It is our deep honor to invite you to join a small, intimate group of practitioners and supporters on a once in a lifetime journey through Kathmandu, Nepal and Paro, Bhutan. This is not an ordinary retreat. It is a donor pilgrimage offered in service to the wisdom traditions that have given so much to our practice, our healing, and our lives.
Over eight days we will move through ancient Buddhist sites, sit at the feet of Tibetan medicine masters, receive personal treatments from senior Sowa Rigpa students, and rest deeply in two of the most beautiful sanctuaries in the Himalayas. Every step of this journey is a thread connecting us to the lineage of healers and yogis who have safeguarded these teachings for centuries.
By saying yes to this trip, you are also saying yes to something larger. A portion of your contribution directly supports the Drangsong Foundation and the Sowa Rigpa International College in Kathmandu, the first institution in Nepal offering an accredited degree in traditional Tibetan and Himalayan medicine. Many of the students come from remote Himalayan villages, and they rely entirely on the generosity of supporters like us to study, train, and carry these ancient sciences into the future.
We look forward to sharing this timne with you.
Betty Riaz, Sarah Spiegel and Dr Eric Rosenbush.
Eric has devoted his life to the study of the traditional sciences of Asia, their botanical treasures, ancient texts and living transmissions. For over 20 years, he has studied with masters of Tibetan, Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicines, and currently maintains a clinical practice in California. Eric frequently teaches courses on Sowa Rigpa and other ancient sciences in many locations around the world, and translates medical texts from the Tibetan and Sanskrit languages.
Under Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and other senior Tibetan doctors in the US and Asia, Eric learned the practice of Sowa Rigpa, Traditional Tibetan medicine. In addition to Masters and Doctoral university studies in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Eric studied with senior practitioners working with classical traditions of Chinese herbal medicine and pulse diagnosis
Drangsong (Tibetan: drang srong) is the equivalent of the Sanskrit rishi, the ancient wisdom beings who embody truth, righteousness, and uprightness. They are the source of the teachings of Ayurveda and of Sowa Rigpa, the Tibetan and Himalayan Science of Healing.
Drangsong Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization in California with active projects in Nepal and India. Founded in 2015 as the Ngakmang Foundation by Dr Eric Rosenbush, the organization adopted its current name and expanded its mission in 2023. Its purpose is simple and profound: to serve the medical and wisdom traditions of Asia as an offering to the lineages that have inspired us and countless others over the millennia.
Partnership with the Sowa Rigpa International College in Kathmandu, the first institution in Nepal offering an accredited Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery degree through Lumbini Buddhist University.
Development of a digital archive of classical medical texts in Sanskrit and Tibetan.
Translation, research, and teaching that connects spiritual traditions and healing across cultures.
Scholarship support for students from remote Himalayan regions who could not otherwise pursue their studies.
Learn more at drangsong.org
Sowa Rigpa translates as “the Science of Healing.” Practiced across the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, and parts of India and Mongolia for more than a thousand years, it is one of the world’s oldest continuous medical traditions. Rooted in the teachings of the 12th century master Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, Sowa Rigpa weaves together herbal pharmacology, external therapies, dietary and lifestyle counsel, and the profound contemplative wisdom of Vajrayana Buddhism.
The Sowa Rigpa International College campus sits a short walk behind the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Asia. Its five and a half year program trains the next generation of fully qualified doctors in:
Herbal pharmacology, with practical training on campus and through medicinal plant expeditions to the surrounding mountains.
External therapies such as KuNye massage, moxibustion, bloodletting, and other specialized skills taught by masters in Nepal and visiting guest teachers.
Spiritual practices connected to the Sowa Rigpa tradition, including meditations and rituals from the Yuthok Nyingthik.
Our visit will place us inside this living tradition. We will sit with senior faculty, receive personal consultations and treatments from advanced students, and witness firsthand the work that our donations make possible.
Sample Itinerary at a Glance
September 8 to 16, 2027 | 8 nights, 9 days | Kathmandu (4 nights) and Paro (3 nights), Kathmandu 1 night before Departure
Please note: this itinerary is offered as a planning guide. Final timing and specific activities may shift based on weather, faculty availability at the college, and the rhythms of our group. Every day will hold space for practice, rest, contemplation, and connection.
Our home in Kathmandu is Dwarika's Hotel, a legendary heritage property that has preserved the artistry of the Newari tradition for more than half a century. Each carved wooden window and brick courtyard has been rescued and restored from buildings that would otherwise have been lost. To stay at Dwarika's is to step inside a living museum of Kathmandu Valley craftsmanship.
Daily morning yoga and pranayama, led by Betty / Sarah in a private studio setting.
Guided visit to Boudhanath Stupa with traditional kora (circumambulation) practice.
Tour of the Sowa Rigpa International College campus and herbal pharmacy.
Lecture on Tibetan Medicine delivered by Dr Eric Rosenbush
Personal Sowa Rigpa consultations including pulse and urine diagnosis for every participant.
Complimentary KuNye therapeutic massage and external therapy sessions offered by senior students.
Group dinners showcasing Newari cuisine.
From Kathmandu we fly to Paro across one of the most breathtaking flight paths in the world. Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and the great snow giants of the Himalayas pass below the wings. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, our home in Paro, is an all inclusive wellness retreat tucked into a quiet valley near a sacred temple. The Sanctuary blends traditional Bhutanese architecture with contemporary comfort and centers its hospitality on the principles of wellbeing rooted in Bhutanese Buddhist culture.
Daily personalized wellness consultations and treatments at the Sanctuary spa.
Traditional hot stone baths, an iconic Bhutanese healing ritual.
Sunrise yoga and meditation practices.
Full Day Guided hike toward Taktsang Monastery, the Tiger's Nest, with the option to complete a full or partial ascent.
Visit to a local lhakhang (temple) for prayer, blessing, and reflection.
All meals prepared with local organic ingredients.
Each participant is asked to raise $6,500. This contribution covers the full retreat experience and includes a meaningful tax deductible gift to the Drangsong Foundation in support of the Sowa Rigpa International College.
Group size is limited to twelve participants to preserve the intimacy of the journey and to allow each guest to receive personal attention from our hosts, faculty, and student practitioners.
Ways to Raise Your Contribution
For many participants, the act of raising $6,500 becomes a meaningful part of the journey itself. Asking others to support your pilgrimage opens conversations about practice, purpose, and the wisdom traditions we hold dear. Below are suggested pathways, drawn from approaches that other donor travelers have used successfully. You are welcome to combine several or design your own.
The most direct and often most powerful approach is a personal letter or email to friends, family, students, colleagues, and clients explaining the trip, the work of Drangsong, and inviting their support. We will provide a customizable letter template, photographs, and language about Sowa Rigpa that you can adapt in your own voice. Even a modest gift of $50 or $100 from twenty to thirty people quickly closes the gap.
Set up a dedicated giving page through every.org (Drangsong's preferred platform), Mightycause, or GoFundMe. We will help you draft compelling copy and share the page across your networks. Many participants share progress updates through Instagram and email as the trip approaches, which keeps supporters engaged and inspired.
If you teach, or if you are willing to invite a teacher to lead on your behalf, a donation based community class is a beautiful way to raise funds. Stil Studio is happy to host benefit classes for confirmed participants and to co promote. Themes can include Sowa Rigpa inspired pranayama, restorative practice, sound and mantra, or seasonal practices.
Smaller gatherings in homes or shared spaces, hosted on a love offering basis, raise meaningful funds while deepening community.Ask each guest to make a contribution at a suggested level. Many participants discover that this format is both gracious and effective.
Many corporations and law, finance, and tech firms match employee charitable contributions to registered nonprofits at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio. Because Drangsong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) registered in California, your $1,500 donation may double or triple through your employer's program. Ask your HR department about a matching gift application.
Invite supporters to make their contribution in honor of a teacher, family member, ancestor, or beloved being. Many donors find this framing deeply meaningful, particularly in the context of a pilgrimage to honor the wisdom lineages.
If you have the means, consider including a personal contribution above the $1,500 minimum donation. Every additional dollar supports student scholarships, faculty stipends, and the preservation of medical texts in classical languages.
Important note on tax deductibility: Donations made directly to the Drangsong Foundation (a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit) are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. We will provide donors with formal acknowledgment letters for tax reporting. The trip experience portion of the contribution is not tax deductible.
All accommodations: four nights at Dwarika's Hotel in Kathmandu and three nights at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary in Paro.
All meals, snacks, and group dining experiences from welcome dinner to farewell dinner.
Round trip flights between Kathmandu and Paro.
All ground transportation in Nepal and Bhutan, including airport transfers.
Bhutan visa, sustainable development fee, and entry permits.
All daily yoga, meditation, and contemplative programming led by Betty Riaz.
All Sowa Rigpa programming including lectures, personal consultations, and KuNye treatments.
Spa treatments and wellness consultations at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary.
All guided cultural visits, including entrance fees and qualified guides.
A tax deductible donation of $1,500 per person to the Drangsong Foundation.
International airfare to Kathmandu and from Paro & Round trip flights between Kathmandu and Paro.
Nepal entry visa (available on arrival).
Travel insurance (highly recommended).
Personal expenses, additional spa treatments beyond the included programming, and gratuities.