Sogyal Rinpoche
Sonam Gyaltsen Lakar arrived in the Trehor region of Kham, Tibet, during 1947. His mother identified him as a significant figure when Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö recognized him as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal. This recognition led to his education at Dzongsar Monastery under the supervision of that same master. He studied traditional subjects with tutors like Khenpo Appey while attending a Catholic school in Kalimpong, India. Later he moved to Delhi University before traveling westward. In 1971 Trinity College Cambridge granted him a place to study comparative religion as a visiting scholar. He continued studies with masters including Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Sogyal Rinpoche began teaching in London during 1974 from a house called Orgyen Chöling. The name later changed to Dzogchen Orgyen Chöling. He took care of a center in Rue Burq Paris which opened in 1978. In 1979 he chose the name Rigpa for his work meaning the innermost essential nature of mind. Annual retreats started appearing across Europe and Australia by the mid-1980s. A winter event occurred at Kirchheim Germany in December 1986. Retreats in Tiona Park Australia began in 1989. The first Thanksgiving retreat in the US happened in Oakland in 1988. By 2017 over 100 Buddhist centers existed in 23 countries worldwide.
Rinpoche met Elizabeth Kübler-Ross and Kenneth Ring in 1983 who encouraged him to develop teachings on death. Andrew Harvey joined the project in Nepal during 1989. Co-editor Patrick Gaffney described the writing process as unusual compared to any other book. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying launched in the United States in September 1992. It spent several weeks atop bestseller lists according to The New York Times Book Review. More than two million copies have been printed in 30 languages and 56 countries since then. The text became a global phenomenon covering themes of dying and spiritual practice.
In 2004 he served as a keynote speaker at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona Spain. Over 8,000 religious leaders gathered there to discuss issues like violence and refugee fates. He spoke about Tibet’s Unique Buddhist Heritage at the Aspen Institute in Colorado during August 2008. A speech titled Tibetan Buddhism in Modern Western Culture appeared at Emory University in October 2010. In 2011 he participated in the Global Buddhist Congregation in Delhi with delegates from 32 countries. He also gave a keynote address at the Happiness and Its Causes conference in Sydney during 2012. His film work included appearing as Kenpo Tenzin in Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha released in 1993.
A $10 million civil lawsuit was filed against Sogyal Rinpoche in 1994. Allegations claimed he used his position to induce sexual relations with a female student. The complaint included accusations of emotional distress breach of fiduciary duty assault and battery. This lawsuit settled out of court without public trial details. Journalist Mary Finnigan introduced related allegations again in 2011. She had been the main author of an original article published in 1995 regarding these claims.
On the 14th of July 2017 eight senior Rigpa students sent a twelve-page letter detailing abuse. They described being beaten severely asked to perform sexual acts and lie to conceal misbehavior. The letter depicted a lavish lifestyle supported by donations and a tyrannical manner toward workers. Matthieu Ricard stated this behavior was unacceptable from both ordinary morality and Buddhist ethics perspectives. On the 11th of August 2017 Sogyal retired immediately as spiritual director from all organizations bearing the name Rigpa. The Dalai Lama addressed misconduct at a conference in Ladakh India on the 1st of August 2017 calling him disgraced.
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Common questions
When and where was Sogyal Rinpoche born?
Sonam Gyaltsen Lakar arrived in the Trehor region of Kham, Tibet, during 1947. His mother identified him as a significant figure when Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö recognized him as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal.
What is the history of Rigpa centers established by Sogyal Rinpoche?
Sogyal Rinpoche began teaching in London during 1974 from a house called Orgyen Chöling which later changed to Dzogchen Orgyen Chöling. By 2017 over 100 Buddhist centers existed in 23 countries worldwide including locations like Rue Burq Paris opened in 1978 and retreats in Tiona Park Australia beginning in 1989.
How did The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying perform after its release?
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying launched in the United States in September 1992 and spent several weeks atop bestseller lists according to The New York Times Book Review. More than two million copies have been printed in 30 languages and 56 countries since then making it a global phenomenon covering themes of dying and spiritual practice.
Why was a civil lawsuit filed against Sogyal Rinpoche in 1994?
A $10 million civil lawsuit was filed against Sogyal Rinpoche in 1994 with allegations claiming he used his position to induce sexual relations with a female student. The complaint included accusations of emotional distress breach of fiduciary duty assault and battery before settling out of court without public trial details.
When did Sogyal Rinpoche retire from Rigpa organizations?
On the 11th of August 2017 Sogyal retired immediately as spiritual director from all organizations bearing the name Rigpa following an eight-page letter sent by senior students on the 14th of July 2017 detailing abuse. The Dalai Lama addressed misconduct at a conference in Ladakh India on the 1st of August 2017 calling him disgraced.