Remembering Kyabjé Soktse Rinpoche
Rigpa
It is with a heavy heart that we received the news of the passing of His Eminence Kyabjé Soktse Rinpoche, Kunzang Tendzin Gyaltsen on 30th October.
Soktse Rinpoche was one of the oldest living disciples of Dudjom Rinpoche and a major Drukpa Kagyü and Dudjom Tersar lineage holder. Based in Ladakh, in northern India, he spent half of his life in strict meditation retreats. He passed into parinirvana on 30th October in Delhi, after resting for 7 days in tukdam*.
Those who had the incredible good fortune to spend time with Soktse Rinpoche can say they truly met a Bodhisattva in the flesh. He inspired everyone with his immense kindness, elegant simplicity and pure heart. Spending half of his life in strict retreat, and with his unwavering devotion for his master Dudjom Rinpoche, we can take his exemplary life as inspiration on our own paths toward enlightenment.
It was during his time studying with Karak Yongzin Rinpoche that Soktse Rinpoche 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’s three root gurus were therefore Karak Yongzin Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche and Polu Khenpo Dorje.
Sogyal Rinpoche felt a great affection for Soktse Rinpoche and would often tell the Rigpa Sangha of the respect he had for him. During the last decade of his life, Sogyal Rinpoche would regularly visit Soktse Rinpoche in India and Sikkim, receiving transmissions and seeking advice.
Soktse Rinpoche was one of the lamas who graciously performed prayers and practices for Rigpa sangha members who were sick or had passed away. For this, the Rigpa Sangha is eternally grateful.
Soktse Rinpoche’s passing will be a reminder to us all of the preciousness of this human life and to live every moment with the highest purpose of benefitting beings.
*tukdam is an honorific term for meditative practice and experience that is frequently used to refer to the period following the death of a great master
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