Photo Galleries
Follow the progress of our premier project from ground-breaking to the first year of classes;
Enjoy the stunning scenery and unique culture of the high plateau of eastern Tibet.
Follow the progress of our premier project from ground-breaking to the first year of classes;
Enjoy the stunning scenery and unique culture of the high plateau of eastern Tibet.
About us
Ven. Sogan Rinpoche, Founder
and President
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 Tibet's Serta region) which he founded in his First Sogan Rinpoche incarnation. He is also the head of Bayan (Wayan) Monastery, located 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. He is the spiritual director of Tupten Osel Choling, a dharma group in the San Francisco Bay area and also of Tupten Osel Ling, a group founded by Rinpoche's students in northern Italy in 2012.
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.
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 (now called Kunsel Kyetsal). 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.
and President
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 Tibet's Serta region) which he founded in his First Sogan Rinpoche incarnation. He is also the head of Bayan (Wayan) Monastery, located 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. He is the spiritual director of Tupten Osel Choling, a dharma group in the San Francisco Bay area and also of Tupten Osel Ling, a group founded by Rinpoche's students in northern Italy in 2012.
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.
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 (now called Kunsel Kyetsal). 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.
TSF Board members
Board of Directors 2013
Board of Directors 2013
Venerable Sogan Rinpoche Founder and President
Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Laura Batie, Esq. Vice-President
San Francisco, CA
Greg Case Treasurer, Director
Oakland, CA
Teresa Harrigan Secretary, Director
Oakland, CA
Victoria Chen, Ph.D. Director
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Greg Case Treasurer, Director
Oakland, CA
Teresa Harrigan Secretary, Director
Oakland, CA
Victoria Chen, Ph.D. Director
San Francisco, CA
Ellen Gurian, M.D. Director
Berkeley, CA
Robert Warren Clark, Ph.D. Director
San Francisco, CA
Chanda Rankin, Ph.D. Director
Los Angeles, CA
Ming Jay Su Director
Vancouver, BC
Berkeley, CA
Robert Warren Clark, Ph.D. Director
San Francisco, CA
Chanda Rankin, Ph.D. Director
Los Angeles, CA
Ming Jay Su Director
Vancouver, BC