Acharya Lama Sönam Rabgye

Lama Sönam was born in Manang in 1961, in a remote valley in the border region between Nepal and Tibet, where numerous caves of the Yogi poet Milarepa are located. He grew up in a Tibetan community and personally experienced the difficult living conditions of the local population.

He was obliged to support his family until the age of 21 before he was able to study at the Karma Shri Nalanda Institute in Rumtek/Sikkim, India, where he was awarded the title of Acharya, a master of Buddhist philosophy. This was followed by three years of teaching at the Karma Lekshey Ling Institute in Kathmandu/Nepal. He completed a traditional 3-year retreat in Pullahari, the monastery of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche in Kathmandu/Nepal. The 3rd Jamgön Kongtrul, Karma Chökyi Lodrö Senge, was his most important teacher. He gave him refuge and ordained Lama Sönam.    
 
Since 1999, Lama Sönam has been living in Germany as resident lama at the Kamalashila Institute® for Buddhist Studies and Meditation in Langenfeld/Eifel. In his numerous courses, he inspires many people with his friendly manner and profound knowledge. He is also a most welcomed guest in many other European centers as a competent and authentic teacher of Buddhist philosophy and the meditation practice of Sutra, Tantra and Mahamudra.

Lama Sönam sees it as his responsibility to help those who are suffering:  
 “There are so many who suffer, who get little or no help from outside, like the homeless and the poor. I want to help these people via  'Himalaya Karuna'."  

Teachings from Lama Sönam

Current courses and teachings by Lama Sönam can be found on the website of the Kamalashila Institute: 

https://kamalashila.de/en/schedule/

https://kamalashila-campus.com/en/author/archarya-lama-soenam/

Chants for Himalaya Karuna

At the end of 2010, the CD "Chants for Himalaya Karuna" was released with wonderful chants by Lama Sönam - a successful mixture of cheerful "Tashi Delek" and meditative chants. The project was initiated and carried out by association members Karin and Stephan Gade, who also organize the distribution of the CD.

Further information on the CD project can be found here.