices eliminate and prevent illness, lengthen the life span of the practitioner and bring all levels of spiritual accomplishment. As the great master, Guru Rinpoche said, ‘of all activities, the first should be long life practice. If life is long, it can be virtuous, and the purpose of this life and the next can be achieved.”
Included within the long life empowerment is a very special ‘La (Tib: བླ) Hooking’ ritual. La is our subtle life force, the pure energy of the five elements that circulates within the body according to the lunar cycle. The la protects and nourishes both the physical body and the mind. La energy can be compromised due to chronic illness, stress, physical or emotional trauma, or aggressive medical treatments. Traditionally it is said that our la energy could also be ‘stolen’ by negative influences. Signs of loss of la energy include lack of strength and stability in the physical body, chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression, and a mind that is full of confusion and doubts. In this very special ritual from the Yuthok Nyingthig root text, Dr Nida will ‘hook’ back the lost la from the ten directions and bring it back into one’s own body in order to restore physical health and vitality, happiness and clarity. Instruction will be given on how to perform this practice for both self and others.
According to Tibetan Medicine, ultimate health can only be achieved when approached from the perspective of body, energy, and mind together. In this retreat Dr Nida will explain the principles of Tibetan Medicine, teach Tibetan healing yoga and breathwork, as well as give dietary and herbal advice, so that participants receive a complete understanding of how to attain physical, mental, and spiritual well being.”
from www.menla.us
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To learn about upcoming programs with Nida Chenagtsang + Robert AF Thurman at Menla in Phoencia, New York please visit: www.menla.us.
“Tibetan Secrets of Longevity: Ancient Practices for Increased Health & Long Life Retreat with Nida Chenagtsang & Bob Thurman at Menla Retreat Phoenicia, New York” photo by Justin Stone-Diaz.
About Nida Chenagtsang
Dr. Nida Chenagtsang was born in Amdo, in Eastern Tibet. Interested in the traditional healing science of his people, he began his early medical studies at the local Tibetan Medicine hospital. Later he gained scholarship entry to Lhasa Tibetan Medical University, where he completed his medical education in 1996. Dr. Nida completed his practical training at the Tibetan Medicine hospitals in Lhasa and Lhoka. Dr. Nida has published many articles and books on Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan Medicine). He has extensively researched ancient Tibetan healing methods, and has gained high acclaim in the East and West for his revival of traditional Tibetan external healing therapies.
Suggested Books by Nida Chenagtsang
Tibetan Book of Health: Sowa Rigpa, The Science of Healing with Robert AF Thurman, Weapon of Light, Mirror of Light, Tibetan Art of Good Karma, & Tibetan Art of Dream Analysis.
Connect with Nida Chenagtsang
About Robert AF Thurman
Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of Tibet House US and it’s Menla Retreat & Dewa Spa in service of HH Dalai Lama & the people of Tibet. To listen to his free weekly podcasts please visit: www.bobthurman.com.
Suggested Books & Audio by Robert AF Thurman:
Man of Peace: Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama (Book), Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within (Book), Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins (Book), Inner Revolution (Book), Circling the Sacred Mountain : A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas (Book), Essential Tibetan Buddhism (Book), The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between (Book) The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism (Book), The Central Philosophy of Tibet (Book), The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture (Book), Life & Teachings of Tsong Khapa (Book), Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World (Book) Tibetan Book of Health: Sowa Rigpa, The Science of Healing (Book) & Liberation Upon Hearing in the Between: Living with the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Audio).
Connect with Robert AF Thurman
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