Back to school last weekend in San Francisco to study the ancient Chinese medical writings with internationally renowned scholars, Elizabeth Rochat and Ken Rose for a post-graduate program called “Teaching From the Roots.” This weekend we cultivated the qi of knowledge. Future classes promise more in depth study of the acupuncture-moxibustion classics.
We are studying the ancient texts to expand our knowledge of the way acupuncture was practiced two thousand years ago by exploring the Classical Literature of Chinese medicine.
While attending, I have met people who are experts in fields of knowledge that I know very little about. I have been studying the ancient Chinese medical classics since the late 70’s, now I can discuss these writings with others who have interest in their teachings. We are trying to understand how the ancient masters practiced, especially areas of our medicine not much taught these days.
Since the time in ’69 when I first read the Dao De Jing, I have learned to read and write many Chinese characters. Years ago I studied the Chinese characters to help me understand the names of the acupuncture points. Chinese medical terms and concepts are often translated using many different English words. Knowing the symbolism inherent in Chinese characters gives me a better understanding of what that term means.
Discussions are in depth and cover much material new to me. I know a little bit, my fellow teachers know a little also—even the course instructors admit to a deficiency of knowledge that designing and teaching this class will help them gain. So Dear Reader, if you are practicing medicine, alternative or orthodox, and are interested in understanding what ancient Chinese teachers had to say about Chinese medicine, this is the class to join. New people are still joining.
Michael Turk 