Today we visited Men-Tsee-Khang, which is the Tibetan medical and astrological institute. The purpose of the organization is to preserve the traditional systems of medicine and astrology practiced in Tibet for thousands of years. The first floor of the institute featured hundreds of different medicines and plants that were used to cure a variety of ailments and diseases. There were natural remedies for arthritis, insomnia, neuritis, and even dumbness! Any ailment you can think of, there was most likely a medicine for it. The basement level of the building had the history of Tibetan medicine. Large paintings, called thangkas, displayed intricate drawings of the human body, including nerves and blood vessels. There was even a thangka with the entire process of human embryology. Many thangkas also featured various systems that doctors used to diagnose and treat a disease or ailment. It's mind-boggling to think how advanced Tibetan medicine was in the 16th century.
It's my last day in Dharmsala and I do not want to leave. Goodbye to the perfect weather. Goodbye to the Himalayas. Goodbye to the noisy cars honking their horns way too much. Goodbye to the Buddhist monks who never sport a frown. Goodbye to Cafe Coffee Day, Restaurant Curry Leaf, and the delicious 20 rupee espresso. Goodbye to the adorable Tong Len kids. Goodbye to my favorite shop owner, Mustafa. Goodbye to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. Dharamsala is my favorite city in India; it will definitely be missed.
Sounds incredible - you'll have to tell us all about it next week!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels home.