Buddha Shakyamuni (popularly known as the Buddha or Lord Buddha) taught the supreme methods of preparing medicine to Dakini at the charnel grounds in the sublime land of India. In turn the Dakini taught the condensed teachings of this supreme method to the fortunate fifty-eight (58) mahasiddhas in the eastern part of India. Thereafter, these great mahasiddhas transmitted the teachings to Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) in the charnel grounds of Sitavana (Siwa Tsel), duly accompanied by elaborate offerings of Ganacakra ceremony. Subsequently, Guru Rinpoche hide these sacred teachings at Draker Da Dro of Phugring in Lhodrak Kharchu, Tibet. Later, the destined and fortunate one Tsang Nyang Rowa Jaben Dorji Wangchuk Yoedbar, who was a highly learned master, especially having perfected the practices of Yangphur Sadhana, discovered these concealed teachings.
When Tsang Nyang Rowa Jaben Dorji Wangchuk Yoedbar, a highly learned adept reached the age of sixty-seven (67), not having his own children, his close relatives started mistreating him leading to his utter disillusionment with samsara life. As a result, while he and his disciple came to Lhodrak Kharchu, at Yardrok Shawogang, they met with Drokmi Pelgi Yeshi, who recognized him as someone who had already reached the “mahasiddha” level of realization and achieved “vidyadhara” status and control over one’s life span. Thus, becoming an accomplished master, he made gold offerings and received blessings from Drokmi Pelgi Yeshi.
Thereafter, he left for Kharchu, where he retrieved the treasure teachings of “Extracting the Essence of Medicine called Taktu Ngui Chuedlen”, within two years. The master practiced himself for almost thirteen (13) months, as a result of which, in about 3-year time his white hairs and nails changed to that of a youthful sixteen (16) year old, and he stayed in Kharchu for almost sixty-eight (68) years. Around the age of hundred and thirty (130) years or so, he travelled towards Yardrok and Tsang Nyang Ro regions and gave teachings of Taktu Ngui Chuedlen to few fortunate disciples, many of whom achieved immortality (long-life blessing) through their practice.
Since the great mahasiddha had achieved full control over his life span, through his transformation into rainbow body, it’s believed that he still lives around Kharchu Dorji Phuk and Tsang Se Drak regions. This was around the time towards the later part of the first spread of the doctrine in Tibet.
Then, in the 17th century, at Lhodrak Kharchu, during the time of First Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche Rigzin Lobzang Lhachok, highly learned physicians (Drungtsho) Ngawang Choephak, Dulwai Lodroe and Tshering appeared who were all ordained monks (bikshus). Towards later part of the 18th Century, there appeared a renowned Physician (Drungtsho) in Lhodrak Kharchu. It is said that the great Dzogchen master Kuenkhen Rigzin Jigme Lingpa said the following in praise of him:
Thinking about rare human birth,
Practice the precious Dharma.
Thinking about rare genuine practitioners,
Avoid the eight worldly Dharmas.
Thinking of rare encounters with one’s Guru,
Strive to receive pith instructions.
Many have freedoms,
But only few have advantageous birth.
Birth without freedoms and advantages,
It’s not possible to practice Dharma.
To meet with one’s Guru,
Is due to one’s past aspirations.
In the midst of large gatherings,
Attachment and Hatred could be construed as true Dharma,
It’s rather better to think of lives of past masters,
And make this life fruitful.
In the 20th century, during the time of Sixth Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, towards later part of his life came a renowned Physician (Drungtsho), popularly known as Drungtsho Sherab Jorden.
Drungtsho Sherab Jorden was born in 1936 in the Fire Rat Year at Geychu in Lhodrak. At an early age of eight (8) he joined the Kharchu Dratsang, where he learned reading, writing and mask dances and other skills. He received grammar (Sumtak) and Dayig teachings from Lama Gyelwa Nyima; and received the Buddhist astrological teachings from Lama Dorji Gyeltshen. Due to his in-born intelligence, at a very young age he was well known for spontaneous composition of poetic and rhyming verses. At the age of seventeen (17), he reached Chakpori in Lhasa, where he perfected the teachings of medical practice with luminaries such as Khewang Lamenpa Ngawang Choedrak, Drepung Lamenpa Chimi Gyeltshen and Neydong Bentshang Druntsho Khewang Samten Tingzin at the Chakpori Medical Institute. Later, he received teachings from great masters such as the Sixth Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, Terton Samten Lingpa, Khyentse Choki Lodroe, Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshi Dorji, Polo Khenpo, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Serving as the personal physician for the Sixth Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, in the year 1959, he came to Bhutan. Then, in November 1967, as per the royal command of the Third King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, a new hospital for traditional medicine was established in Dechenchholing, Thimphu, where he served as Drungtso till 1997. Thereafter, serving as the personal physician of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, he travelled widely to India, China, Nepal, France, Kham (Tibet), during which he treated numerous patients and saved their lives.
Between 1968 and 1996, he also attended as personal physician to Her Majesty Phuntsho Choden, the Great Grand Queen Mother of Bhutan. At some point of time, he had also rendered his services to luminaries such as Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, Thrulshik Rinpoche, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, His Holiness Je Khenpo Nyizer Tulku, His Holiness Je Khenpo Tenzin Dhendup, Geluk Geyshey Trehor Kyorpon Rinpoche, Shakya Khyenchen Jamyang Tenzin and numerous others in the course of time. In addition, he had also composed praises to the pilgrimage sites in Lhodrak Kharchu, including numerous other excellent compositions. He had also rendered huge support to the Kharchu Monastery. At the Yuthok Tendar Service Center at Kharchu, he had donated numerous texts on traditional medicine and commissioned a Thangka painting depicting the Yuthok Nyingthik lineage, which have become important objects of veneration. As an ultimate recognition for his contributions towards the cause of traditional medicine in Bhutan, His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, conferred on him the Druk Thuksey (heart-son) medal on December 17, 2015, coinciding with the 108th National Day celebrations held in Paro. Currently, he lives mostly in Hongtsho and Thimphu, always benefitting beings through his medical service.
With the objective of promoting the practice of five sciences at the current Kharchu Monastery in Bumthang, and also to alleviate sentient beings from numerous ailments during these degenerate times, out of the strong force of compassion, on February 23, 2012, Khenpo Wangchuk Rigzin and Khenpo Karma Wangchuk had been selected to undergo training in traditional medicine practices and astrology at the seat of Kyabje Tai Situ Rinpoche, Pelpung Sherubling in India. After undergoing orientation and hands-on training of handling patients at the National Institute of Traditional Medicine (NITM) Hospital in Thimphu, they were issued “Drungtso” certificates by the Bhutan Medical And Health Council (BMHC).
At the same time the permission for establishing a traditional medicine hospital at Kharchu Monastery was also granted. As a result, Yuthok Tendar Traditional Medicine Service Center under Kharchu Monastery at Bumthang was established on October 4, 2019, coinciding with the 6th day of the Eighth Lunar month of the Earth Pig Year, with the observance of “five auspiciousness” inaugural events including the performance of Ganachakra feast offerings based on the Yuthok Nyingthik lineage tradition. Thereafter, the Khenpos had been running the hospital on a daily basis to further the cause of traditional medicine practice, which provides free medical services for monks and residents. This is in keeping with the past tradition in which Physician (Drungtso) Thupten Gayleg established such a hospital in Lhodrak Kharchu in Tibet benefitting numerous beings.