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The Venerable Lama Soktse Rinpoche will be visiting California during September and October to give Dzogchen teachings and empowerments from the Dudjom Ter Sar lineage and the terma lineage of His Eminence Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche. Soktse Rinpoche is a yogi who has spent most of his life on retreat. When Rinpoche makes a prayer, there is always a sign, says the Venerable Lama Chhoje Rinpoche. His compassion has the full power of the activity which can manifest from a powerful Dzogchen master.

An heir to the Nvingma lineages of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and Punda Khen Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche is also the principal holder of the Drukpa Yongdzin lineage. As well as upholding both the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions, Rinpoche is especially known as a master of Dzogchen. According to Chhoje Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche's special quality is that he is an extremely great meditation master, so he is very open and very simple.

Soktse Rinpoche also holds several Medicine Buddha lineages and is renowned for his healing powers. His blessing medicines are extremely prized.

Born in 1928, Soktse Rinpoche now lives in the Changtang region of Ladakh in the small mountain village of Hanley where he is the abbot of Tashi Choling cloister. Rinpoche offers teachings and guidance for the nuns of Tashi Choling, as well as for many local lay practitioners.

Due to his tremendous realization, Soktse Rinpoche's presence in Changtang has brought great peace and harmony to the area. When Rinpoche came to Changtang, there were many signs. Local people noticed that this arid region was blessed with a great deal of rain, making the harvests extremely plentiful. Fewer people became sick. Even attacks by wild dogs were less frequent.

There are many stories about Soktse Rinpoche's yogic powers. In his previous lifetime Rinpoche accompanied the 13th Dalai Lama on a journey to China. While crossing a desert, their party could not find water. There was not a cloud in the sky. When the Dalai Lama asked who there had the power to help, Soktse Rinpoche sat down to meditate. Immediately dark clouds gathered and rain poured down. There was so much rain that it flooded the riverbeds, making streams flow.

Soktse Rinpoche will be visiting the West this fall for the first time at the request of his lineage-heir, Chhoje Rinpoche. Although Chhoje Rinpoche's seat is also in the Changtang region of Ladakh at Chumur Monastery, Rinpoche has lived for the last four years in Marin County, California, where he has founded Padma Shedrup Ling, a center for study and practice in the Nyingma tradition.

Soktse Rinpoche will be giving several empowerments as well as meditation teachings in Marin County during September and Oc-tober. He will also teach in Ash-land, Oregon and Nevada City, California. For further information, contact Padma Shedrup Ling, P.O. Box 117, Fairfax, CA 94930; tel. 415-485-1356.