About Adzom Sonam Lodroe Rinpoche
The term Tulku refers to those who are recognized as either the emanations of buddhas, the manifestation of highly accomplished adepts, or the rebirths of highly virtuous teachers.
Sonam Rinpoche was recognized as the incarnation of Adzom Losel Rinpoche by H.H Jamga Rinpoche, H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and H.H. Dodrubchen Rinpoche.
The previous Adzom Losel Rinpoche was a disciple of the great Nyingma Master Adzom Gyaltse Rinpoche from Adzom Monastery. Adzom Losel Rinpoche was considered to be a highly accomplished Vajra Master. He was renowned for his eminent Vajrayana practices and distinguished contribution to the dissemination of the Buddha’s teachings through establishing a dharma centre in Shanghai in the 1930s. In the late 1960s, as witnessed by many other Rinpoches, he sat in the vajra posture and floated one foot above the ground before peacefully passing into Nirvana.
Since his childhood, Sonam Rinpoche has demonstrated a strong sense of renunciation and an outstanding performance in his studies. At the age of six, he learned the Tibetan language from his father, Yonten Tharshin. At the age of ten, he was robed as a monk at the Adzom Monastery, in Sichuan, China.
Sonam Rinpoche started his dharma education from the Dzogchen Innermost Essence Preliminary Text and systematically obtained all the Dzogchen teachings and initiations from his Guru, H.H. Yidjin Drugpa Rinpoche over 10 years. At the same time, Rinpoche learned the Bindu teachings and practices from the Adzom lineage holder, H.H Jamga Rinpoche; The Tantric and Nangwa Lhadub from Khenchen Choechab; Buddhist Views from Khenchen Jigmed Phuntsok Jungne as well as other studies from other famous Khenpos.
Rinpoche later pursued higher Buddhist philosophical studies in India under the guidance of H.H. Penor Rinpoche and also received the Rinchen Terzod empowerments from him. For another eight years, Rinpoche studied at the Nyingma Buddhist Institute and systematically completed and mastered the teachings of the Mahayana and Vajrayana.
During his college studies, Rinpoche showed his mastery of Buddhist scriptural knowledge by presenting a long discourse on Sangwa Nyingpo (Magical Net Tantra, a Mahayoga Teaching) in front of H. H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and H.H. Penor Rinpoche together with 30,000 sangha members. He also gave explanations and debated on subjects such as the Illusory Manifestation of Secret Essence and The True Face of The Nature.
H.H. The Dalai Lama complimented him on his wisdom and encouraged him to continuously uphold and propagate the Buddha’s Teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings. With his remarkable accomplishment in Buddhist studies and practice, not only has Rinpoche persistently contributed to the spread of the Buddhadharma through giving teachings on Buddhist philosophy and conducting initiations and oral transmissions for disciples, but he has also written a few books such as The New Light of Philosophy.
It is Rinpoche’s mission in life to uphold and propagate the Buddha’s teachings to deliver beings from the darkness of ignorance. Most importantly, he would like to actualize the dharma by putting it into action in the secular world.
Rinpoche has always had a strong desire to help underprivileged children and the frail elderly men and women who live in solitude in Tibet where poverty has prevailed from generation to generation. He also wishes to build a Buddhist Institute to uphold the Buddhadharma which is the ultimate path to eternal happiness.
In mid 2006, through Rinpoche’s inexhaustible energy, his invested commitment finally bore fruit. Together with a group of devoted disciples who were inspired by Rinpoche’s compassion and hard work, he set up the Ngagyur Shedup Charity Foundation.
In mid 2008, after a visit to the Azi Dugshul Viilage and undeterred by many obstacles and hardships, Rinpoche led the NSCF to build the Ngagyur Shedup Childrens’ Home, which is the 1st phase of the Maha Project to construct Ngagyur Shedup Choe Ling. Since then the Children’s Home has been accommodating 63 orphaned and underprivileged children.
