Venerable Lama Konchok Sonam
Spiritual Advisor of Katsel Dharma Center

Venerable Lama Konchok Sonam began his Buddhist training at a young age. A fully ordained Gelong (monk) at the age of 18, he completed retreat on Ngondro (Common and Extraordinary Preliminaries), and the Fivefold Path of Mahamudra under H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche (retreat master), and Gelong Yeshe (retreat teacher). He served as personal attendant to H.H. Chungtsang Rinpoche, H.E. Drubwang Rinpoche, Tongkar Tulku, and H.E. Thritsab Rinpoche, and tutored American tulku Thadag Rinpoche (Jack Churchward). Lama Sonam received teachings and blessings from 25-30 great masters, including Nyathak Rinpoche, his beloved main teacher, and the Most Venerable Pachung Rinpoche, the renown scholar and retreat master at Drikung-Til monestary (the late H.E. Drubwang Rinpoche's teacher).

Lama Sonam was the disciplinarian at the famous monastery Jang Chub Ling, in Dehra Dun, India. This difficult position required an extremely vast knowledge of the Buddha-Dharma, and inspirational deep inner qualities. After that, Lama Sonam traveled extensively, and taught the Dharma all over the world.

Lama Sonam is expert in both the theoritical and practical aspects of training the mind through meditation, and other Vajrayana methods for awakening the Buddha Nature inherent in all sentient beings.

In the fall of 2005, Lama Sonam started the Jowo Rinpoche Statue Project to benefit the United States and the world. Lama Sonam's vision was to bring the blessings of Buddhism to the United States by creating a pilgrimage site featuring a nine-foot tall bronze statute, the Jowo Rinpoche. In May of 2008, Jowo Rinpoche was completed in Nepal, shipped to Boston, and currently resides at the Drikung Meditation Center in Arlington, MA. This magnificent statue is an emanation replica of the famous Jowo Rinpoche statue of Lhasa, Tibet. The U.S. Jowo Rinpoche is available for visitation and as a source for USA Jowo pilgramages. Please visit Jokhang.org for more information on the statue and the pilgrimage site. Lama Sonam is currently raising funds for the purchase of a permanent home for the pilgrimage site.

Lama Sonam is Spiritual Director, and Retreat Master of Katsel Dharma Center- Tampa, Katsel Dharma Garden-Clearwater & Katsel-Boston

This Bio is from Drikung Boston please visit drikungboston.org for more information on Lama Sonam and events in the Boston area.

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Nyidak Rinpoche
-Head of Katsel Monastery in Tibet

Nyidak Rinpoche, Lama Sonam's beloved main teacher, is the head of Katsel Monastery. An interesting account of Nyidak Rinpoche appeared in Dr. Hun Lye's Blog, Hun's Summer of 2007

"When he [Lobsang] got to the bus he related to us that he had gone to see Rinpoche [Nyidak Rinpoche] with a specific problem/question that he needed advice on. But when he finally found Rinpoche, Rinpoche was already surrounded by many pilgrims and thus he thought he had lost the chance. But he pushed his way through the crowd (it's acceptable here) to offer Rinpoche the katag and offering. When he finally got close to Rinpoche, Rinpoche turned around, looked at him and gave him the answer to his question! Lobsang was so shocked and awed that he just put the katag and offering on a table and ran off! As the prayer says, Lama Khyenno or The Lama Knows!"

The picture above is a photo of Nyidak Rinpoche, Lama Sonam's Root Guru. More information on Nyethag Rinpoche will be coming soon. May he live long in service to all sentient beings.

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