SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

 

1st Health Camp at Maratika (The sacred cave of Guru Rinpoche and Mandarava):

Maratika cave, in eastern Nepal, is the sacred place where Guru Padmasambhava and princess Mandarava accomplished the state of immortal awareness holder (chimey rigzin). In the wisdom tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Maratika is counted among the six most holy places of our world. Introduction and Historical Background Maratika or ‘Chi ba mthar byed’ in Tibetan means “eliminates from death”, and is known as Halesi or “literally astonishing”. The place is rich in history, mythology and sacred geology despite its great isolation, it is a major holy place for both Buddhists and Hindus. For Tibetan Buddhists in particular, it is the site of immortality, one of the six supreme pilgrimage sites in the world. It is the place where the great master, the second Buddha Padmasambhava and Dakini Mandarava obtained the realization of immortal life. Maratika was also blessed by the family of three protectors Manjushri, Vajrapani and Avalokitesavara. For many years the sacred caves of Maratika have been a very important pilgrimage destination for Buddhist seeking to engage in the long life practices. Due to its historical connection with Padmasambhava the Lotus Born Guru, and the family of the three protectors, it is particularly sacred within the Rime or Non Sectarian movement in Tibetan Buddhism in general and within the Vajrajana vehicle in particular. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava first subdued the demons of the Lord of the death, before engaging in a three month long meditation retreat in the central cave at Maratika, on the practice of the deity Amitayus, the Buddha of boundless life. The aforementioned deity appeared directly to Guru Padmasambhava, bestowing the Abhisheka of long life, and Guru Rinpoche accomplished the level of Vidyadhara, beyond death and birth, the signs of which are still visible in the cave to this day. The greater region is made up of three hills or holy mountains, the central smaller of which is known as Avalokitesavara mountain and houses the two main caves itself, above it next to the caves entrance is Maratika Chimey Takten Choling monastery. On either side of the Avalokitesavara hill stand Vajrapani hill to the south, and Manjushri hill to the north ,making up the trio of the “family of three protectors” or Rig sums gonpo in Tibetan.

 

SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

To highlight the importance of this holy place His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated “due to the accumulation of white virtue, just through seeing, hearing, remembering and touching this place the two obscurations of beings will be quickly purified, one will be looked after by the all knowing one (the great master Padmasambhava) from the Ugyen and easily attain the state of omniscience. To quote His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche “ Indirectly devoted and fortunate people in the future will get a link merely by visiting this place, making prostration, worshipping or respecting it and they will have the obstacles of this life pacified and all their wishes fulfilled and ultimately they will be accepted by Guru Padmasambhava and his consort and attained this certainly without deception. Any one who makes connection through either seeing or hearing about Maratika to enjoy the fact of a long life in these dark age when the life span is short and diseases are many. If other devoted people could give according to how they feel, as a drops of water gathered in the ocean, they will definitely obtain a share of the siddhi and merit of long life”. MEANING OF “MARATIKA” Maratika literally means ‘Chi ba mthar byed which translates as “the cave of making an end to or destroying death”. Because Padmasambhava achieved a level of power beyond birth and death in Maratika, the name of this place became known as “Maratika”. Several termas such as those by Nyang-rel Nyima Özer, Sangye-lingpa, and others include references to “Maratika”. MEANING OF “HALESHE” When the Tibetan King Trisong De’utsen was building the glorious Samye Monastery, what they constructed during the day was destroyed by demons during the night. King Trisong Deutsen sent his minister, Dorje Dodjom, to India to invite Padmasambhava , the great tantric practitioner who holds the power of all the Buddhas of the past present and future. Padmasambhava, accepting the King’s invitation was returning to Tibet with Dorje Dodjom when passing through Nepal they arrived at Haleshod, which literally means “to describe the experience of astonishment”. Stopping here to take rest, the minister was so surprised just by being on the site of this holy mountain, that he turned to Guru Rinpoche and asked: “why is this mountain so astonishing?” Padmasambhava revealed to him the Outer, Inner and Secret explanations of the astonishment concerning the sacred place, thus the name of Maratika came to be known as “Haleshe”, “Haleshod” or “Haleshen” in the Tibetan language and gradually became “Halesi” in local language.

 

SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

Our  1st  Sorig  Health  Camp  can  be  arranged   in  this  place  as  the  place   itself   is  self  explanatory,  why  we  need  to  arrange  such  health  camp  in  this  place!  One  of  our  members  comes  from  this  place  and  he  will  lead  the  group  to  this  place  for  the  sorig  health  camp.  

Schedule:  

Day  01  (6th  March):  Drive  to  Maratika  from  Kathmandu.  It  is  approximately  7/8  hours  of  drive  and  need   to   start   early   in   the  morning.  One   third  of   the   road   is   rough   road  and  participants  need  to  accept  the  condition  of  the  road  better.  

Day  02-­‐03  (7th  &  8th  March):  Sorig  Health  Camps.  

Day  04  (9th  March):  Return  to  Kathmandu  (same  route).  

Quotation  for  March  2017:    

10  Pax:  USD  300  Per  Person  on  sharing  double  occupancy  basis.  

15pax  &  Abv:  USD  260  Per  Person  on  sharing  double  occupancy  basis.  

Single  Supplement:  USD  55  Per  Person  extra,  if  single  occupancy  required.  

Includes:    

• Jeep  transportation  from  Kathmandu  to  Maratika,  approximately  8/9  hours.    

• 3  nights  accommodation  at  local  lodge/hotel/Gompa  during  the  health  camp  days  

• Necessary  number  of  human  resources  for  the  medical  camps,  

• All  food  and  accommodation  available  locally  

• 1  night  accommodation  with  breakfast  at  Shechen  Guest  House  after  returning  from  the  medical  camp.  

The  expenses  for  the  sorig  Doctor  and  2  to  3  Nurses  (depending  on  the  group  size)  during  the  camp  and   their  necessary   transportation  and  other   logistic   support  will  be  covered  by  SORIG  FIRST  AID,   Singapore.  Besides   there   is   sorig  medine   to  be  distributed   free  of   cost   to  patients  (anticipated  250  to  300  during  the  camp),  will  also  be  borne  by  the  SORIG  FIRST  AID.  

 

SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

Any  arrangements  not  mentioned  above,  personal  effects  and  additional  charges  due  to  reason  beyond  our  control  are  extra.  

Main responsibilities for the participants during the camp are;

• if an acupuncture expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available.

• if a Therapy expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available • If Ku Nye expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available • basically volunteering jobs • such as write down the namelist of the patients • arrange patients to stay in the queue • distribute water to the patients • assist nurse to distribute medicines • arrange other necessary logistics during the camp, if needed, • and work in hand in hand with other sorig staffs and organizer.

 

SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

 

2nd  Sorig  Health  Camp  at  Trisuli  Bazaar:    It   is  approximately  5/6  hours  drive  to  Trisuli  Bazaar  from  Kathmandu.    A  gateway  to  Langtang  Valley  trek,  however,  many  of  the   inhabitants  use  medicines  provided  by   local  Amchis.  When  we  can  arrange  a  health  camp  there,  many   inhabitants  will  benefit  and  our  purpose  of   ‘Sowa  Rigpa  in  Action’  will  also  be  met!  

Schedule:  

Day  01  (6th  March):  Drive  to  Trisuli  Bazaar  with  sorig  Doctor  and  necessary  number  of  nurses.    Prepare  necessary  logistics  together  with  local  supporters  for  the  Health  Camp.  

Day  02-­‐03  (7th  -­‐  8th  March):    Sorig  Health  Camps.  

Day  04  (9th  March):  Return  to  Kathmandu.  

 

Quotation  for  March  2017:    

10  Pax:  USD  265  Per  Person  on  sharing  double  occupancy  basis.  

15pax  &  Abv:  USD  240  Per  Person  on  sharing  double  occupancy  basis.  

Single  Supplement:  USD  55  Per  Person  extra,  if  single  occupancy  required.  

Includes:    

• Jeep  transportation  from  Kathmandu  to  Trisuli  Bazaar,  approximately  5/6  hours.    

• 3  nights  accommodation  at  local  lodge/hotel/Gompa  during  the  health  camp  days  

• Necessary  number  of  human  resources  for  the  medical  camps,  

• All  food  and  accommodation  available  locally  

 

SORIG  MEDICAL  CAMP  2017   –   ESPECIALLY   PREPARED   FOR   PARTICIPANTS   OF   5TH   SORIG   CONGRESS,  KATHMANDU.  

• 1  night  accommodation  with  breakfast  at  Shechen  Guest  House  or  similar  guest  house  after  returning  from  the  medical  camp.  

The  expenses  for  the  sorig  Doctor  and  2  to  3  Nurses  (depending  on  the  group  size)  during  the  camp  and   their  necessary   transportation  and  other   logistic   support  will  be  covered  by  SORIG  FIRST  AID,   Singapore.  Besides   there   is   sorig  medine   to  be  distributed   free  of   cost   to  patients  (anticipated  250  to  300  during  the  camp),  will  also  be  borne  by  the  SORIG  FIRST  AID.  

Any  arrangements  not  mentioned  above,  personal  effects  and  additional  charges  due  to  reason  beyond  our  control  are  extra.  

Main responsibilities for the participants during the camp are;

• if an acupuncture expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available

• if a Therapy expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available • If Ku Nye expert, can perform it during the camp and if patients available • basically volunteering jobs • such as write down the namelist of the patients • arrange patients to stay in the queue • distribute water to the patients • assist nurse to distribute medicines • arrange other necessary logistics during the camp, if needed • and work in hand in hand with other sorig staffs and organizer.

 

Dateline  of  registration  &  payment  for  the  Sorig  Medical  Camps:    31st  January  2017  

To  register,  please  email  to  Raj  Shrestha:  rajshrestha13367@gmail.com