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[[Image:Soktse Rinpoche 2.jpg|thumb|300px|Soktse Rinpoche]]
[[Image:Soktse Rinpoche WA.jpeg|thumb|300px|Soktse Rinpoche]]
'''Soktse Rinpoche''' (Tib. སོག་རྩེ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, [[Wyl.]] ''sog rtse rin po che'') aka '''Kunzang Tendzin Gyaltsen''' (ཀུན་བཟང་བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱལ་མཚན་, ''kun bzang bstan 'dzin rgyal mtshan'') (b.1928) is one of the oldest living disciples of [[Dudjom Rinpoche]] and a major [[Drukpa Kagyü]] and [[Dudjom Tersar]] lineage holder. Based in Ladakh, in the northern part of India, he has literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats.
'''Soktse Rinpoche''' (Tib. སོག་རྩེ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, [[Wyl.]] ''sog rtse rin po che'') aka '''Kunzang Tendzin Gyaltsen''' (ཀུན་བཟང་བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱལ་མཚན་, ''kun bzang bstan 'dzin rgyal mtshan'') (1928 - 2023) was one of the oldest living disciples of [[Dudjom Rinpoche]] and a major [[Drukpa Kagyü]] and [[Dudjom Tersar]] lineage holder. Based in Ladakh, in the northern part of India, he literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats. He passed into [[parinirvana]] on 30th October 2023 in Delhi, India.


==Birth, Family and Recognition==
==Birth, Family and Recognition==
Born in 1928, Soktse Rinpoche was recognized at a very early age as the 6th in a line of incarnations that goes back to [[Rechungpa]], the great disciple of [[Milarepa]].
Soktse Rinpoche was born in 1928 and is the sixth in a line of incarnations that goes back to [[Rechungpa]], the great disciple of [[Milarepa]]. The fifth Soktse Rinpoche left a letter indicating various signs about this incarnation’s birth. The abbot of [[Mindroling Monastery]] at the time, Dordzin Gaje Rinpoche, had also predicted a couple of years before where the reincarnation would be born and the eighth Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche, [[Tokden Paksam Gyatso]], received clear signs about Soktse Rinpoche’s rebirth. Yongdzin Rinpoche discovered the child at age five and then confirmed the reincarnation with the fifteenth Karmapa, [[Khakhyap Dorje]].<ref>There seems to be an inconsistency with the dates of the Karmapas' lives. Since Khakyap Dorje passed away in 1922, the Karmapa who regognized Soktse Rinpoche might be in fact the 16th [[Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorje]] (1924-1981).</ref>
 
The previous incarnation of Soktse Rinpoche, the 5th Soktse Rinpoche, left a letter indicating various signs about his next incarnation’s birth and how he was to be found.


==Training==
==Training==
Although the previous incarnation was Drukpa Kagyü, Soktse Rinpoche’s parents insisted on putting him in a [[Gelugpa]] monastery. Soktse Rinpoche stayed in this monastery from the age of six to the age of eighteen.  
Although the previous incarnation was Drukpa Kagyü, Soktse Rinpoche’s parents insisted on putting him in a [[Gelugpa]] monastery. Soktse Rinpoche stayed in this monastery from the age of six to the age of eighteen.  


Soktse Rinpoche spent several years studying with Karak Yongzin Rinpoche<Ref>Kyabgon Karak Yongdzin Rinpoche was the previous incarnation of Yongzin Rinpoche, who was the leader of the Drukpa Kagyü lineage in central Tibet at that time. Karak Yongzin Rinpoche was also a [[tertön]] who had encountered Guru Padmasambhava’s wisdom body and had revealed a number of [[terma]]s. Karak Yongzin Rinpoche’s root teacher was [[Trulshik Dongak Lingpa]], the previous incarnation of [[Trulshik Rinpoche]]. Although Karak Yongdzin Rinpoche was a member of the hierarchy of the Drukpa Kagyü lineage, he and his disciples were primarily Nyingma practitioners.</Ref>, receiving many [[Kagyü]] and [[Nyingma]] transmissions, and completing the [[ngöndro]] twice, before beginning a long series of [[kyerim]] retreats.  
Soktse Rinpoche spent several years studying with Yongzin Rinpoche, receiving many [[Kagyü]] and [[Nyingma]] transmissions, and completing the [[ngöndro]] twice, before beginning a long series of [[kyerim]] retreats.  
 
During his time studying with Karak Yongzin Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche also met [[Dudjom Rinpoche]], and later [[Bomta Khenpo]], aka Polu Khenpo Dorje, who gave him [[Dzogchen]] teachings over the course of seventeen years.


During his time studying with Karak Yongzin Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche also met [[Dudjom Rinpoche]], and later met [[Bomta Khenpo]], aka Polu Khenpo Dorje, who gave him [[Dzogchen]] teachings over the course of seventeen years.
Soktse Rinpoche also held several [[Medicine Buddha]] lineages and was renowned for his healing powers. His blessing medicines were extremely prized.<ref>[https://www.shambhala.com/snowlion_articles/soktse-rinpoche-to-visit-the-west/ Snow Lion article]</ref>


Soktse Rinpoche’s three root gurus are therefore:
Soktse Rinpoche’s three root gurus are therefore:
*Karak Yongzin Rinpoche
*Karak Yongzin Rinpoche
*[[Dudjom Rinpoche]]
*Dudjom Rinpoche
*[[Polu Khenpo Dorje]]
*Polu Khenpo Dorje


==Activity==
==Activity==
[[Image:Soktse Rinpoche.jpeg|thumb|300px|From left to right: Soktse Rinpoche, Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche and Chhoje Rinpoche]]
Soktse Rinpoche's main monastic seat is in the high border region of Ladakh in northern India, where he also established a nunnery called Tashi Chöling, in Hanley, Ladakh. He has also established a nunnery and retreat center at Kechuperi in the mountains of western Sikkim.
Soktse Rinpoche's main monastic seat is in the high border region of Ladakh in northern India, where he also established a nunnery called Tashi Chöling, in Hanley, Ladakh. He has also established a nunnery and retreat center at Kechuperi in the mountains of western Sikkim.
Due to his tremendous realization, Soktse Rinpoche's presence in Ladakh has brought great peace and harmony to the area. When Rinpoche came to Ladakh, there were many signs. Local people noticed that this arid region was blessed with a great deal of rain, making the harvests extremely plentiful. Fewer people became sick. Even attacks by wild dogs were less frequent.<ref>ibid.</ref>


Soktse Rinpoche has literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats, having completed several [[three-year retreat]]s, and many shorter ones. Numerous lamas have received meditation teachings from Soktse Rinpoche.
Soktse Rinpoche has literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats, having completed several [[three-year retreat]]s, and many shorter ones. Numerous lamas have received meditation teachings from Soktse Rinpoche.


Over the years, Soktse Rinpoche has refused many offers to travel abroad and teach in Asia, North America and Europe, preferring to stay on retreat and to spend time with his teachers, Dudjom Rinpoche and Punda Khen Rinpoche.  
Over the years, Soktse Rinpoche has refused many offers to travel abroad and teach in Asia, North America and Europe, preferring to stay on retreat and spend time with his teachers, Dudjom Rinpoche and Punda Khen Rinpoche.  


However, in 1991 and 1999, he made two visits to the U.S. at the request of [[Chhoje Rinpoche]], where he gave extensive teachings, including guiding a group of students on a year long retreat.
However, in 1991 and 1999, he made two visits to the U.S. at the request of [[Chhoje Rinpoche]], where he gave extensive teachings, including guiding a group of students on a year long retreat. He also gave Dzogchen teachings and empowerments from the Dudjom Tersar lineage and the terma lineage of His Eminence Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche in the USA in the Autumn of 2017.<ref>ibid.</ref>


==Students==
==Students==
One of Soktse Rinpoche's main student is [[Chhoje Rinpoche]].
One of Soktse Rinpoche's main students is [[Chhoje Rinpoche]].


==Notes==
==Notes==
<small><references/></small>
<small><references/></small>
==External Links==
*{{LH|https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/soktse-rinpoche|Soktse Rinpoche series on Lotsawa House}}


[[Category: Contemporary Teachers]]
[[Category: Contemporary Teachers]]

Latest revision as of 16:08, 23 November 2023

Soktse Rinpoche

Soktse Rinpoche (Tib. སོག་རྩེ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wyl. sog rtse rin po che) aka Kunzang Tendzin Gyaltsen (ཀུན་བཟང་བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱལ་མཚན་, kun bzang bstan 'dzin rgyal mtshan) (1928 - 2023) was one of the oldest living disciples of Dudjom Rinpoche and a major Drukpa Kagyü and Dudjom Tersar lineage holder. Based in Ladakh, in the northern part of India, he literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats. He passed into parinirvana on 30th October 2023 in Delhi, India.

Birth, Family and Recognition

Soktse Rinpoche was born in 1928 and is the sixth in a line of incarnations that goes back to Rechungpa, the great disciple of Milarepa. The fifth Soktse Rinpoche left a letter indicating various signs about this incarnation’s birth. The abbot of Mindroling Monastery at the time, Dordzin Gaje Rinpoche, had also predicted a couple of years before where the reincarnation would be born and the eighth Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche, Tokden Paksam Gyatso, received clear signs about Soktse Rinpoche’s rebirth. Yongdzin Rinpoche discovered the child at age five and then confirmed the reincarnation with the fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyap Dorje.[1]

Training

Although the previous incarnation was Drukpa Kagyü, Soktse Rinpoche’s parents insisted on putting him in a Gelugpa monastery. Soktse Rinpoche stayed in this monastery from the age of six to the age of eighteen.

Soktse Rinpoche spent several years studying with Yongzin Rinpoche, receiving many Kagyü and Nyingma transmissions, and completing the ngöndro twice, before beginning a long series of kyerim retreats.

During his time studying with Karak Yongzin Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche also met Dudjom Rinpoche, and later Bomta Khenpo, aka Polu Khenpo Dorje, who gave him Dzogchen teachings over the course of seventeen years.

Soktse Rinpoche also held several Medicine Buddha lineages and was renowned for his healing powers. His blessing medicines were extremely prized.[2]

Soktse Rinpoche’s three root gurus are therefore:

  • Karak Yongzin Rinpoche
  • Dudjom Rinpoche
  • Polu Khenpo Dorje

Activity

From left to right: Soktse Rinpoche, Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche and Chhoje Rinpoche

Soktse Rinpoche's main monastic seat is in the high border region of Ladakh in northern India, where he also established a nunnery called Tashi Chöling, in Hanley, Ladakh. He has also established a nunnery and retreat center at Kechuperi in the mountains of western Sikkim.

Due to his tremendous realization, Soktse Rinpoche's presence in Ladakh has brought great peace and harmony to the area. When Rinpoche came to Ladakh, there were many signs. Local people noticed that this arid region was blessed with a great deal of rain, making the harvests extremely plentiful. Fewer people became sick. Even attacks by wild dogs were less frequent.[3]

Soktse Rinpoche has literally spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats, having completed several three-year retreats, and many shorter ones. Numerous lamas have received meditation teachings from Soktse Rinpoche.

Over the years, Soktse Rinpoche has refused many offers to travel abroad and teach in Asia, North America and Europe, preferring to stay on retreat and spend time with his teachers, Dudjom Rinpoche and Punda Khen Rinpoche.

However, in 1991 and 1999, he made two visits to the U.S. at the request of Chhoje Rinpoche, where he gave extensive teachings, including guiding a group of students on a year long retreat. He also gave Dzogchen teachings and empowerments from the Dudjom Tersar lineage and the terma lineage of His Eminence Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche in the USA in the Autumn of 2017.[4]

Students

One of Soktse Rinpoche's main students is Chhoje Rinpoche.

Notes

  1. There seems to be an inconsistency with the dates of the Karmapas' lives. Since Khakyap Dorje passed away in 1922, the Karmapa who regognized Soktse Rinpoche might be in fact the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorje (1924-1981).
  2. Snow Lion article
  3. ibid.
  4. ibid.

External Links