For a healing system that has been practiced for 1,300 years, Tibetan medicine is surprisingly contemporary in its assumptions. Under the guidance of skilled lama-physicians, it views good health as a balance between material and spiritual concerns and marshals an impressive array of physical, psychological, and spiritual practices in its extensive medical kit. To explore the modern legacy of the Medicine Buddha tradition, Peter Fenton journeyed to India and Nepal to see first-hand how Tibetan medicine is practiced today and to discover whether its ancient secrets can help us improve our own well-being. His first-person account, full of fascinating stories and interviews and illustrated with photographs, charts, and botanical drawings, demonstrates that traditional Tibetan healing is a vibrant, living system that can help each of us rebalance body, mind, and spirit---the essence of good health. This review, written by H. H. The Dalai Lama, was intended as a preface to my book, Tibetan Healing. Sadly, it arrived a little too late and the book had already been published. I am including it here. Peter R. Fenton His Holiness, The Dalai Lama June 3, 2000 MessageTibetan medicine is one of the greatest legacies of Tibetan Buddhist civilization. It is a system that can contribute substantially to maintaining a healthy mind and a healthy body. Like the traditional Indian and Chinese systems, Tibetan medicine views health as a question of balance. A variety of circumstances such as diet, lifestyle, seasonal and mental conditions can disturb this natural balance, which gives rise to different kinds of disorders. Tibetan medicine is deeply influenced by Buddhist practice and theory, which stresses the indivisible interdependence of mind and body. As an integrated system of health care it has served the Tibetan people well for many centuries and I believe can still provide much benefit to humanity at large. The difficulty we face in bringing this about is one of communication, for, like other scientific systems, Tibetan medicine must be understood in its own terms, as well as in the context of objective investigation. By recounting here his own exploration of Tibetan healing methods and their broad cultural context, explaining what he learnt and describing the people and physicians he met, Peter Fenton has produced a book that is attractive, illuminating and instructive. I am confident that it will provide an opportunity for many readers to develop a better understanding of this valuable, but often overlooked, aspect of the Tibetan cultural heritage. About the Author A journalist, naturalist, and educator, Dr. Fenton is the author of a number of articles and books including Message from Earth: My Experience in a Ritual Sweatlodge, Shaolin Nei Jin Qi Gong: Ancient Healing in the Modern World, The Wisdom of Tai Chi: Ancient Secrets to Health & Harmony, Tibetan Healing: The Modern Legacy of Medicine Buddha, and Close Encounters of the Shamanic Kind: In the Peruvian Amazon and Andes. His writings are dedicated to preserving, and advancing, ideas and systems of education that have served what is best in humanity in its long journey through time into consciousness. Used Book in Good Condition