Non-Professional CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THAT IS PREREQUISITE TO PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Foundations of Sowa Rigpa
1 Year | 150+ Hours
NEXT COHORT BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2025
ENROLLMENT OPENS SUMMER 2025

This one-year program can be taken as a standalone, non-professional program. It also serves as the foundational first year of our professional trainings,  Sowa Rigpa Practitioner (4 years total) and Sowa Rigpa Counselor (2 years total)

Foundations explores the fundamentals of Tibetan healing to better take care of oneself, improve quality of life, and learn how to promote health and rejuvenation in your home and community. The course follows the main structure of the Root Tantra (tsa gyu) with special emphasis on safe and practical applications at home.

Comprised of approximately 100 hours of pre-recorded lectures given by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, senior SRI faculty and esteemed guest teachers, students watch 3 hours of self-paced video each week and attend weekly 90-minute live online classes with esteemed practitioners from our international faculty team for further lecture,  Q+A and student assessment.

Course topics are divided into twelve modules given over the course of three 12-week trimesters.

Students wishing to continue after Foundations of Sowa Rigpa on to a professional track complete a comprehensive exam and a formal application process before year 2.

If you have questions about our programs, e-mail info@sowarigpainstitute.org 








Foundations of Sowa Rigpa

course format
3 12-week trimesters
3 hours of prerecorded video + 90-minute live online class each week

-Focuses primarily on the Tsa Gyü (Root Tantra) as well as some chapters from the Shé Gyü (Explanatory Tantra)
-Includes a reading transmission by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang
-Texts referenced and included in the course:
The Foundations of Sowa Rigpa: A Guide to the Root Tantra of Tibetan Medicine by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang + lavishly illustrated course slides in pdf form

Trimester 1: 12 weeks

Module 1: Introduction to Sowa Rigpa
The Four Tantras and the Pure Land of the Medicine Buddha
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 2: Health and Balance According to Sowa Rigpa
The Tree of Health and Disease: Trunk of Health
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 3: Disease and Imbalance According to Sowa Rigpa
The Tree of Health and Disease: Trunk of Disease
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 4: Sowa Rigpa Diagnostics
Tree of Diagnosis - Review of Typology, Intro to Diagnosis; Palpation of the Pulse
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Trimester 2: 12 weeks

Module 5: Sowa Rigpa Diagnostics
Tree of Diagnosis - Observation of the Tongue and Urine
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 6: Sowa Rigpa Diet
Introduction to the Tree of Treatments Root Tantra
+Explanatory Tantra chapters 16, 17, 18
Diet/What to Eat or Not Eat for the 3 Nyepa, Modern Popular Diets, the 6 Tastes, Food Quantities
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 7: Sowa Rigpa Lifestyle
Explanatory Tantra chapter 13 
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 8: Sowa Rigpa Herbal Medicine
Tree of Treatments: Trunk 4
Review of Tastes and Potencies
14 Herbal FormulasSYLL
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Trimester 3: 12 weeks

Module 9: Sowa Rigpa External Therapies
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 10: Psychology
3 sets of prerecorded self-paced lectures, totaling 3-6 hours each
3 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 11: Map of the Gyudshi
2 sets of prerecorded self-paced lectures
2 90-minute live mentor meetings

Module 12: Spiritual Healing Methods
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings



Current Sowa Rigpa Programming