A world-renowned Buddhist teacher from Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche is the author of the highly acclaimed The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying . Rinpoche is also the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa.

Born in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized at an early age as the incarnation of a great master and ‘treasure revealer’ of the nineteenth century, Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa (1856-1926). Rinpoche received the traditional training of a Tibetan lama under the close supervision of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the twentieth century, who raised Rinpoche like his own son. He went on to study with many other great masters, of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, especially Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.

In 1971, Rinpoche went to England, where he studied Comparative Religion at Cambridge University. First as a translator and aide to his revered masters, and then teaching in his own right, Rinpoche traveled to many countries, observing the reality of people’s lives, and searching how to translate the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. What both students and other masters recognize is that Rinpoche possesses a unique power for communicating the essence of this lineage of wisdom, for making the profound seem simple, and for making it relevant to everyone, without losing any of its authenticity.

Sogyal Rinpoche's acclaimed spiritual classic is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a source of inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. Over 7 million copies have been printed in thirty-four languages, in China alone, 4 million copies have been printed, and the book is available in eighty countries. It has been adopted by colleges, groups and institutions, both medical and religious, and is used extensively by nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. Nearly every day Rinpoche and his students hear the most moving stories from people all over the world about how this book has helped transform their lives, or helped them through a crisis or the death of a loved one.

Sogyal Rinpoche has been teaching for over 40 years and continues to travel widely in Europe, America, Australia and Asia.