This is a site for people on myspace to learn more about The Sogan Foundation. Please visit www.sogan.org for more information.
About Ven. Sogan Rinpoche, Founder and Chairman of the Board
Ven. Sogan Rinpoche (Tulku Pema Lodoe) was born in 1964 in the Golok region of Amdo, Tibet. As a child, he was recognized by H.H. the XlVth Dalai Lama as the Sixth Sogan Rinpoche and was enthroned at Abo Sera Monastery in East Kham (Serta), which he founded in his First Sogan Rinpoche rebirth. He is also the head of Bayan (Wayan) Monastery in Golok.
Rinpoche has studied with many great masters of all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. His principal teacher is Khenpo Munsel, who was one of the great Dzogchen masters of the 20th century and a chief disciple of Khenpo Ngag Chung. After many years of study, pilgrimage and solitary retreat, Rinpoche left Tibet to continue his studies in Nepal. He studied extensively with many prominent teachers and spent several years there in retreat. He is currently teaching Buddhism throughout North America, and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is the spiritual director of Tupten Osel Choling.
Rinpoche established The Sogan Foundation for the immediate purpose of building a much needed high school in Golok, and with the intent that continuing far into the future, the organization will serve as a vehicle for alleviating the suffering of the poor and the marginalized.
About The Sogan Foundation
The Sogan Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization. Through compassionate giving and service, the Foundation aspires to bring hope and opportunity to disadvantaged communities. Its projects are concerned with addressing the roots of poverty and the harms that so often attend it, including poor health, lack of education, degradation of the natural environment, and a community sense of isolation and disempowerment. In 2004, in partnership with local officials and community leaders, the Foundation began work on establishing The Tibetan Institute for Science and Technology. This project reflects our current organizational interest in providing desperately needed assistance to Tibetan communities within China. We envision that future projects will address the urgent needs of other communities worldwide.
Founded in 2004 as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, The Sogan Foundation is a secular entity with goals inspired by the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha. The Foundation has been granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the IRS. All contributions are welcome and tax-deductible.
