Sexual Differentiation in Tibetan Medical and Buddhist Perspectives

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

Earlier commentaries rarely explained how these factors relate to one another, which created uncertainty over which factor matters most for sex determination.

“Few explanations have so far been provided in any of the previous commentaries for the internal relationships between these factors, which in turn led to confusion or doubt about which of these factors (i.e. the hereditary conditions of the parents, the specific timing of conception, or an individual’s karmic merit) were more important in determining sex.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

Tibetan medicine studies sexual differentiation by looking at its determinant factors, with the goal of better understanding the body and diseases that differ between men and women.

“While Tibetan medicine approaches sexual differentiation by examining its various determinant factors, thus aiming to improve understanding of the human body and diseases, which manifest differently in men and women”

• Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain

  “Tibetan medicine approaches sexual differentiation by examining its various determinant factors, thus aiming to improve understanding of the human body and diseases, which manifest differently in men and women.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Kyempa Tshewang's reading is now viewed as a thorough account of when each of the three disease aetiologies should be considered.

“His interpretation has come to be seen as a comprehensive explanation to understand which one of the three aetiologies of disease should be considered in which context.”

• cites sKyem-pa Tshe-dbang, 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Realizing primordial purity's original nature brings peace and the trikāya; failing to realize it leads to wandering through birth, existence and death in samsāra according to karmic imprints.

“When the original nature of primordial purity is realised as it is, one attains peace and the precious state of the trikāya*,4 but as long as it is not realised one wanders, endlessly following the patterns of birth (skye ba), existence and disintegration or death (’jig pa),5 in the various states of samsāra corresponding to one’s own karmic imprints*.”

• cites [4]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [5]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The goal of such practices is the highest mental state, enlightenment.

“Such practices have as their goal to reach the highest state of mind, which is the state of enlightenment (sangs rgyas pa).”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The relative strength of parental heredity versus conception timing in determining a child's sex is widely debated and often appears in Tibetan medical college exams.

“The question of whether the hereditary condition of the parents or the time of the conception have a stronger influence in determining the sex of a child is a much discussed matter, and it also appear frequently in examinations at Tibetan medical colleges.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The scarcity of Tibetan obstetrics texts is tied to gender, owing to the historical predominance of male physicians and Tibetan women's reluctance to discuss health issues, particularly intimate ones.

“I would argue that this lack in textual resources is linked to gender, and due to both the fact that, at least historically, the majority of physicians were men (mostly monks), as well as the point that Tibetan women tend to be reluctant to talk about health problems, especially when related to more intimate parts of the body.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Historically, most Tibetan physicians were men, mostly monks.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Tibetan women tend to be reluctant to talk about health problems, especially those related to intimate body parts.

Probably not a substantial claim.

Classical Tibetan medicine has a close relationship with Buddhist philosophy.

“Classical Tibetan medicine is closely related to Buddhist philosophy.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Buddhist philosophy treats sexual differentiation as a basic natural feature of human life and as central to Tantric practices for realizing the mind's nature and reaching the highest mental state.

“in Buddhist philosophy sexual differentiation is perceived as a fundamental, natural phenomenon of human life that forms a key in Tantric practices to comprehend the nature of mind and thence attaining the highest state of mind.”

• Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain

  “Sexual differentiation is perceived as a fundamental, natural phenomenon of human life and is seen as a key in Tantric practices to comprehend the nature of mind and thence attaining the highest state of mind.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Explanatory Tantra of the Gyushi presents several factors that determine sex.

“Different determining factors of the sexes are given in the Gyushi ’s Explanatory Tantra.”

• cites GyushiNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Tibetan Buddhist philosophy uses the metaphors method (thabs) and wisdom (shes rab) for male and female respectively.

“In Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, the male and the female are also respectively referred to with the metaphors of ‘method’ (thabs) and ‘wisdom’ (shes rab).”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

A body of Tibetan Buddhist theory describes two distinct energies expressed by the sexes through the body, in areas such as spirit, psychology and physique.

“There is a whole body of theory in Tibetan Buddhism that characterises the two distinct energies that the two sexes manifest through the body, for example in terms of spirit, psychology and physique.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Buddhist practices centered on method and wisdom seek to discover the mind's fundamental nature, which is beyond sex and gender.

“As such ‘method’ and ‘wisdom’ lie at the centre of Buddhist practices aimed at discovering the fundamental nature of the mind (sems nyi kyi gdod ma’i rang bzhin), which goes beyond concepts of sex and gender altogether.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Explanatory Tantra links sexual differentiation to the exact time of conception and to inherited conditions from the parents.

“There, sexual differentiation is interpreted in relation to the specific moment of conception, as well as hereditary conditions from the parents (lhan skyes).”

• cites Explanatory TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

Nothing arises from itself: an already existing self would not need to arise; once a cause ceases, it is unseen though its result appears.

“First, there is no arising from oneself. If a self already exists, it does not need to arise. When a cause has stopped, it is invisible though its result is seen.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Based on past karma yet to be experienced, the body becomes male or female through desire, one of the three poisons, causing the dualistic split between perceiver and perception.

“And, depending on its former karma still to be experienced,9 it will appear as male or female through the power of desire, part of the three poisons, and the cause of the dualistic split between perceiver and perception.”

• cites [9]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Every being in existence, high or low and whatever its gate of birth, arises from the union of method and wisdom.

“Although all beings in the realm of existence, be they superior or inferior* and differ in the origin of their gate of birth* (skye gnas), they are born from the union of ‘method’ and ‘wisdom’*.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Oral Instructions Tantra teaches extensively from conventional and definitive standpoints in each of its Eight branches of healing.

“In each of its sections or ‘Eight branches’* of healing, the Oral Instructions Tantra teaches extensively both from a conventional and a definitive* standpoint.”

• cites Oral Instructions TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Tibetan medicine regards ignorance as the primary cause of illness and rejects it.

“This certainty will make clear the reason why Tibetan medicine rejects ignorance, as the prime the cause of illness.”

It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.

These various accounts of conception causes deepen understanding of Nāgārjuna's quotation and allow certainty that birth and disintegration are ultimately delusions caused by ignorance.

“Thereby one can be certain that birth and disintegration are ultimately only delusions due to ignorance.”

• cites NāgārjunaNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Explanatory Tantra's comments on body formation and anatomy employ determining and immediate conditions in relation to male and female manifestation.

“When it comments on the formation of the body, on its anatomy and so forth, it does so in terms of the determining conditions and the immediate conditions relative to the mode of manifestation of males and females.”

• cites Explanatory TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

These three harm-doers act so that the womb-born body consists of four elements, with space pervading all of them.

“Through the typical action of these three ‘harm-doers’, the womb-born body is made up of four elements—if we consider that space pervades them all.8”

• cites [8]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

The three stages of generation, sustenance and disintegration determine three vessel types.

“Thus vessels are shown to be of three types determined by these three stages.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Arising from both self and other is impossible: if neither has procreative capacity, their combination cannot create anything, just as sand grains contain no sesame oil.

“Third, there cannot be arising from both (self and other): If self and other individually had a generative capacity, there could be generation through the coming together of these two. But if, as explained above, neither self nor other have a procreative capacity it is logically impossible that even their coming together could create something, just as there can be no sesame oil in sand grains.20”

• cites [20]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Explanatory Tantra holds that greater abundance of semen produces a boy, while greater abundance of menstruation produces a girl.

“‘If semen (khu ba) is more abundant, one will be born a boy, but if menstruation (bzla mtshan)10 is more abundant, one will be born a girl.’11”

• cites [11]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The immediate condition brings about male or female manifestation; the object-condition is the subtle focus for the foetus's motivation at that moment, arising from karmic imprints.

“The immediate condition causes a male or female manifestation, as appropriate, and the object-condition is the subtle base of focus for the motivation of the foetus in that very moment resulting from the karmic imprints of a being, life after life.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The same source says the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth days yield a boy, while the second, fourth, sixth and eighth days yield a girl.

“‘on the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth [day], it will be a boy. On the second, fourth, sixth and eighth [day], it will be a girl.’12”

• cites [12]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The actual vessel network remains identical at first, middle and end, yet it must be divided into these three stages; birth, life and disintegration are closely tied to the physical body.

“Although the actual vessel network is one and the same at first, in the middle and at the end,17 it is necessary to divide it into these three stages; the concept of birth, life and disintegration is closely linked to the actual physical body of beings.”

• cites [17]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The actual vessel network is one and the same at first, in the middle and at the end.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Birth and disintegration processes rely on the circulation of the seven physical constituents; this circulation's continuity is termed existence or life.

“As all the processes related to birth and disintegration depend on the circulation of the seven physical constituents*, the continuity of this circulation is called ‘existence’ or ‘life’.”

• cites seven physical constituentsNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Four conditions are at work; the causal condition, as the Explanatory Tantra states, is what makes one appear male or female.

“Furthermore, four conditions* apply, one of which is the causal condition, which is what makes one appear as male or female, as is stated in the Explanatory Tantra*:”

• cites Explanatory TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Arising without a cause is impossible: Buddhapālita showed that things cannot arise without a continuous line, since all things always come from all things.

“Fourth, there can be no arising from an absence of cause: Buddhapālita demonstrated that thus, ‘it is a logical impossibility for things to arise in the absence of a continuous line21 because all things always come from all things.’22”

• cites [21]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [22]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Reality transcends the four extremes of arising.

“Thus, as stated above, ‘things’ are beyond the ‘four extremes of arising’*.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

During body generation, vessel branches form the body complex; during life sustenance, generative vessels appear in different kinds with distinct traits and functions; at disintegration, the life-propelling energy is exhausted.

“It is taught how, while they are generating the body, various vessel ramifications branch out to form the body complex*: in the middle, while they are sustaining [life], these generative vessels are shown to be of different kinds, with their characteristics and function; at the end, when they disintegrate, the life-propelling energy is exhausted.16”

• cites [16]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Vessels are defined as roots sustaining human body and life.

“Regarding the nature of the vessels*, they are defined as roots that sustain the body and life of human beings.15”

• cites [15]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamaka-kārikā says nothing ever arises from itself, from another, from both, or without any cause.

“‘Not from itself or from other, neither from both nor from no cause at all, whatever thing it is, nothing whatever, ever arises.’19”

• cites [19]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

According to the Treasury of Abhidharma, generating results requires four conditions that differ from the results.

“the Treasury of Abhidharma* indicates: For results to be generated, there have to be conditions distinct from the results, and these are said to be four …”

• cites Treasury of AbhidharmaNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Birth or arising has six kinds of causes; when all are complete, a human body comes to be.

“The phenomenon of birth or arising has six types of causes* and when these are complete in all their aspects, there is a human body.”

• cites six types of causesNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Oral Instructions Tantra says the body formed by the three poisons and four elements becomes male or female through past deeds and desire; weaker merit results in a woman's body.

“‘the body produced by the three poisons and the four elements* appears as male or female through former deeds and by the power of desire. With weaker merit, one will get a woman’s body.’6”

• cites [6]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Nothing arises from another: when the cause is present, the result dependent on it has not yet arisen and does not exist, so no dependent other can exist.

“Second, there is no arising from others. At the time of the cause, the “result” entity dependent on it has not arisen and does not exist. Therefore, there can be no dependent “other”.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

That section frames everything through the causal condition: women's karma and merit, their differences from men, biological features, and the classification and details of gynaecological diseases.

“Everything there is discussed in terms of the causal condition: first, the karma and merit of women, then the way in which women appear as different from men and, the biological features of woman and the classification of various gynaecological diseases and the detail of each.”

• cites Oral Instructions TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Without birth, a body would have no cause to disintegrate; if anything born could live forever without disintegration, birth itself could not occur.

“Considering any body, there would be no cause for its disintegration if it had not been born in the first place, and if anything ever born knew no disintegration and could live on forever, there could be no such thing as being born.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Four Tantras names four vessel systems: generating, sustaining, connecting and life.

“As is described in the Four Tantras: ‘Generating, sustaining, connecting and life*: [these are the] four vessel systems’.14”

• cites [14]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The section on female illnesses treats those diseases as a deliberate medical speciality.

“In the section on ‘female illnesses’, those diseases are deliberately dealt with as a medical speciality.”

• cites Oral Instructions TantraNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Explanatory Tantra of the Four Tantras lists the womb's conception causes as faultless parental sperm and blood, a consciousness moved by karma and defilements, and the five elements gathered.

“‘First, faultless sperm and blood* of father and mother, a consciousness stimulated by karma and defilements, the five elements* all gathered together—[such are] the causes of conception in the womb.’23”

• cites [23]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Birth and disintegration occur through mutual dependence.

“if we reason in terms of birth and disintegration, these occur through their mutual dependence.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Disintegration is the reason birth occurs, and this is the origin of the term universe ('jig rten, the destructible basis).

“Because of disintegration there is birth, and this is how the very word “universe”—’jig rten (‘the destructible basis’)—was formed.”