Having practiced medicine and taught for over six decades, Dr. Wangdui, as a Tibetan doctor, diligently works in clinical settings for more than 10 hours daily. As an educator, he rises early and stays late, being involved in almost every aspect of his students' lives. As a researcher, he never lets go of a book, delving deeply into ancient Tibetan medical texts.
In such a busy work environment, Wangdui, who holds three roles, still maintains high spirits. To him, when busyness becomes a habit, it turns into enjoyment. His dedication to researching Tibetan medicine supports his life dedicated to its preservation.
Living Regularly and Immersed in Work
In Wangdui's long career, “sitting still” is not the norm. Upon arriving at work, he always wishes to be involved in every step, often filling his schedule so tightly that he only sleeps for 3-4 hours a day. To most people, his daily routine of seeing patients, teaching, reading, and researching seems immense and fast-paced, but this does not leave Wangdui feeling drained; instead, his body has adapted to this constant state of busyness.
The Huangdi Neijing states: “Ancient people who understood the Dao followed the principles of yin and yang, harmonized with the methods of health cultivation, ate and drank in moderation, lived regularly, did not labor excessively, and thus could maintain the unity of form and spirit, living out their natural lifespan, reaching a hundred years before passing away.” Being busy without overworking requires stable habits to support this harmony between mind and body. “Although Professor Wangdui rests for a short time, his sleep quality is very high, allowing him to quickly regain his energy after brief periods of rest,” says Mi Ma, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Tibet University of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, who was among Wangdui's first batch of undergraduate students. “In a sense, this busy pace aligns with his own life rhythm.”
In addition to having a regular and fixed rhythm in life, Wangdui also has his dietary preferences. The Book of History states: “Eat according to the time.” In Wangdui's view, eating at fixed times regularly ensures the proper functioning of the spleen and stomach, allowing food to be digested, absorbed, and distributed throughout the body systematically, maintaining normal metabolism and bodily functions. Regardless of how busy he is, Wangdui always maintains regular mealtimes, eating set portions at specific times.
Additionally, due to retaining Tibetan dietary customs, he has at least one meal a day of tsampa, a traditional staple of Tibetan herders, accompanied by moderate amounts of beef, mutton, and butter tea. “Professor Wangdui's eating habits are relatively fixed. He isn't interested in new foods and mostly eats according to the habits he formed in his childhood,” says Tsering, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Tibet Hospital of Tibetan Medicine, who learned from Wangdui.
Cultivating Inner Spirit and Holistic Health
Wangdui loves reading and writing. After handling daily affairs at work, he picks up ancient texts and reads them, developing a broad reading habit. To Wangdui, life should have faith and pursuit; one should use their brain often, and the greater one's contribution to others, the more meaningful life becomes. Thus, he continuously writes, compiling his valuable academic ideas and clinical experiences into books for other Tibetan medicine professionals to learn from.
“Professor Wangdui's bedside is filled with stacks of books and documents, and he often reads one carefully before sleep,” recalls Tsering. “This level of passion for researching Tibetan medicine truly amazes me.” To Wangdui, reading these ancient Tibetan medical texts is like engaging in spiritual dialogue with great doctors of the past. These journeys through time and space broaden his perspective, further igniting his passion for academia and setting the stage for his next phase of research.
The Huangdi Neijing states: “When one is tranquil, void, and without desires, genuine qi follows. When one guards the inner spirit, where do illnesses come from?” To Wangdui, the most important aspect of health cultivation is nurturing the spirit, followed by caring for the body. A clear spirit and peaceful mind naturally bring about whole-body tranquility, which is the fundamental principle and guiding thought of health preservation. His passion for Tibetan medicine culture provides him with a sense of fulfillment and achievement while studying texts, leading to little internal spiritual exhaustion. Instead, he immerses himself in his small world, focusing on academics, clinical practice, and mentoring students. Wangdui believes that learning keeps the mind sharp and constantly refreshed, updating his knowledge and enabling him to contribute more effectively to the inheritance and development of Tibetan medicine.
The physical body is the foundation of human life; with the body comes life, and with life comes spiritual activity. For Wangdui, moderate exercise also plays a role in nurturing both body and mind. At work, he often walks around the school to check on his students' studies. After work, he takes strolls to aid digestion and relieve physical fatigue.
Wangdui embodies the values of working diligently and performing good deeds. Through his inner dedication and disinterest in fame and wealth, he finds peace in his own domain, truly achieving inner spirit cultivation and cultivating wellbeing.
This issue edited by Zhang Jing