Dr. Kelsang Dhonden
Continuing the Healing Legacy of Tibetan Sowa-Rigpa
Lineage & Legacy
Dr. Kelsang Dhonden is a devoted student and close disciple of His Eminence, the late Ven. Dr. Yeshi Dhonden (Padma Shri awardee), former personal physician to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Dr. Yeshi Dhonden was born on May 15, 1927, at Lhonpo Shol in the Lhoka Prefecture of Tibet and descended from the illustrious lineage of Ngog Choeku Dorjee and Ngog Lodhen Sherab. At the age of twelve, he enrolled at the Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang to study Tibetan Medicine and Astrology under the guidance of the renowned physician Dr. Khenrab Norbu, personal physician to His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama. He graduated with honours and began practicing Tibetan medicine from the age of twenty, serving communities in the Lhoka and Dhagsa regions during times of severe epidemics. After a lifetime of compassionate service, he passed away peacefully in Dharamsala at the age of 92, leaving behind an enduring legacy in Tibetan medicine.
Education & Training
Born in 1975 into the Tulkhor family lineage of Ngok Choeku Dorjee—disciple of the great yogi Jetsun Milarepa—Dr. Kelsang Dhonden belongs to a Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhist tantric practitioners. He completed his formal medical education at the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang), Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. In addition to medical studies, he pursued in-depth training in Tibetan Buddhist Sutra and Tantra, integrating spiritual wisdom with the healing arts.
Awards & Publications
Dr. Kelsang Dhonden received extensive training in pharmacology and clinical practice, working closely with the late Dr. Yeshi Dhonden in his pharmacy and clinic in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. For nearly a decade, he served as assistant and junior physician at the Tibetan Sorig Herbal Clinic, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in traditional Tibetan medicine.
He holds a Bachelor of Sowa-Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS) and an MD in Pharmacy. He is the founder of Yuthog Nyingthig Pharmaceutical, registered under the Sowa Rigpa Pharmaceutical Company (Reg. No. PR/U-B003/2014). Dr. Kelsang Dhonden is a registered practitioner under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and holds a Digital Doctor Certificate authorized by the Government of India.
Clinical Practice
- Appreciation Medal from the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute
- Appreciation Letter from Salute Tiranga, Himachal Pradesh
- Yamdrog Youtso Award
- Certificates of Appreciation from the Tibetan Welfare Office, Lokhag Yumbu Lhakang, Central Council of Tibetan Medicine (CCTM), and Tibetan Parents Association
Research & Outreach
Dr. Kelsang Dhonden is also an accomplished author and researcher. He chronicled the biography of the late Dr. Yeshi Dhonden and provided scholarly commentary on the medicinal efficacy handbook composed by Ven. Khenrab Norbu. His published works and articles include topics such as the Medicine Buddha Path of Enlightenment and Wisdom, Medicine Buddha Mandala, the Concept and History of Tibetan Medicine, and the Nalanda tradition of ancient Indian medical science.
He has participated in numerous medical workshops and conferences across India, including the 2nd International Conference on Tibetan Medicine (2021–22), and regularly travels internationally for invited consultations organized by the Tibet Foundation, London, and long-standing patients of the late Dr. Yeshi Dhonden.
Continuing the Legacy
Following the passing of Dr. Yeshi Dhonden in 2019, Dr. Kelsang Dhonden has continued to run the clinic with unwavering dedication, carrying forward the spiritual and medical legacy of his mentor. He consults with approximately 40–45 patients daily, except Saturdays, which are dedicated to medicine formulation and ritual practices to bless and enhance the efficacy of medicines—continuing the sacred traditions passed down to him.
Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Kelsang Dhonden maintains a disciplined spiritual practice, engaging in daily meditation and compassionate prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings, and especially for his patients, aspiring to relieve suffering and restore health at the earliest.