Contributed articles.

Autobiography and lectures of a Tibetan physician.

Preface It was certainly the combination of a gigantic landmass, a small population and primarily the nomadic pastoral lifestyle which made the ancient Tibetan’s special awareness of their environment. From time immemorial, our ancestors have closely observed the movements of the Sun, Moon, planets and constellations, and have calculated time based on day, month and seasons. They forcasted the weather based on the nature of the wind, clouds, rainbows, appearance of the flora, behaviour of the fauna and being conscious of microscopic changes in other natural phenomena. These fine observations of nature formed the rich foundation on which Tibetan Astrology was later built upon. Founded on primeval wisdom, by the second century B.C., this had developed into a systematic science — known as one of the 12 Fields of Knowledge of Bön Tradition — alongside medicine and an array of divinatory practices. Over the centuries this fertile base was greatly expanded by the arrival of Buddhist philosophy and Chinese astrology in the seventh century A.D. With the advent of Buddhism, from India came access to the Kālacakra Tantra — a teaching explaining the formation of the universe and living beings — first preached by the Shakyamuni Buddha in 881 B.C. By the 11th century A.D. this complex tantric yoga was fully practiced in Tibet and was soon incorporated by scholars into astrological texts. The history of Tibetan Astrology is a complex, multi-facetted and culturally unique just like the long history of the Tibetan empire. Through the decades of exile in India this tradition has been carefully taught, conserved and practiced by Men-Tsee-Khang — the Tibetan Medical and Astro. Institute — alongside its complementary and more widely-known science, Tibetan Medicine. ‘Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology — A Brief Introduction’, first published in 1995 by this institute has reached its eighth edition. With world interest in all facets of Tibet’s religion, history, arts and culture spiraling, it was decided that a more ambitious and comprehensive illustrated book should be produced outlining all fundamental aspects of Tibetan Astrology. We were assigned this project in late 2009 and as our research began to bear fruit, we decided to include in the book the fundamental understanding of the indigenous Ancient Tibetan Astrology, and its interface with the importation of Nag-rTsis (Elemental Astrology) from China and dKar-rTsis (the astrology of Kālacakra and Arising Vowels) from India. This led to the two major indigenous astrology lineages — the Tsurlug and the Phuglug, the latter of which is practiced by Men-Tsee-Khang. Having the origin and authenticity of this, we proceeded by explaining for the beginners the role of astrology in relation with the nine other traditional fields of science — grammar, medicine, logic, arts and crafts, Buddhist philosophy, poetry, synonyms, metrical science and theatrical performance. Tibetan Astrology is an important feature of the Science of Healing and inseparable from the practice of Tibetan Medicine. Since the objective of engaging in the study and practice of Tibetan Astrology is to ensure good fortune and happiness to others, and often to advise remedial measures and protections when obstacles are identified, the final part of the text focuses on explaining the wide range of horoscopes and amulets which are routinely prepared by TMAI’s Astrology Department. The primary motivation of exiles gathered in Dharamshala has been the preservation of Tibet’s religion and culture while we watch our beliefs, practices and way of life being suppressed, sinified, and even erased under China’s occupation of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan Medicine and Astrology are key components in ensuring this cultural preservation. With their roots stemming from the understanding and practice of Buddha Dharma, and their ethical focus on the well-being of all sentient life, these ancient sciences can be seen as a precious offering of wisdom and healing to today’s uncertain world. Tenzin Sherab (Astrologer) Tenzin Tsewang Jamling (Astrologer) Men-Tsee-Khang December, 2011

Astrology is one of the traditional arts and sciences of Tibet, used by monks and lamas in the study of the rhythms and cycles of time, for divination, and as an adjunct to the practice of traditional medicine. Here is the first comprehensive introduction to the subject, with practical instructions for casting and interpreting a Tibetan horoscope.

Buddhist astrology bridges familiar astrological thinking with the ideas of karma, interdependence, and impermanence. Within its tenets every psychological state is brought to light; it can be considered spirit-medicine for modern astrology. Glossary.

A richly detailed, in-depth look at fixed stars and their role in affecting astrological predictions. Since prehistory, humanity has been held in thrall by the night sky, captivated by the mystery of the stars. Seeking to make sense of such a magical overhead landscape, people used the stars to relate beliefs, creation stories, and mythologies. And just as the fixed stars have ancient origins in human life, their astrological interpretations get right to the heart of our lives. Celebrated astrologer Bernadette Brady melds modern astrological techniques with Egyptian and early Greek mythology to bring astrologers to a deeper understanding of the horoscope and provides delineations for using fixed stars in chart interpretation. Her methods open a window on the fixed stars, revealing how a major star in a person’s chart indicates the stage of life in which it is active and how it affirms the person’s life journey through the mythology that the star represents. Though the fixed stars have been watched and studied for all of human history, Brady’s Book of Fixed Stars continues to be the astrological bible for how to use them in practice. This is an essential resource that should be on every astrologer’s bookshelf. The book includes Paran maps, star maps, star phases, and mythologies for over sixty stars, New insights into the natal use of fixed stars, as well as their use in mundane astrology, Extensive appendices of graphs and tables to help astrologers find rising or setting dates for any given location, And a listing of 176 stars with their 21st-century positions. Originally published by Weiser Books in 1999, this Weiser Classics edition includes a new foreword by Chloe Margherita.

Astronomy Across Cultures: A History of Non-Western Astronomy consists of essays dealing with the astronomical knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Polynesian, Egyptian and Tibetan astronomy, among others, the book includes essays on Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them and Astronomy and Prehistory, and Astronomy and Astrology. The essays address the connections between science and culture and relate astronomical practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay is well illustrated and contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both the history of science and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.