A Concise Introduction To Tibetan Astrology Men Tsee Khang

Preface It was certainly the combination of a gigantic landmass, a small population and primarily the nomadic pastoral lifestyle which made the ancient Tibetan’s special awareness of their environment. From time immemorial, our ancestors have closely observed the movements of the Sun, Moon, planets and constellations, and have calculated time based on day, month and seasons. They forcasted the weather based on the nature of the wind, clouds, rainbows, appearance of the flora, behaviour of the fauna and being conscious of microscopic changes in other natural phenomena. These fine observations of nature formed the rich foundation on which Tibetan Astrology was later built upon. Founded on primeval wisdom, by the second century B.C., this had developed into a systematic science — known as one of the 12 Fields of Knowledge of Bön Tradition — alongside medicine and an array of divinatory practices. Over the centuries this fertile base was greatly expanded by the arrival of Buddhist philosophy and Chinese astrology in the seventh century A.D. With the advent of Buddhism, from India came access to the Kālacakra Tantra — a teaching explaining the formation of the universe and living beings — first preached by the Shakyamuni Buddha in 881 B.C. By the 11th century A.D. this complex tantric yoga was fully practiced in Tibet and was soon incorporated by scholars into astrological texts. The history of Tibetan Astrology is a complex, multi-facetted and culturally unique just like the long history of the Tibetan empire. Through the decades of exile in India this tradition has been carefully taught, conserved and practiced by Men-Tsee-Khang — the Tibetan Medical and Astro. Institute — alongside its complementary and more widely-known science, Tibetan Medicine. ‘Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology — A Brief Introduction’, first published in 1995 by this institute has reached its eighth edition. With world interest in all facets of Tibet’s religion, history, arts and culture spiraling, it was decided that a more ambitious and comprehensive illustrated book should be produced outlining all fundamental aspects of Tibetan Astrology. We were assigned this project in late 2009 and as our research began to bear fruit, we decided to include in the book the fundamental understanding of the indigenous Ancient Tibetan Astrology, and its interface with the importation of Nag-rTsis (Elemental Astrology) from China and dKar-rTsis (the astrology of Kālacakra and Arising Vowels) from India. This led to the two major indigenous astrology lineages — the Tsurlug and the Phuglug, the latter of which is practiced by Men-Tsee-Khang. Having the origin and authenticity of this, we proceeded by explaining for the beginners the role of astrology in relation with the nine other traditional fields of science — grammar, medicine, logic, arts and crafts, Buddhist philosophy, poetry, synonyms, metrical science and theatrical performance. Tibetan Astrology is an important feature of the Science of Healing and inseparable from the practice of Tibetan Medicine. Since the objective of engaging in the study and practice of Tibetan Astrology is to ensure good fortune and happiness to others, and often to advise remedial measures and protections when obstacles are identified, the final part of the text focuses on explaining the wide range of horoscopes and amulets which are routinely prepared by TMAI’s Astrology Department. The primary motivation of exiles gathered in Dharamshala has been the preservation of Tibet’s religion and culture while we watch our beliefs, practices and way of life being suppressed, sinified, and even erased under China’s occupation of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan Medicine and Astrology are key components in ensuring this cultural preservation. With their roots stemming from the understanding and practice of Buddha Dharma, and their ethical focus on the well-being of all sentient life, these ancient sciences can be seen as a precious offering of wisdom and healing to today’s uncertain world. Tenzin Sherab (Astrologer) Tenzin Tsewang Jamling (Astrologer) Men-Tsee-Khang December, 2011

sman rtsis Journal is an official publication of Men-Tsee-Khang (Sowa-Rigpa), Tibetan Medical & Astro-Science Institute, Dharamsala. As a distinct platform for Tibetan Medicine and Astro-Science, this journal aims to explore and elucidate the holistic knowledge of both traditions through theoretical and practical research. It also seeks to explore the relationship between the two traditions and their relationship with Tibetan Buddhism, other traditional disciplines and related contemporary sciences, with the sole aspiration to promote a holistic understanding of human well-being and that of the universe at large.

sman rtsis Journal is an official publication of Men-Tsee-Khang (Sowa-Rigpa), Tibetan Medical & Astro-Science Institute, Dharamsala. As a distinct platform for Tibetan Medicine and Astro-Science, this journal aims to explore and elucidate the holistic knowledge of both traditions through theoretical and practical research. It also seeks to explore the relationship between the two traditions and their relationship with Tibetan Buddhism, other traditional disciplines and related contemporary sciences, with the sole aspiration to promote a holistic understanding of human well-being and that of the universe at large.

Message of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama In general, when we talk about health and fitness, we cannot put the mind aside. The wellness of physical health is very much dependent on the clarity and intelligence of the mind. However, the mind and body has the relationship of support and supported. These are unconditionally associated with each other. So, there is a growing interest and curiosity for the relationship between the mind and body. Thus, it is need of time for convening such a conference on the body, mind and Life. Not only sharing your knowledge and intellect but also you are practically working on exploring remedies for solving the physical and mental health. It’s wonderful! I would like to thank all the organizers. The above is an excerpt from exclusive message which was bestowed by H.H the 14th Dalai Lama to the participants of the 2nd BMLConference on 1st October, 2014

Dear readers, 2021 is dashing to its end unhesitatingly and I could hardly believe that its already that time of the year for the publishment of the Gangri-langtso which marks the end of another academic year. The 27th edition of gangri‑langtso, the college annual magazine is what I consider as a whole package of wisdom, jam‑packed with knowledges, analytic ideas and beautiful writings penned down by our fellow students. We are so proud and exuberate to acclaim that we are able to bring out this edition, which is surely going to unfold the unraveled world of the most enthusiastic and creative writings of our college students.This booklet reflects the sincere efforts and times put forth by our friends to display the best possible article to enhance your knowledge and make the next few minutes a productive one. Amidst the emergence of the pandemic, everyone has been struggling with the economic and academic crisis it has caused worldwide. For the past couple of years, adults, students, employers, family, literally everyone has been thriving to survive. Ironically, the lockdowns and curfews did a great favor to the younger generations by snatching every possible distraction away from them. It bought us more time to spend indoor, studying and spend quality time with our beloved ones. And as luck would have it, our college was able to proceed with our regular classes and other co‑curricular activities. Furthermore, this year has been pretty much hectic with lots of prestigious events taking place which was a lifetime worth experiences for the students. Personally, I am so proud that we all made through another year once again in unison, maturing and learning as we grow a year older. As we engross ourselves in fulfilling the objectives as a men‑tsee‑khang student, it enriched us academically and morally. So as a devotee of such a sacred traditional institution, I find that it is our collective and utmost responsibility to preserve and serve the purpose of the sowa-rigpa and Astro science which our ancestors had so far firmly managed to secure and thrive. And this booklet is a baby step towards the flourishment of the sowa-rigpa and Tibetan Astro science solely initiated by the fervent students in the pursuit of learning. So I heartily thank each and every one of the article submitter for sharing your precious writings and knowledges with us. This challenging charge of drafting the articles would never have been a productive outcome without the inputs and hands of many people. I would like to pay my heartfelt gratitude towards all the editorial board members including all our teachers and friends for guiding us and proofread pages of articles despite being engaged in hectic schedule and making this publishment the best one. The amount of knowledge we were enlightened with while going through the articles are astonishing so we would like to thank everyone for entrusting us with this experience. And dear readers, we are humbled for your precious time and enthusiasm towards college student’s writings. I am positive that you won’t regret spending your time going through the articles and be rewarded with piles of new knowledges that our friends had to offer till the last flip of the page. Thank you all!!!!

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA Leaving aside the complex question of the creation and evolution of our universe, we can at least agree that each of us is the product of our own parents. In general, our conception took place not just in the context of sexual desire but from our parents’ decision to have a child. Such decisions are founded on responsibility and altruism - the parent’s compassionate commitment to care of their child until it is able to take care of itself. Thus, from the very moment of our conception, our parents’ love is directly in our creation. Moreover, we are completely dependent upon our mothers’ care from the earliest stages of our growth. According to some scientists, a pregnant woman’s mental state, be it calm or agitated, has a direct physical effect on her unborn child. The expression of love is also very important at the time of birth. Since the very first thing we do is suck milk from our mothers’ breast, we naturally feel close to her, and she must feel love for us in order to feed us properly; if she feels anger or resentment her milk may not flow freely. Then there is the critical period of brain development from the time of birth up to at least the age of three or four, during which time loving physical contact is the single most important factor for the normal growth of the child. If the child is not held, hugged, cuddled, or loved, its development will be impaired and its brain will not mature properly. Since a child cannot survive without the care of others, love is its most important nourishment. The happiness of childhood, the allaying of the child’s many fears and the healthy development of its self-confidence all depend directly upon love. Nowadays, many children grow up in unhappy homes. If they do not receive proper affection, in later life they will rarely love their parents and, not infrequently, will find it hard to love others. This is very sad. As children grow older and enter school, their need for support must be met by their teachers. If a teacher not only imparts academic education but also assumes responsibility for preparing students for life, his or her pupils will feel trust and respect and what has been taught will leave an indelible impression on their minds. On the other hand, subjects taught by a teacher who does not show true concern for his or her students’ overall well-being will be regarded as temporary and not retained for long. Above is an excerpt from the section on “Articles and messages relating to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commitment to promote basic human values”. https://www.dalailama.com/messages/compassion-and-human-values/compassion