Samye Sowa Rigpa Traditional Institute

Samye Sowa-Rigpa Traditional Institute was founded on 19,November 2011 by our root guru Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche on the auspicious day of the Divine Descent (of the Buddha), according to the Tibetan calendar.

The main purpose of the institute is to preserve and spread the ancient tradition of Sowa-Rigpa, the Tibetan science of healing, and to serve the people, especially those living in the Himalayan regions where traditional medicine plays an essential role in daily life.

Early Years

When the institute first opened, there was only one teacher, the late Amchi Urgain Kalzang from Ladakh, and eight students. Now, it has expanded to more than eight teachers and more than twenty students. These pioneering students studied diligently under his guidance, completing the full five-year Kachupa course (the foundational study of Sowa-Rigpa) followed by four additional years of Menrampa training (the advanced clinical and practical studies).