His Holiness Gongma Trichen 41st Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Sakya Trizin, spiritual head of the Skaya-pa school, is one of the most lamas known and venerated of Vajrayana Buddhism and is considered, together with the Dalai Lama of Gelug-pa and Karma-pa of the Kagyu-pa tradition, among the highest expressions of Tibetan spirituality. For years Sakya Trizin has been committed to teaching Buddhist philosophy around the world and to preserving the culture and wisdom of Tibet.
The figure of Sakya Trizin
Birth and formation of the current Sakya-Trizin
The escape from Tibet
The continuity of the lineage and the teachings
The figure of Sakya Trizin
Sakya Trizin, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition is believed to be an emanation of the divine Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri. Present-day Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga is descended from an ancient and illustrious family, commonly known as the Khon or conqueror family, because they are said to have subdued a class of demons. The Family is believed to have descended from the clear light kingdom of heaven to take up residence in the snow kingdom in Tibet ten generations before Padmasambhava's arrival in Tibet in the eighth century. The family is also called the Sakyapa family, because they founded the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Birth and formation of the current Sakya-Trizin
The current Sakya Trizin was born on September 7, 1945. Various auspicious signs occurred on the day of His birth. Already at a young age Sakya Trizin received many initiations and profound teachings mainly from Her father, Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen.
His Holiness the present Sakya Trizin lost both His father and His mother when He was very young: His mother when He was three, and His father two years later. His maternal aunt assumed responsibility for the care and education of the young heir to the Sakya throne and appointed erudite teachers as His tutors.
In 1951, His Holiness visited Lhasa where, at the age of six, Sakya Trizin (Throne Holder), of the Sakya Order of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was designated. His preliminary coronation took place the following year in Sakya, the main seat of the Sakya order. In the 1953, at the age of eight, His Holiness undertook his first Hevajra retreat in Sakya. At the age of ten he visited Lhasa again, where he received teachings from the Dalai Lama in the Potala. There, in front of a large audience, the child gave an extensive explanation of the mandala by offering a ritual, and His Wisdom was proclaimed throughout Tibet.
From Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodoe Rinpoche received many important tantric teachings and authorizations of the Sakyapa tradition, as well as teachings and authorizations of the Tradition of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen / Ati Yoga).
The escape from Tibet
In 1959, due to the precarious political situation in Tibet, he had to leave his homeland and seek asylum in India. The following year he founded the Sakya Monastery in Ghoom, near Darjeeling, India, and began the difficult task of reuniting the Sangha Sakya in India. In Tibet as well as in India, His Holiness received extensive philosophical teachings on logic, abhidharma, prajnaparamita and the madhyamaka as well as detailed instructions on the deep tantric tradition.
In 1963, His Holiness moved to Mussoorie in the Himalayan hills above Dehradun. The following year he established the Sakya Order's headquarters in Rajpur, Dehradun. The following year the big one majority of the monks of the Sakya order moved to the newly founded monastery in Rajpur. There, His Holiness began to bestow many important teachings and authorizations on the assembly of monks.
In 1972, His Holiness founded the Sakya College of Tibetan Philosophy in Rajpur, in Dehradun, and appointed the Venerable Khenpo Appy Rinpoche as its Director. There, the young Sakya monks from all over the subcontainer they have received the highest level of Buddhist education in order to continue the Sakya tradition.
The continuity of the lineage and the teachings
In 1974 His Holiness married Dagmo Tashi Lhakee and in the same year their first child, Ratnavajra Rinpoche, was born.
In 1979, their second child, Gyanavajra Rinpoche, was born.
In 1980, His Holiness founded Sakya Monastery in Puruwala, near Dehra Dun.
From the age of eight to the present, His Holiness has performed many major and minor retreats, including the extensive Hevajra, Vajrakilaya and Maha Vajrocana retreats.
For the benefit of all who wish to study the Buddha's teaching, His Holiness has turned the wheel of the Dharma in both East and West, blessing all His disciples, both monastic and lay, with His great wisdom and deep compassion.
