Yuthok Yontan Gonpo the Younger
Yuthok Yonten Gonpo the Younger (1126–1202) was a Traditional Tibetan doctor and ngakpa credited with The Four Medical Tantras (rGyud-bZhi) - a four-book treatise on Traditional Tibetan medicine - and the Yuthok Nyingthig Ladrub Dugngai Munpa Selvai Nyini Odser (gYu Thog sNying Thig bLa sGrub sDug bsNgai Mun Sel nyi ma’I od zer) which means ‘The Innermost Essence of the Teachings of Yuthok, Guru Practice – the sun light that emanates the darkness of suffering.’
Biography
Born in the village of Goshi Rethang in Western Tibet, his father was Yuthok Khyungpo Dorje and his mother Pema Odenma. Yuthok was from a family lineage of royal court Traditional Tibetan medicine doctors who trace their origin to the time of King Lha Thothori (441-561). At age eight, he began to study, with his father and other teachers including Manjusri, a wide range of topics from medicine, Buddhism, and the arts and languages. At age 14 he began traveling through Central Tibet where he met a Geshe called Roton Konchok Kyap who transmitted the Four Tantras: the Essence of Ambrosia Secret Instruction to Yuthok. At age 18, he traveled to India for the first time where he studied the Eight Branches of Healing, Somaradza and other treaties on medicine with Paldan Phren-ba. When he was 21, Yuthok returned to Tibet where he set up a clinic and began teaching medicine to his students. At 31, he returned to India, where he received a teaching which later became known as the Yuthok Nyingthig, The Innermost Essence of Yuthok. It is said that he traveled to Indian six times. His heart-disciple was Sumton Yeshe Sung, who received the Four Tantras and the Yuthok Nyingthig. It is said that at age 76, Yuthok gathered his students for a final teaching before attaining the rainbow body and departing to Tunadug, the pure land of the Medicine Buddha.
Works
The Secret Quintessential Instructions on the Eight Branches of the Ambrosia Essence Tantra or The Four Tantras This is a collection of four tantras which comprise the basis of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. It is divided into the Root Tantra (rTsa-rGyud); The Explanatory Tantra (bShe-rGyud), The Oral Instruction Tantra (Men-Ngag-rGyud) and The Subsequent Tantra (Chima-rGyud). The Root Tantra has 6 chapters and gives
- 1) and introduction,
- 2) general outline of topics,
- 3) the basis of disease,
- 4) diagnosis,
- 5) methods of treatment, and
- 6) an enumeration of the metaphors used in Traditional Tibetan Medicine.
The Explanatory Tantra is divided into 11 divisions and 31 chapters and covers
- 1) a summary of fundamentals,
- 2) the life cycle,
- 3) fundamentals of pathology,
- 4) behavior and lifestyle,
- 5) diet,
- 6) pharmacology,
- 7) tools of the physician,
- 8) health and prevention,
- 9) diagnosis,
- 10) method of treatment, and
- 11) ethics of a physician.
The Oral Instruction Tantra has 15 divisions that are explained in 92 chapters. The divisions include
- 1) pathology of the three humors,
- 2) internal disorders,
- 3) fever,
- 4) pathology of the upper parts of the body,
- 5) pathology of the solid and hollow organs,
- 6) genital disorders,
- 7) common diseases,
- 8) dermatology,
- 9) pediatrics,
- 10) gynecological disorders,
- 11) disorders caused by spirit provocation,
- 12) injury,
- 13) toxicology,
- 14) longevity, and
- 15) aphrodisiacs.
The Subsequent Tantra has four topics in 25 chapters including
- 1) diagnosis,
- 2) pharmacological formula,
- 3) purifying therapies, and
- 4) external therapies.
Yuthok Nyingthig (G.yu thog snying thig) or Yuthok Nyingthig Ladrub Dugngai Munpa Selvai Nyini Odser (gYu Thog sNying Thig bLa sGrub sDug bsNgai Mun Sel nyi ma’I od zer) is tantra outlining the Buddhist practices which combine Traditional Tibetan medicine and Vajrayana practices.
The practices are a part of a family lineage of Ngakpas that were handed down through the Yuthok family until it was taught to Sumtong Yeshe Zung, the heart disciple of Yuthok Yonten Gompo the Younger. The recent lineage holders include the late Khenpo Truro Tsenam, the late Khenpo Tsultrim Gyaltsen, and Micho Khedrub Gyatso Rinpoche. Currently Dr. Nida Chenagstang is teaching this lineage as well.
The Yuthok Nyingthig is a complete Vajrayana cycle including Ngöndro; Generation stage (kye rim) including four forms of Yuthok Guru Yoga and practices of Deva and Dakini; and Completion stage (dzog rim) practices including the Six Yogas, and Dzogchen. Additionally, the cycle includes additional practices including Mendrub (sMan sGrub) or rituals for empowering and blessing medicine, healing and protection mantras; several pujas, long life practices, Medical Protectors and instructions on a form of pulse diagnosis. Lastly, there are 15 topics addressing diagnosis and treatment within Traditional Tibetan medicine.
