After an early life characterised by depression, anxiety and social isolation, Sopa discovered Buddhism and meditation through the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and found a path to health and wellbeing in the practice and study of Shambhala Buddhism. He took Refuge Vows under Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 1998 and completed his first mindfulness retreat, a month-long ‘Dathun’, shortly after.
In 2007, after a year of deep study of the Mahayana Buddhist teachings, Sopa completed ‘Sutrayana Seminary’, a month retreat of study and practice focusing on generating compassion and love through Tonglen and other ‘Maitri’ (loving-kindness) practices, as well as the discovery of emptiness through vipassana and contemplative practices.
In 2012 Sopa completed ‘Vajrayana Seminary’ after an in-depth study of the tantric teachings and recieved transmission and practice empowerments from his Vajra Guru, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
in 2014 he spent four months at Gampo Abbey in a silent retreat focusing on the vipassana practices of ‘Mahamudra’ (The Great Seal), said to be one of the most powerful practices in the Tibetan schools of Buddhism.
Sopa is also an experienced physical therapy guide and recieved training in qigong/tai chi Shiatsu College in 2012-2013
Sopa has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 2008 and has organised many weekend programs and retreats. He was the Centre Director at the London Shambhala Buddhist Centre between 2015 and 2018 where he also received extensive teachings in leadership as a path to liberation, and is a former director of the Jamyang Buddhist Centre in Leeds, which is affiliated with The Foundation for the Preservation for the Mahayana Tradition. His other teachers include Her Eminence Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche and Pema Chodron.
Having spent many years teaching Religious Studies and Philosophy in secondary schools he is an engaging communicator and has a secular and direct approach to the teachings of Buddhism, believing that we no longer need complex conceptual frameworks, esoteric ceremonies or the distracting trappings of traditional religion (such as robes, iconography and hierarchical structures) to understand and access our own inherent wisdom and love.
