Geshe Sonam Rinchen was born in the Tehor region of Kham in Eastern Tibet. He began his religious studies at the age of twelve at Dhargye Monastery, the largest local monastery in his area of Kham. He pursued his studies there for the next seven years and completed the basic studies in logic.

At nineteen, he made a two and a half-month journey on foot to Central Tibet to enter the Monastic University of Sera. Hecontinued his studies there until he was forced to flee Tibet in 1959.

In India he completed his studies for the degree of Geshe Lharampa, which he received in 1980. He also holds an Acharya degree from the Central University of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi.

He has taught classes at the LTWA since 1978. Geshe-la has also taught in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland. Ten books of his teachings have been published.