About Us
Welcome to the Sowa Rigpa Foundation (Stiftung Sowa Rigpa). We are a dedicated non-profit organization and educational institute centered in Boppard am Rhein, Germany. Rooted in the sacred tradition of the Karma Kagyü lineage. Our mission is to preserve, research, and transmit Sowa Rigpa – the traditional Tibetan Buddhist “Science of Healing” – to students, practitioners, and seekers worldwide.
Our Mission
Sowa Rigpa is one of the world’s oldest continuous systems of holistic medicine. We bridge traditional Himalayan healing wisdom with modern education, field research, and cultural conservation.
Our core objectives are to:
Educate & Inspire: Provide comprehensive training, authentic certification tracks, and specialized workshops in Sowa Rigpa theory and practice.
Support Students & Scholars: Award scholarships to dedicated students and offer residential facilities to foster deep study and practice.
Conserve Sacred Flora: Protect and cultivate endangered Himalayan medicinal plants through active field research and botanical gardens.
Preserve Cultural Heritage: Fund monastic education, traditional art forms, and social projects across original Buddhist regions.
The Lineage & Philosophy
For over two millennia, Sowa Rigpa has offered a complete approach to physical, mental, and energetic well-being.
An Unbroken Tradition
The roots of Sowa Rigpa trace back to Buddha Sakyamuni (623 BC – 543 BC ), who imparted fundamental medical teachings in sacred places like the Medicine Forest near Bodhgaya and Udhiyana. This wisdom was carefully preserved and transmitted through an unbroken lineage of legendary masters—including Manjushri, Jivaka, Nagarjuna, Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Yeshe Tsogyal, and Yuthog Yönten Gönpo.
Healing as Living Compassion
In Buddhist tradition, natural medicine is deeply intertwined with the Medicine Buddha. Ancient texts teach that everything found in nature possesses potential therapeutic value, and medicinal plants are understood as physical manifestations of Bodhisattvas’ compassionate vows to relieve suffering. We honor this sacred link by teaching sustainable plant stewardship alongside classical medical theory.
The Educational Experience
Whether you are looking to become a certified Sowa Rigpa Therapist, expand your existing healthcare practice, or explore Buddhist philosophy, our institute offers an immersive, supportive learning environment.
What We Offer:
Therapist Training & Certification Track: Modular, multi-year study programs covering classical diagnosis, plant pharmacology, dietetics, and therapeutic techniques.
Medicine Buddha Seminars: Intensive weekend workshops focusing on practical self-healing, mind-training, and holistic wellness.
Field Study & Practical Research: Hands-on botanical experience, with opportunities to learn about Himalayan plant ecology directly through our field initiatives in Nepal.
Student Scholarships & Housing: Financial aid and on-site lodging options to ensure authentic instruction remains accessible to passionate learners.
Our Global Conservation Projects
We believe true healing extends to the planet. Through the Stiftung Sowa Rigpa, student tuition and foundation contributions directly support vital field projects in the Himalayas:
Project 1: The “Sacred Land” Botanical Garden (Khumbu, Nepal)
High in the Mt. Everest region at Tesho, we maintain a dedicated medicinal plant garden and research facility. This initiative protects endangered wild herbs from over-harvesting, produces medicinal teas, serves as a practical field laboratory for our students, and empowers local Sherpa communities to preserve their botanical heritage.
Project 2: Newar Buddhist Art Preservation (Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)
We fund research and documentation to safeguard the 2,000-year-old tradition of Newar Buddhist stone carving, supporting 5th-generation master artisans (the Bajracharya family in Patan) in keeping this sacred craft alive.
Our Home: Sowa Rigpa-Haus
All residential courses, seminars, and lectures take place at Sowa Rigpa-Haus (Haus Adams) in the historic Rhine valley town of Boppard am Rhein, Germany.
Operating as both the foundation headquarters and a cozy family guesthouse, Sowa Rigpa-Haus provides a tranquil, retreat-like setting where students can live, study, dine, and practice together. Income generated from guesthouse operations directly funds foundation scholarships and ecological initiatives.
Begin Your Journey
We invite you to explore our upcoming curriculum, join a course, or support our heritage projects.
Address: Peter-Josef-Kreuzberg-Straße 15, 56154 Boppard am Rhein, Germany
Telephone: +49 6742 80434 70
Mobile / WhatsApp: +49 160 97331272
Email: stiftungsowarigpa@posteo.de