Sogyal Rinpoche

A world-renowned Buddhist teacher from Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche is also the author of the highly acclaimed "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying."

Born in Kham in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized at an early age as the incarnation of a great master and visionary saint of the 19th century, Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa (1856-1926). He received the traditional training of a Tibetan lama under the close supervision of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the 20th century, who raised Rinpoche like his own son.

In 1971, Rinpoche went to England, where he received a western education, studying Comparative Religion at Cambridge University. He went on to study with many other great masters, of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, especially Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

First as a translator and aide to his revered masters, and then teaching in his own right, Rinpoche travelled to many countries, observing the reality of people’s lives, and searching how to translate the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism so as to make them relevant to modern men and women of all faiths, by drawing out their universal message while maintaining their authenticity, purity and power.

Out of this was born his unique style of teaching; his ability to create an atmosphere of incredible warmth and to attune the teachings to modern life, demonstrated so vividly in his ground-breaking book, "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying." More than 2 million copies have been printed in 62 countries and in 32 languages.

Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa, an international network of Buddhist centres and groups. He has been teaching for more than 30 years and continues to travel widely in Europe, America, Australia and Asia, addressing thousands of people on his retreats and teaching tours.

In addition, Rinpoche is a frequent speaker at major conferences, addressing a wide variety of subjects, including medicine and healing, interfaith dialogue, peace and non-violence, business and leadership, and the field of serving the dying and hospice care.

Sogyal Rinpoche is on Facebook.