In-person program at Berkeley Shambhala with Zoom attendance option • Presented by the Berkeley Shambhala Center • all are welcome to attend

Visiting teacher Sogan Rinpoche will present a day of lojong (mind training) teachings and instructions from the text Transforming Suffering and Happiness into Enlightenment by the renowned Third Dodrupchen Jikme Tenpe Nyima. 

In the introduction to this text, Dodrupchen states that he is offering “a partial instruction on how to use both happiness and suffering as the path to enlightenment. This is indispensable for leading a spiritual life, a most needed tool of the Noble Ones, and quite the most priceless teaching in the world.” He approaches these teachings first in terms of relative truth and then in terms of ultimate truth.

Jikmé Tenpé Nyima was born in East Tibet as the son of Dudjom Lingpa. He was recognized as the incarnation of the previous Dodrupchen and was enthroned at Dodrupchen Monastery which he developed to become a renowned center for study and practice. He received many teachings from the greatest teachers of his time including Patrul Rinpoche, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Mingyur Namkhé Dorje, Dzogchen Khenpo Pema Vajra, Mipham Rinpoche and Jamgön Kongtrul. He became extremely learned in both New and Old Tantras. Among his students was the great Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö.

As part of this program, Sogan Rinpoche will also give a direct transmission of the Bodhisattva Vows with related instructions on cultivating bodhicitta. 

All are welcome to attend this program. For anyone interested in contemplating these teachings ahead of this day-long exploration, a translation of the basic text without commentary can be found on the Lotsawa House website.

About Sogan Rinpoche

Sogan Rinpoche (Tulku Pema Lodoe) was born in 1964 in the Golok region of Amdo, in eastern Tibet. At the age of seventeen he went to Bayan Monastery to start his formal spiritual training. Later, he was recognized by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama as the 6th Sogan Rinpoche and as a young man was enthroned at Awo Sera Monastery in East Kham (Serta), which he founded during his first incarnation as Sogan Rinpoche. He is also the head of Bayan Monastery in Golok. He assumed responsibility there at the direction of his root guru, Khenpo Munsel, a Dzogchen master and a chief disciple of Khenpo NgagChung, who taught in Tibet throughout most of the twentieth century.  

Rinpoche has studied with many great masters of all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. After many years of study, pilgrimage and solitary retreat, he left Tibet to continue his studies in India. While there, he studied extensively with prominent teachers and spent several years in retreat. Rinpoche travels throughout North America and in Europe to teach Buddhism. For many years he has taught in the SF Bay region where Tupten Osel Choling is based. In 2012, his students in northern Italy founded Tupten Osel Ling, another dharma center under his spiritual guidance.

For those students wishing to take Bodhisattva Vows within the Shambhala tradition, vows will likely be offered by senior Shambhala teacher Gaylon Ferguson in late June 2024.

Transforming Suffering & Happiness into Enlightenment
with Sogan Rinpoche

Sunday, April 7 • 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (lunch break from 12:00 to 2:00 pm)

This is a hybrid program with in-person attendance at the Berkeley Shambhala Center and the option to attend online via Zoom. 

For in-person attendance: Arrive anytime after 9:00 am for coffee/tea and community time. The program begins promptly at 9:30 am. Please be vaccinated and boosted; masks optional. If you are unwell on the program day, out of consideration for others please attend via Zoom. 

All are welcome to attend. This program will be recorded for those who are unable to attend live; with the link to be provided, post-program to all registrants. 

If you have questions, please contact Jesse Miller at shambhalaberkeley [at] gmail [dot] com

• $ 90 Program price
• $130 Patron price (paying the Patron price helps support those needing to pay the Limited Income price)
• $ 65 Limited Income price
• Pay what is possible: type in dollar amount in space. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

When you register: kindly note in the ‘Comments’ field whether you will be attending in-person at Berkeley or via Zoom. It helps us greatly with planning. Thank you!

A welcome letter will be emailed to registrants closer to the program date, containing both in-person attendance information as well as complete Zoom attendance information.