Foundations of Sowa Rigpa1 Year | 150+ Hours
NON-PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE COURSE
PRE-REQUISITE FOR SRI'S PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Write your awesome label here.
NEXT COHORT BEGINS FALL 2025
ENROLLMENT OPENS SUMMER 2025
Our first Spanish language cohort begins in Fall 2025!
Also new for 2025/26 Cohort!
Optional in-person practical classes for select modules that can be taken at multiple locations internationally:
Los Angeles (Pure Land Farms) & New York
Mexico City & Valencia, Spain (Spanish language)
Toronto and other locations TBD
Our first Spanish language cohort begins in Fall 2025!
Also new for 2025/26 Cohort!
Optional in-person practical classes for select modules that can be taken at multiple locations internationally:
Los Angeles (Pure Land Farms) & New York
Mexico City & Valencia, Spain (Spanish language)
Toronto and other locations TBD
Foundations of Sowa Rigpa is one-year program that 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) and is a pre-requisite for our Sowa Rigpa Yoga Practitioner program.
ABOUT THE COURSE:
Foundations of Sowa Rigpa 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.
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 approximately 3 hours of self-paced video each week and attend weekly 90-minute live online classes with 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.
COURSE FORMAT:
3 12-week trimesters
COURSE FORMAT:
3 12-week trimesters
3 hours of prerecorded video + 90-minute live online class each week
+ 3-4 optional half day practicums offered at Pure Land Farms California, New York (English), Mexico City and Valencia, Spain (Spanish)
+ 3-4 optional half day practicums offered at Pure Land Farms California, New York (English), Mexico City and Valencia, Spain (Spanish)
-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 + illustrated course slides in pdf form
Trimester 1: Fall
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
Root Tantra 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
Root Tantra 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 Part 1
Review of Typology
Intro to Diagnosis
Root Tantra Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 1
Palpation of the Pulse
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
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
Root Tantra 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
Root Tantra 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 Part 1
Review of Typology
Intro to Diagnosis
Root Tantra Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 1
Palpation of the Pulse
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
Trimester 2: Winter
Module 5: Sowa Rigpa Diagnostics Part 2
Root Tantra Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 2
Observation of the Tongue and Urine
Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 3
Questioning
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(+ Optional In-Person Practical Session)
Module 6: Sowa Rigpa Diet
Introduction to the Tree of Treatments
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 1
+ Explanatory Tantra chapters 16, 17, 18
Diet according typology
Modern Diets, 6 Tastes
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
Module 7: Sowa Rigpa Lifestyle
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 2
+ Explanatory Tantra chapter 13
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(+ Optional In-Person Practical Session)
Module 8: Sowa Rigpa Herbal Medicine
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 3
Review of Tastes and Potencies
14 Herbal Formulas*
3 pre-recorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(*Annual medicine making intensive at Pure Land Farms to make the 14 formulas taught in this module: optional for Foundations group, required for Practitioners in year 2, 3 or 4)
Root Tantra Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 2
Observation of the Tongue and Urine
Tree of Diagnosis Trunk 3
Questioning
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(+ Optional In-Person Practical Session)
Module 6: Sowa Rigpa Diet
Introduction to the Tree of Treatments
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 1
+ Explanatory Tantra chapters 16, 17, 18
Diet according typology
Modern Diets, 6 Tastes
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
Module 7: Sowa Rigpa Lifestyle
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 2
+ Explanatory Tantra chapter 13
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(+ Optional In-Person Practical Session)
Module 8: Sowa Rigpa Herbal Medicine
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 3
Review of Tastes and Potencies
14 Herbal Formulas*
3 pre-recorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(*Annual medicine making intensive at Pure Land Farms to make the 14 formulas taught in this module: optional for Foundations group, required for Practitioners in year 2, 3 or 4)
Trimester 3: Spring
Module 9: Sowa Rigpa External Therapies
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 4
+ Final Tantra
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(Optional In-Person Practical Session on Hormé)
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
Body, Energy, and Mind
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(Optional In-Person Retreats)
Root Tantra Tree of Treatments Trunk 4
+ Final Tantra
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(Optional In-Person Practical Session on Hormé)
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
Body, Energy, and Mind
3 prerecorded self-paced 3-hour lectures
3 90-minute live mentor meetings
(Optional In-Person Retreats)
From Dr. Nida's Introduction to Foundations of Sowa Rigpa Course
Current Sowa Rigpa Programming
