Lama Sonam Tashi Rinpoche

Lama Sonam Tashi was born on August 11, 1987 to father Champon Lama Dorjee Thinley and mother Nyima Youdon. His name was bestowed upon him by his grandfather, Aumtse Chenpo Dutse Dorjee, who had been appointed the Dudjom Tersar's cham (vajra dance) teacher by His Holiness Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. His father succeeded his own father as cham master and umdzé.

Sonam Tashi went to the Nepal Dudjom Monastery in 1990 to study the Dudjom lineage, attended the Central School for Tibetans at Chandagiri from 1996, and joined Dundul Raptenling Monastery in 1999, where he learned Tibetan grammar, spelling, Lo-zin and studied the Nyingma sutras. He received the Dudjom rituals from his master the late Lama Pema Choeying, and completed his ritual studies with Lopön Jamyang. At a young age he showed great determination and interest in serving the dharma, and was liked and trusted by all.

During the decline of Dundul Raptenling in about 2005, Lama Sonam began sharing responsibilities with the incumbent president, Tulku Tsephel. At his request, Lama Sonam toured India to raise funds to resurrect the monastery, assembling about fifteen new monks. When Tulku Tsephel passed away in 2010, the entire responsibility for the monastery fell upon his shoulders. He contacted high lamas including Kyabje Garab Rinpoche, Kyabje Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and the late Kyabje Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche for help; since then the monastery's finances have stabilized.

In 2016, Lama Sonam Tashi built a new dormitory and classroom building through the generous sponsorship of Dungsey Garab Dorjee Rinpoche, and acquired some seventy lama-dancing masks and costumes, new thrones and ritual implements. With the blessings of Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche, he began visiting other countries in 2019, helping to provide resources for the new library and the ongoing Zangdok Palri construction project.

He has received the Dudjom Tersar empowerments and the complete lung of the Dudjom treasure lineage from masters including Kyabje Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, the late Tulku Tsephel Rinpoche, Kyabje Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Kyabje Drupwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche, among many others.

Lama Sonam Tashi has published the Dudjom Comprehensive Mandala, a book on Tibetan handwriting (Kunphel Yigsu Theb), the Dudjom Solka, and a Rime daily prayer book, and produced a video of the Dudjom Tersar cham. He oversees the newly formed Troma Tsogpa, leading a monthly Chöd gathering. During the COVID-19 lockdown he provided rations and food staples for almost 1,000 households and PPE for doctors and nurses in his area.