Sogyal Rinpoche

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

Sogyal Rinpoche is a Tibet|Tibetan Dzogchen master of the Nyingma tradition. He is the founder of Rigpa and the author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Born c. 1950 in the region of Kham, in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was quite early introduced to Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the twentieth century, embodying the very essence of the Rime movement. Jamyang Khyentse brought him up like a son and was the very atmosphere in which Sogyal Rinpoche received his first education.

In November 1994, a civil suit was filed against Rinpoche, perhaps the first ever to be filed against a Buddhism|Buddhistt teacher. The suit alleged that over a period of 19 years, Rinpoche had used his position as a spiritual leader to induce his female students to have sexual intercourse with him. The complaint included counts of intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, as well as assault and battery. In December 1995 the lawsuit was settled through a mediation process.[1]

External links

• Rigpa
• Lerab Ling
• Dzogchen Beara
• The Center for Wisdom and Compassion in America
• The Spiritual Care Programme
• The Rigpa Shedra
• Free Press article on lawsuit

Bibliography

• The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche ISBN 0-06-250834-2
• The Spirit of Buddhism: The Future of Dharma in the West, by Sogyal Rinpoche ISBN 0-06-053995-X
• A Marvelous Garland of Precious Gems, by Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche