Sexuality and Sexual health compared to modern (Western) views and in the Tibetan Traditional Medicine (Sowa Rigpa)
The preliminary topic for the thesis in the graduation on Sowa Rigpa-Tibetan Traditional Medicine (TTM) was Rotsa. As Rotsa is the term equivalent for sexuality in the TTM I started to study what we have learned about it. At the time of studies and searching information from the teachers and other sources I realized that the term Rotsa is not well understood in Western meanings of sexuality and the term is still not very clear and needs more investigation.
I realized that more valuable is comparing the meaning of sexuality and sexual health in the modern society and sexual medicine with Tibetan ideas. I have completed the TTM 4 years SKI curriculum and studied different Sowa Rigpa courses since 2010. In the thesis, I will describe and contemplate essential points I have found during my studies and learned from Tibetan Buddhism even during more years.
I am very lucky that we have such a TTM teacher, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, who is speaking in his teachings a lot about sexuality. Almost every teaching consists of sexuality in a spiritual or medical view. Also, Dr. Nida looks at and compares most often Western views and Tibetan views in medical, cultural, and scientific ways. His book The Yoga of Bliss. Sexuality in Tibetan Medicine and Buddhism is an excellent example of this.
On the links below you will find sources for the modern definitions of sexuality-sexual health I discuss, comparing in the thesis:
working-definitions-after-who.pdf (worldsexualhealth.net)
Below I point out some examples of the main findings that I discuss in the thesis.
If we look at Tibetan Buddhism or Sowa Rigpa, we will see mainly two sexes: man and woman. By researching more we will see the wider picture. We see the unique division of three types of sexes (genders): man, woman and Maning. Maning can also be divided into three more categories.
- In pulse diagnostics, sex (gender) can be divided by pulse.
- Karma as a term can influence the meaning of understanding gender in Tibetan culture and may also be a key factor in understanding the meaning of gender in other cultures that have deep meaning of Karma in society.
- Tibetan mindful practices can benefit sexuality and sexual health.
- Tibetan Kunye massage and La Massage can give excellent options to make sexual relationships more pleasurable and healthier.
- Chudlen therapy can influence hormone levels beneficially and through it benefit sexual desire, sexuality, and general health.
I will discuss some points related to the view of infertility in general and treatment.
Researching deeper Sowa Rigpa and comparing it with modern views, and science can benefit sexual health and societies, giving a deeper view of being as human.
Dr. Olev Poolamets completed six years of studies in Western medicine at Tartu University Faculty of Medicine in 1994. Subsequently, from 1994 to 1996, he underwent training as a general practitioner, followed by three years of specialization in andrology-urology at Tartu University from 1996 to 1999. Since 2006, he has served as a senior andrologist-urologist at the Tartu University Clinics Centre for Andrology Tallinn Branch.
Andrology primarily focuses on male sexual and reproductive health and gender-specific health, but andrologists must also be knowledgeable about female sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Poolamets organized and co-authored two books: "Man in the Changing World" in 2010 (Mees Muutuvas Maailmas) and "Sexuality in Estonia" (Seksuaalsus Eestis) in 2006, collaborating with other experts in the same and related fields. As part of a leading and advanced andrology clinic, he co-authored 25 scientific works on specific andrological topics on ResearchGate, primarily functioning as a clinician-doctor in research collaborations.
Dr. Poolamets began counseling young boys on Sexual and Reproductive Health issues in 1996, and later provided counseling to patients with neurological illnesses concerning sexuality and reproductive problems at Haapsalu Neurorehabilitation Centre and Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Tallinn. This clinical experience provided him with deeper insights into related cases.
During the first fifteen years of his medical career, Dr. Poolamets was active in giving lectures and attending medical Congresses. He contributed significantly to voluntary work in Male gender-specific health and human sexuality, playing a crucial role in organizing the development of sexology and events during the first decade of the 2000s. He served as president of the Estonian Academic Association of Sexology for two years and as president of the Nordic Association of Clinical Sexology for another two years.
Since 2010, Dr. Poolamets has been studying and practicing Sowa Rigpa and Tibetan Buddhism after meeting Dr. Nida Chenagtsang. While reducing his involvement in previous voluntary commitments, he continues his Western medicine practice as an andrologist-urologist for three weeks per month. He completed the four-year Sowa Rigpa study curriculum offered by SKI and participated in numerous Sowa Rigpa teachings. His Buddhist studies began with teachings from H.H. in Dharamsala at the end of 2006, sparking his interest in exploring Budha Dharma and the body-mind relationship. He has studied with various teachers, including Drukmo Gyal since her arrival in Estonia.
Currently, Dr. Poolamets serves as a board member actively involved in managing Sorig Khang Estonia and Sowa Rigpa Väluste School in Estonia. He has presented at past Sowa Rigpa International congresses held in Estonia (2016) and Nepal (2017), focusing on traditional healing methods and therapies. Alongside his clinical experience, he has 11 years of manual therapy experience, enriching his massage style and healing skills through learning from different healers from Estonia and Finland.
Contact
+37256622588