Roy Watkins: Custodian of TCM and Its Tibetan Branch

Confidence in the Future

Since embarking on this career, Watkins has always worked at least six days a week, allowing himself just one day of rest. His silver needles have helped to relieve the pain of thousands of patients. Watkins adheres to the principle of treating each patient according to their specific physical condition, and feels grateful that “my patients teach me how to be a better doctor.”

It was not until December 2015 that Watkins took his first trip to China. Upon arrival in the land where acupuncture and Tibetan medicine originated, he felt as though he had come home. There was so much to see during his 10-day stay in Beijing, and he could not get enough of walking around and looking at every corner of the city. He visited several Tibetan medicine organizations, including the China Tibetology Research Center and the Beijing Tibetan Hospital, where he learned more about Tibetan medicated baths.

Most of all Watkins found Beijing to be an amazing city, and the Forbidden City one of the most impressive places in existence. “I believe its construction was based on the theory of the five elements and the mandala pattern.” Watkins regards the complex as an archetype of world architecture. He felt that the energy concentrated in the complex somehow revived his memory.

Watkins has always advocated the Oriental mode of mind exploration, which he calls an “inner science.” In his view, “outer science” solves external problems whereas “inner science” – with inner peace at its core – is the key to dealing with inherent human social issues. Advances in science and technology, for instance, have caused pollution and disturbed the ecological balance. Yet “outer science” seems incapable of eradicating or resolving these problems. Inner harmony is hence the only way to manage the chaotic outside world. This is Watkins’ solution, and he takes pride in being a scientist cognizant of “inner science.”

Meantime, Watkins has himself benefited from his own philosophy. “I used to look for happiness in the outside world, but always failed. Now I realize that happiness simply lies in your heart.” When asked if he still has a temper, Watkins laughed and replied: “Oh yes, if my wife decides to press that particular button.” But he does his utmost, through training his inner mind, to be more patient.

Watkins highly commended the International Seminar on Tibetan Studies. “It’s been excellent. I’m so happy to hear so much discussion on the preservation of Tibetan traditions and culture.” He hopes to build a center in the West that will offer Tibetan medicated baths and the rehabilitative services that are such a prominent feature of Tibetan traditional medicine. Watkins is confident that finding practitioners won’t be a problem because the China Tibetology Research Center offers professional training courses, but more investment is needed for research into Tibetan medicine.

The earthquake in Nepal in April 2015 cut off for a time the supply of medicine that Watkins frequently imported for a time. He therefore hopes that the same herbs can be planted in Europe, or that an alternative medicinal ingredients can be found. As he remarked, “The Alps possibly has a similar natural environment in which to grow Tibetan herbs.” Roy Watkins is consequently confident about the future of TCM and Tibetan medicine in the West.