WVSOM welcomes Tibetan Oracle Kuten-la, spiritual advisor to the Dalai Lama

By Dakota Baker, RealWV

LEWISBURG, W.Va. – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s (WVSOM) Office of Multicultural and Student Affairs, on Tuesday, hosted a reception at the student center welcoming the Nechung Oracle, Kuten-la, the official state Oracle of Tibet and spiritual advisor to the Dalai Lama. 

The Oracle spent the weekend in Washington, D.C. where he met with congressional leaders before traveling to Lewisburg for his tour’s first public engagement. Individuals came from all over the country to hear the Oracle speak. Kate Hawthorne, who has been a Buddhist for about 20 years, was visiting from Ohio when she learned the Oracle would be attending the WVSOM event, and told RealWV that the chance to see him was a “rare opportunity.” 

When asked how she discovered her spiritual path, Hawthorne said she was reading The Zen Arts, and it became “undeniable.”

In the late 1960’s, the Oracle was forced to flee to India, following the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese Communist regime. While traveling across the United States, the Oracle serves as representative of the exiled Tibetan government.

According to Tibetan tradition, the word “oracle” refers to the spirit that enters a person who acts as a medium between the natural and spirit realms. The medium is known as “Kuten” in Tibetan, which literally means “the physical base.” The current Nechung Kuten is the Venerable Thupten Ngodup, who is the descendant of the famous Tibetan Tantric Master, Nga-dak Nyang-relwa (1136-1204). 

As State Oracle, Nechung Kuten-la holds a position of great responsibility within the Tibetan government – a healer and spiritual advisor. 

In 1970 – and at just 12-years-old – Kuten-la was ordained at Nechung Monastery in Dharmsala, India. Kuten-la served as a ritual assistant of the previous Nechung Rinpoche. After receiving what he called “signs, visions, and confirmation” from the Dalia Lama in 1987, he was recognized as the next Nechung Oracle.

Also attending the reception was English translator Tenzin Thomas; Kuten-la’s personal assistant, Tenzin Rinchen; and Ganpat Purevdirj, a monk with the Mongolian Order. Additional reception guests included Bayara Purevragchaa – who also serves as an assistant to Kuten-la – and United States tour organizer Tenzin Chogyal (US tour organizer). 

It was not a random occurrence for a crowd of more than 120 people to gather at WVSOM’s student center on Tuesday, the Oracle explained, adding that while strangers today, they were sharing the same space because they have a bond from a previous lifetime. The Oracle continued by noting that in Buddhism, you must reflect on previous lifetimes to know who you are today. 

Referring to the reception as “a special gathering in a special place,” the Oracle spoke of his appreciation for WVSOM, and how honored he was to speak where students learn to reduce suffering while simultaneously showing compassion and kindness.

The Oracle discussed the importance of considering the well-being of the mind, body, soul, and spirit, before sharing a prayer and offering individual blessings to those in attendance. 

The inspiration for the visit came after Dr. Katherine Calloway’s visit to India earlier this year. Dr. Calloway – along with four others, including her 15-year-old daughter Grace, WVSOM fourth-year students Megan Kelley and Sarah McQueen, and Dr. Caroline LaFleur of Medical Diplomats International  – visited Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and Dharamsala, India where they met with the Dalai Lama. 

While addressing those in attendance, Calloway shared her belief in the importance of showing kindness and compassion when it comes to practicing medicine, noting that her grandmother used to tell her, “Don’t cook angry; nothing will come out if you cook when you’re angry, it just won’t taste right.” 

“But if you put love into it while you are cooking, the whole thing is going to taste different,” Calloway added, inferring that if the students of WVSOM put love into treating their patients, the treatment is going to be that much more effective.