In a remarkable video presentation, Geshe Michael Roach performs a traditional Tibetan calligraphy of a profound yogic principle: LUNG SEM JUKPA CHIKPA (རླུང་སེམས་འཇུག་པ་ཅིག་པ་). This phrase can be translated as “the inner winds and the mind run together as one”. It encapsulates a key idea in yoga philosophy—the inseparable connection between body and mind, particularly as understood in Vajrayana and Tibetan yoga traditions.
This calligraphy session is not merely an artistic demonstration. It is also a symbolic act of fundraising for the continued support of 11 educational organizations, including YSI (Yoga Studies Institute), through the Castle Rock endowment. The goal: ensure their financial sustainability across future generations—specifically generations 100 and 101, as Geshe Michael poetically puts it, symbolizing his own generation and the one that follows.
Calligraphy as Spiritual Practice
Geshe Michael recalls first encountering Tibetan calligraphy over 35 years ago and being deeply moved by its beauty. With little formal instruction, he created a personal discipline: to take all his teacher’s lectures in Tibetan calligraphy. This daily practice—sometimes spanning six hours of class—refined his handwriting over time, demonstrating the power of consistent effort.
As he draws each stroke with care, he explains the method and logic behind it. The original instruments for such writing were made of bamboo, influencing the vertical and downward flow of the brush strokes. This traditional lineage is honored in his modern-day rendering.
Understanding “Lung Sem Jukpa Chikpa”
The Tibetan phrase consists of:
- Lung (རླུང་) – the vital inner winds or prana.
- Sem (སེམས་) – the mind or consciousness.
- Jukpa Chikpa (འཇུག་པ་ཅིག་པ་) – entering or moving as one.
This concept forms the heart of Tibetan yoga (trul khor) and tantric meditation practices, where the yogi learns to master the flow of internal energy (winds) through control of the mind—and vice versa. If one’s body is restless or unwell, calming the mind can help balance the body’s winds and restore health. Likewise, calming the breath or physical posture can influence and pacify mental agitation.
Ultimately, mastering this union allows a practitioner to achieve deep mental clarity, physical health, and spiritual insight. It is also essential to understanding how karmic seeds ripen and how enlightenment can be reached in one lifetime.
A Legacy for Generations
This unique calligraphy piece is more than an artwork—it is a message to future generations. Geshe Michael refers to himself as part of “Generation 100,” and those continuing the legacy as “Generation 101.” The calligraphy and the accompanying endowment initiative represent a vision of ongoing yogic education and support for centuries to come. As Geshe Michael says, these teachings have already been passed down for 100 generations, and now it’s our turn to carry them forward.
By supporting this calligraphy fundraiser, donors help build an infrastructure that will fund yoga, meditation, and wisdom teachings well into the future. The beautiful phrase lung sem jukpa chikpa reminds us of the goal of these teachings: the perfect harmony of inner and outer worlds.
“Sometimes you can calm your mind down by calming your body. And sometimes, if your body isn’t feeling well, you can fix it by controlling the prana with your mind.”
— Geshe Michael Roach
This timeless wisdom, embodied in ink and intention, continues to guide the path for all who seek harmony, clarity, and deeper understanding through yoga.
