Kathmandu, Feb. 11: The Fourth International Congress on Alternative Medicines and Non-formal education organised by Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, a United Nations affiliated NGO began here at Himalayan Healing Centre today.

With the theme ‘How to create Better Living for 2001’, this year’s Congress is to focus upon natural medical systems, peace environment and peace education to show that non-violence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and strengthen life and the human community towards global peace in the third millennium participated by doctors and specialists in various aspects of medical field.

Chairman of Royal Council Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Raimajhi inaugurated the Congress and National Buddhist Federation with traditional lighting of lamp and the inaugural ceremony was attended by diplomats, dignitaries and scholars.

The World Peace Foundation has provided assistance in Nepal in the field of health, education and financial support to schools, moansteries, sponsoships for children, monks and the needy, through Help in Action and the Himalayan Healing Centre.

The Foundation and the Himalayan Healing Centre aim to promote constructive exchnage  between the traditional Tibetan and the Western medical systems. The process is a mutually complimentary one as western medicine needs the support of natural holistic medicine while eastern medicine needs help from advanced technology and science. Traditional Himalayan, Nepali and Tibetan medical systems are combined with Ayurveda and modern medicine in practice in the out-patients wards at the Himalayan Healing Centre and study and research are conducted in Tibetan medicine.

The Congress on the occasion of the United Nations International Year of the Culture of Peace is jointly organised by the Himalayan Healing Centre, International Association of Educators for World Peace, Global Open University for Complementary Medicines under the patronage of Nepal Institute for United Nationas and UNESCO, the National Buddhist Federation and Lions Club International-Dist 325.