Lama Sonam

Lama Sonam Zangpo

Lama Sonam Zangpo or Drubwang Sonam Zangpo (བསོད་ནམས་བཟང་པོ།
bsod nams bzang po 1888-1984).

Lama Sonam Zangpo was a direct student of Shakya Shri.

After the passing of his master in 1919, he continued to live on in Kyibuk, Tibet for another ten years teaching and guiding Shakya Shri’s students. Later he went on to teach extensively in many important monasteries in Bhutan. However, similar to his Master, Shakya Shri , he was a retreat-like yogi who principally lived and taught students in jungles and forests.

Lama Sonam Zangpo looked after my father, Apho Rinpoche when he was young (10-16 years of age). This was because my own grandfather had died young. In addition to caring for my father, Lama Sonam Zangpo taught him Dzogchen and Mahamudra.

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Later in his life Lama Sonam Zangpo extensively guided Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Sey Rinpoche and Jampal, in the teachings of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He was the maternal grandfather of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and my family are therefore connected in a deep spiritual way.

After the passing of his master in 1919, Lama Sonam Zangpo continued to live on in Kyibuk, Tibet, for another ten years teaching and guiding Shakya Shri’s students. Later he went on to teach extensively in Bhutan, in many important monasteries. However, similar to his Master Shakya Shri, he was a retreat-like yogi who principally lived and taught students in jungles and forests. Lama Sonam Zangpo looked after Sey Rinpoche’s father, Apho Rinpoche when the later was young (10-16 years of age) since his father had died young. In addition to caring for Apho Rinpoche, Lama Sonam Zangpo taught him Dzogchen and Mahamudra.

Later, during the years when Sey Rinpoche in turn practiced under Lopon Sonam Zangpo’s guidance, he received the instructions on the Six Yogas of Naropa and trained in them diligently while living in a retreat hut in the wilderness. He successfully completed the test of Tumo (psychic heat) by wearing a a white sheet dipped in icy water and drying the sheet by generating inner heat. Lopon Sonam Zangpo also gave him various other secret Whispered transmissions pf Drubwang Shakya Shri. At the end of Sey Rinpoche’s training in Bhutan, Lopon Sonam Zangpo told him, “You are the holder of all my transmissions. Now that you have received them all, I will have no regret when I, an old man, die.”