Background of Bradley Dobos / Amchi Thubten Lekshe
Founder of the Tanaduk Botanical Research Institute, Tenzing Momo Apothecary and Clinic of Tibetan medicine, The Tanaduk Clinic for Tibetan Holistic Health, TibetanPharmacy.com and establishing Tibetan Pharmacy at Jhampa Tibetan Pharmacy.
The spiritual and botanical education of Bradley Dobos began early, guided by his mother and grandmother. In his early teens, he was mentored by the renowned American herbalist John Christopher and studied indigenous and Western herbology under Ella Birzneck at The Dominion Herbal College of British Columbia. In 1969, he earned his Master's Degree in Clinical Herbology and Botanical Formulation. His studies continued with a focus on the ethnobotany of the Northwest at Western Washington University and the ethnobotany of the Himalayas at the University of British Columbia. Upon completion, he received a grant from Western Washington University to further his research in botanical medicine in the Himalayas.
Before traveling to the Himalayas, Bradley had been studying Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism and had received empowerments and teachings in Sutra and Tantra from Ven. Deshung Rinpoche, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and others. He later traveled to Boudhanath, Nepal, where he continued his studies in Sutra and Tantra under the guidance of Ven. Lama Thubten Yeshe, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, and Zong Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery.
Due to his deep interest in indigenous and alternative healing practices, his root teacher, Lama Yeshe, personally introduced him to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1972. It was proposed that, given his prior training, empowerments from esteemed masters, and knowledge of ethnobotany, medical anthropology, and the traditional uses of Himalayan botanicals, a specialized course of study in Tibetan Sowa Rigpa be developed for him. His Holiness the Dalai Lama supported this initiative, and a program was created to accommodate Dobos' training in the spiritual science of Sowa Rigpa. After four years of study, research, further training in formulation, he became one of the first Westerners to complete training in Tibetan medicine. He continued 12 more years apprenticeship, with elder Tibetan physicians, earning recognition as Amchi Thubten Lekshe, an extraordinary and unique achievement.
Throughout his studies, he was trained in Sutra, Tantra, and indigenous alternative healing practices by many great teachers and doctors, among them Dr. Tenzing Choedrak, the personal physician to the Dalai Lama. and the great women Amchi Amala Lobsang Dolma, Dr. Yeshe Donden and Jigme Tsarong.
With deepest reverence, Amchi Lekshe offers this message of gratitude to honor the sacred lineages and their adept masters from whom he has received countless precious teachings. Their compassion, wisdom, and guidance have lit the path of awakening, and continue leading all beings toward self awareness, realization and liberation.
He received both written and oral lineage transmission teachings from these great masters: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, Ven. Thubten Yeshe, Ven. Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, Ven. Geshe Rapten, and His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, and His Holiness Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, Ven. Kalu Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Ven. Lama Tharchen Rinpoche. His training further included guidance from Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, Khenpo Dorje Gyaltsen, and Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. Additionally, he received profound teachings from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Ven. Deshung Rinpoche, Geshe Tashi Namgyal, Gen Lamrimpa, and Ven. Geshe Gyaltsen. May the blessings of these masters and lineages continue to inspire and empower all sentient beings and every future generation. With a heart full of gratitude, Amchi Lekshe is humbled to have received these transmitted teachings and works diligently sharing these seeds of wisdom energy to awaken and help release from suffering mindscapes. expressing, advancing and sharing these boundless seeds of wisdom energy and light.
Over the past 50 years, Dobos (Amchi La) has received further teachings, oral transmissions, instructions, and empowerments from many of the above list and other kind and compassionate wisdom holders.
In 1977, Amchi Thubten Lekshe (Bradley) returned to the West and began sharing his knowledge and spiritual practices in Sowa Rigpa. He founded Tenzing Momo Apothecary, incorporating Western Herbalism, Tibetan, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, USA. During this time of over 14 years, he never charged a fee for his services. His interactions with those seeking his help were to educate individuals about the nature of their conditions, offering counseling on behavioral and lifestyle modifications, spiritual practices, dietary therapy, and herbal remedies tailored to their humoral constitution. His approach also included Tibetan pill supplements, Kum Nye massage, and other traditional healing modalities of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.
For over a decade, he mentored students and graduates from Bastyr University, offering three- and six-month apprenticeship programs. He also volunteered for nine years as Director of Botanical Medicine at the Savatthi Ayurvedic Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. Later, he established The Tanaduk Center for Tibetan Holistic Health on Orcas Island, Washington, continuing on for over 25 years.
Amchi Lekshe's ongoing research in botanical formulation and re-formulation of traditional medicines has been enthusiastically received and rigorously analyzed by elder Tibetan physicians, most notably Dr. Tenzing Choedrak, the supreme head of Tibetan medicine pharmacology at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Institute of Tibetan Sowa Rigpa (Men-Tsee-Khang). After reviewing Amchi Thubten Lekshe's reformulations of specific traditional Tibetan formulas, Dr. Choedrak not only approved them but expressed his delight at Thubten's deep understanding of the energetic signatures present in Tibetan formulations. He was especially pleased that specific reformulations maintained the energetic targets without incorporating animal or insect-based ingredients. Dr. Choedrak's approval was a profound validation for Amchi Thubten Lekshe, both professionally and personally.
Amchi Lekshe expresses profound gratitude to all the revered precious teachers who have so generously shared their time, love, and wisdom with him. In every moment, he feels this connection, and spontaneously his heart overflows with streams of grateful sincere appreciation for all who have enriched his body, mind, heart and soul journey.
Living within the aura of Gratitude, Love & Light.
May all beings find peace, clarity, and ultimate awakening.
Om Ah Hum ❤
❤ 🙏❤
