Tibetan Medicine: The History and the Future

This is a lecture by Khenpo Sodargye at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the theme of "The Historical Mission of Contemporary Tibetan Medical Scholars." In response to the crisis in Tibetan medical heritage—students abandoning their profession after entering society, the collapse of medical ethics, and young people rejecting traditional culture—Khenpo prescribes the remedy: returning to the Buddhist roots of Tibetan medicine. His core argument: The Four Medical Tantras originate from Buddhist tantras, and the unique efficacy of Tibetan medicine comes not only from medicinal properties but also from Buddhist blessings. However, modern university education retains only theory and academics, with traditional transmission and practice nearly extinct. A true Tibetan physician must master medical principles, establish medical ethics, and cultivate compassion. Khenpo criticizes contemporary medical chaos (such as "supporting medicine through medication"), emphasizing that good doctors cannot equate healthcare with money-making. He calls on students to cherish Tibetan culture, which is regarded as a "strong culture" by the West, and not to wait until they are exhausted from pursuing Han and Western cultures before turning back.