HH Khöndung Ratna Vajra Rinpoche

42st Sakya Trizin

Is the eldest son of His Holiness Sakya Trizin and Gyalyum Tashi Lhakyi, the daughter of a minister of the regent of Kham in eastern Tibet. He is the heir of the Sakya lineage and will become the Sakya Trizin for three years in March 2017. From his birth, as one can see, he has received a vast preparation in the Tantras and in Buddhist Philosophy, but also in the English language and traditional music.

Dungsay Ratna Vajra Rinpoche is born  the 19th  November 1974.

At the very young age of five months he received the traditional ceremony of enthronement at the Monastery of Tharig Rinpoche. From a young age, Dungsay Ratna Vajra Rinpoche has traveled a lot accompanying his father in his many international teaching-commitments. At six years of age, the 20th December 1980, Ratna Vajra started his official formation of all the common and uncommon teachings of the Sakya Tradition,  at the Sakya Monastery Thubten Namgyal Ling in Puruwala, India. 1986, at twelve years of age, he performed his first retreat.

1990, Ratna Vajra started to study at Sakya College were he studied philosophy, primarily with the late Khenpo Migmar Tsering Rinpoche. He also received teachings, empowerments and blessings from his father, from the XIV Dalai Lama, from Jamgon Lama Sakya Pandita, Appey Khen Rinpoche, Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche, Khenpo Ngawang Kunga Lekshey Rinpoche, and Khenpo Lungrik Senge Rinpoche.

Despite the numerous studies and empowerments wfrom these Great Masters, Ratna Vajra confessed in his autobiography in 2001, that "because of my lack of interest and effort, I'm not very learned, nor am I a good Dharma practitioner" - showing that also a Great Master still can feel the need to improve.

Dungsey Ratna Vajra got married 2003 with Dagmo Kushog Kalden Sakya and they have 3 children.