Khenpo Sonam Tobgyal Rinpoche

"The place where I was born is in the snowy country of Tibet, to the East, in the vicinity of the monastery of Dokham Riwoche, in a village named Kyil Risib Yabrong. The name of my household was Daza Tsang, and it was prosperous. The people of this very ancient family line have been hardy, honest, sincere and friendly, and have earned the highest respect from all the people in the region. Those of this family who entered the monastery to learn dharma had fine qualities as scholars and practitioners. I was born to a household of this well-known family line that has produced many lineage-holder lamas.

My grandfather, Orgyen Shenpen, was a highly accomplished yogi. He went to Jangdam Shung and there worked throughout his life to accomplish vast benefits for beings. He has remained very well known for his teachings and spiritual songs to this very day. I am from the same family as he.

Also, my grandmother's brother, Gar Lama Trinley Gyastso, who nowadays is called Nora Rinpoche, spread the teachings of Vajrayana widely in China in recent times and did an enormous amount of work in the service of sentient beings. His household was called Gar Ratsa. Riwoche Khenpo Drodul, who was also from my own family, was the student of both Drupchen Jho Rigdzin and Jedrung Jampa'i Jungnay, and a Dzogchen practitioner. From the time I was very young he gave me teaching and guidance. Beginning with reading lessons, he brought me into the study of sacred dharma. For this, he was an extremely kind and holy lama. Then, from Riwoche Kyabgon, the eighth Jedrung, Ngawang Lungtog Chochi Gyaltsen, I received the empowerments and transmissions for the Gyude Jenang Shesum (forty-three authorizations of the tantra classes) of the Taklung Kagyu, along with the Sungbum (collected writings) of Taklung Tangpa.

From 1960 on, when I became a refugee in India, I attended many scholar and siddha lamas, including the great treasure-revealer, king of dharma, lord of refuge, Dudjom Rinpoche, the mighty one who realized the definitive meaning; Chadral Rinpoche; the omniscient Khyentse Rinpoche; the two Polu Khen Rinpoches; the great bodhisattva Khunu Lama Rinpoche; the Taklung throneholder Shabdrung Dorje Chang; and others.

From these teachers I received teachings on the Kama, the long lineage of the early-translation Nyingma school, as well as many empowerments, transmissions and instructions from the short Terma lineage. In particular, I received thorough and complete oral instructions for the Osal Dzokpa Chenpo'i Nyongtri (the experiential teachings on luminosity great perfection). Exemplified by my completion of the three-year retreat practice curriculum, I have spent my life engaged entirely in studying, reflecting upon and practicing the dharma."