Sun Simiao’s Gifts
An online course for Chinese Medicine Practitioners
Lovingly created by Leo Lok and Sabine Wilms
Do you want to know more about the great Chinese medical ancestor Sun Simiao and his specific contributions?
Are you looking for a gentle, clinically oriented introduction to the roots of Chinese medicine that is academically sound, beautifully framed, and carefully curated with sensitivity to contemporary relevance?
Are you curious about the background story of the most commonly used oath in Chinese medicine training and need spiritual inspiration on your healer’s path?
Do you crave direct access to the original source on ghost points, on the origins of Chinese gynecology and pediatrics from “menstrual attunement” to “transformations and steamings,” on yangsheng and personal transformation, or other clinical pearls, but are too busy to learn classical Chinese yourself?
OR…do you just enjoy watching Sabine and Leo bouncing ideas off of each other and want to nerd out with us?
Course Description
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In this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, two international experts on early Chinese medicine combine their unique skills, experiences, and professional training in translation, clinical and personal practice, and academic research in history, philosophy, and religion. Allow us to introduce you to the writings of the great medical ancestor Sun Simiao 孫思邈 (581-682 CE).
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We start out by exploring Sun Simiao's life on the basis of historical accounts, his own writings, and legends. We discuss his famous work, the "Formulas Worth a Thousand in Gold to Prepare for Emergencies" and consider the influence of the cultural and religious context, most notably Buddhism and the cultural openness of early medieval China. We hope to show you why he is so important today.
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What did Sun Simiao mean with his famous saying that "women are ten times more difficult to treat than men"? We introduce you to the key pathologies, etiologies and treatments in Sun Simiao's "formulas for women." And give you a glimpse of the art of "venerating the root" in the care of newborns and children, with such unique concepts as "transformations and steamings" and "panic seizures" that will revolutionize your approach to reproductive care.
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We dedicate an entire lesson to the "Thirteen Ghost Points": By presenting the specific instructions (symptoms, sequence, needling details, fire needles vs. moxa, etc.), we demonstrate the seriousness of this treatment protocol and give you the tools to decide if this technique is appropriate for you to pursue.
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We shall use Sun Simiao's famous medical oath to dive into his vision for the ideal healer, from the cultivation of stillness, wisdom, and compassion to professional etiquette and lifelong learning. Let his unique synthesis of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism inspire all of us in our attempt to alleviate suffering in the world.
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In the concluding lesson, we explore Sun Simiao's teachings on Yangsheng and longevity. We follow his lead to look at the preciousness of every breath, the power of the emotions to sicken or heal, and the role of our daily acts of goodness. Whether in the context of "playing with Qi," dietetics, sleep hygiene, or sexual cultivation, it all comes down to calibration, applied with compassion and curiosity.
The Details:
Six structured lessons in a lively exchange between Leo and Sabine, each lasting about 15 to 20 minutes.
Elegantly curated slideshows with traditional Chinese art, concrete clinical information, a treasure trove of original quotes in translation, and even Leo’s beautiful singing!
A user-friendly password-protected platform with commenting function and all the course material at your fingertips anytime anywhere that works for YOU!
Unlimited access to all the material for a full month.
Dates and Times: Registration opens December 21!
Finances: Stay tuned....
Your Guides
This course is the outcome of an unparalleled collaboration that bridges cultures, continents, millennia, and professional specializations. Allow us, the internationally famous podcasting and research team of Leo Lok and Sabine Wilms PhD, to combine our complementary backgrounds and skills to bring to life one of the most important figures in the history of Chinese medicine!
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Writer, translator, professor, publisher, and goat herder.
To find out more about Dr. Wilms’ background, VISIT THIS PAGE.
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Leo is a practitioner and independent scholar of Chinese Medicine. A native speaker/reader of Chinese languages, Leo is one of the rare clinician-scholars in the world who excels in researching and translating ancient Chinese medical literature into the English language.
Since 2015, he has been a top contributor in the 6432-member Facebook group - Scholars of Chinese Medicine. Leo has helped research and answer more than 2000 questions on the historical development, interpretations and translations of Chinese medical topics for colleagues worldwide.
He has also been consulted for numerous translation projects for his expertise, e.g. Dr. Sabine Wilms's ‘The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica’ (2017)《神農本草經》and "Hundred Questions on Gynecology" (2019)《女科百問》.
He is also a contributing translator for the Chinese Medicine section of an upcoming anthology of historical Asian literature on meditation related illnesses (a project by Dr. Pierce Salguero at Pennsylvania State University).
Leo also shares his unique perspectives and clinical insights through his online courses at http://vooma.thinkific.com
““To nurture our nature: If we strive to complete it with daily practices, it becomes perfect on its own accord….Then no internal or external illnesses could ever arise, and turmoil and disasters also have nowhere to start from. This is the guideline for nurturing our Nature.”
— Sun Simiao, Beiji qianjin yaofang, vol. 27
Outline
Introduction: Who was/is Sun Simiao and why was/is he important?
“Ten times more difficult to treat”: Treatments for women
“Venerating the root”: Treatments for newborns and children
The thirteen ghost points: What they are and what to do and not to do with them
The oath that wasn’t: Sun Simiao’s teachings on medical ethics and the influence of Buddhism
Nurturing ourselves and others: Yangsheng, cultivation, and transformation
