Mental Health Department, formerly known as the Body, Mind & Life department, was established in the year 2013, deriving inspiration from the Mind and Life Institute of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and his most motivational guidance addressed during the special audience at the 1st Body, Mind & Life Conference, held at Dharamshala. As the nature of works performed by the department mainly involve mental health, it was renamed as Mental Health Department in 2020.
Nature of Work
- As envisioned by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama the department is determined towards seeking all possible means to preserve and promote mental health care that deserves equal importance and stature as the physical health care in this era of materialistic world.
Aims & Objectives
- The prime objective of this department is to render optimum Mental Health Care services, utilizing the wisdom of Tibetan Medicine (Sowa-Rigpa) and Tibetan Astro-science, with prime focus on Buddhist Psychology while exploring and integrating various other traditional and modern systems of knowledge.
- To improve techniques for prevention and treatment of mental disorders.
- To engage in cultural exchanges.
- To excerpt and compile the fundamentals of different disciplines.
- To conduct research on various practices and experiential understanding.
Core Projects:
- To conduct literary research and compilation projects on subjects relevant to Body, Mind & Life in general, and Mental Health Care in particular from the perspectives of Buddhist Psychology, Tibetan Medicine (Sowa-Rigpa) and Tibetan Astro-science.
- To organize conferences, courses and workshops on the theme of body, mind and life, inviting scholars from various systems of knowledge like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Yoga, Chinese Medicine, and Western Medical Science.
- To enhance physical and mental well- being through various practices including yoga and meditation.
- To initiate spiritual activities pertaining to the rituals of Dharma, Tibetan Medicine (Sowa-Rigpa) & Tibetan Astro-Science