Sogyal Rinpoche

Sogyal Rinpoche, born in nineteen forty-seven, was a prominent Tibetan Dzogchen lama recognized as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, a revered Tibetan master and visionary saint of the twentieth century. He founded Rigpa, an international network comprising over one hundred Buddhist centers and groups across twenty-three countries, and authored the acclaimed book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, which has reached audiences in thirty languages and fifty-six countries.

For four decades, Sogyal Rinpoche shared his teachings across Europe, America, Asia, and Australia, profoundly influencing the Buddhist community. However, his career faced significant challenges when allegations of sexual and physical assault, as well as misuse of charitable funds, emerged, with claims dating back to the nineteen seventies.

In two thousand seventeen, Rigpa announced an investigation into these allegations by an external party, resulting in a report that upheld most of the claims. In response to the findings, Sogyal Rinpoche maintained his innocence, stating, 'I am clear in my own mind that I have never, ever, acted towards anyone with a motive of selfish gain or harmful intent.' Despite the controversies, his contributions to Buddhist literature and practice remain significant.