Tibetan medicine considers that connection between mind and body taking place at the moment of the union of sperm,egg,and consciousness in the embryotic processing.This sophisticated mind-body connection is mapped of three layers: the "gross body," referring to the physical body and the sensory mind;the "subtle body" or energetic body,which is composed of "channels" (rtsa),"energy centers" or "wheels" (rtsa khor),"winds" (rlung),and "drops" or "vital essences" (thig le);and the "extremely subtle body" or "indestructible drop" referring to the extremely subtle mind of clear light.According to traditional Tibetan medical texts,these three channels are considered life vessels (srog rtsa): the right channel is considered the blood life vessel (khrag rtsa),the central channel is described as the wind life vessel (rlung rtsa),and the left channel is considered the water life vessel (chu rtsa).The mind is said to "ride" the subtle winds as a rider rides a horse.The subtle winds flow throughout the channels,which,in turn,support the physical body and its physiological processes.On a gross level,the exacerbation of various winds by addictive emotions can be observed in changes in respiratory rate,depth,and patterns.The mind is closely linked to wind,and changes in breathing patterns also have an effect on cognitive processes.From the Tibetan medical perspective,excessive circulating winds in the uppermost part of the chest (often associated with anxiety-related shallow breathing patterns) contribute to the development of mental disease.The cultivating conscious awareness of the subtle energetic processes in order to gain control over subtle physiological and psychological processes evolved into a highly sophisticated system of self-healing.Advanced contemplative practices found within this tradition seek to transform the gross,subtle,and extremely subtle body continuum by intervening at the subtle levels of conceptual,perceptual,and psycho-physical processes.The aim of mind and body practices such as meditation is to learn to manipulate the subtle energy in order to remove negative energetic or physical blockages which cloud the minds natural,luminous,and pure nature.Such practices clear a direct path to optimal health,happiness,and longevity.Ultimately,systematized mind training aims at interrupting the learned maladaptive cognitive-behavioral complex by eradicating the fundamental ignorance and overcoming the addictive emotional instincts of desire,anger,and attachment.It is important to note that the Tibetan healing sciences are oriented toward the attainment of radically enhanced states of psycho-physical health,rather than the mere management of disease.Accordingly,mental training is also a necessary prerequisite for the aforementioned practices which aim to enhance and promote extraordinary levels of health and well-being.