His Holiness, the 41st Sakya Trizin (meaning Throne-holder of Sakya) Ngawang Kunga Thekchen Palbar Samphel Wangi Gyalpo is the supreme head of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness is the most senior member of the Dolma Phodrang of Khön family, which has a long and esteemed history dating back to pre-Buddhist Tibet. Many famous masters have appeared in this royal family lineage including Sakya Pandita and Drogon Choegyal Phakpa. One of His Holiness’ ancestors, Könchog Gyalpo founded the Sakya monastery in 1073 CE in Upper Tibet as prophesised by the famous Indian sage Atisha.
His Holiness’ father, Vajradara Ngawang Kunga Rinchin, was also a highly revered Khön patriarch. He married Thrinley Paljor Sangmo, who was the sister of a minister in the Tibetan Government. After 16 years when the couple still had no children, His Holiness’ father married his wife’s younger sister, Sonam Drolkar.
The couple first had a girl, Chime Thrinley Luding, who now lives in Canada. Then they had a son, followed by another daughter. This first son, Jigdral Dutdul, died as a child. It was important to uphold the family lineage and traditions but His Holiness’ mother had almost given up hope of having a male heir. She went with others on a long pilgrimage to sacred places in Tibet and Nepal for help. Towards the end of her trip she came to the Nalendra Monastery in Tibet. There the monks offered their Abbot, the famous Ngaglo Rinpoche to assist her.
Ngaglo Rinpoche performed special rites and rituals to assist Dagmo to conceive. His Holiness was born in Tibet in 1945 and given the name, Ayu Vajra until his first initiation. When he was born, there were many auspicious signs; for example, the sky was filled with extraordinary rainbows. The great spiritual master and abbot of the time, Shenphen Nyingpo said to the Ngaglo Rinpoche, “In bringing about the birth of this child, you have performed a great deed. Now the future of the doctrine of the Sakya Order is well assured. I am an old monk. Now, even if I die, I shall have no regrets.”
Both His Holiness’ parents died when he was young and he was raised by his mother’s sister, Dakmo Kusho Trinley Paljor Zangmo. She was an important influence in his life, choosing his first tutor and supervising the overall running of the Sakya tradition. There were signs that His Holiness was the reincarnation of the great teacher, Apam Terton. From a young age His Holiness studied extensively and received extensive teachings and important initiations from Zhenphen Nyingpo, his late father and Khenchen Jampal Sangpo. He also performed many duties as the head of the Khön family tradition.
When he was 14, in 1959, His Holiness was enthroned as the head of the Sakya tradition and became formally known as His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. More than 1000 monks attended. Later that year, His Holiness and his entourage left Tibet for India. In exile, His Holiness received extensive teachings on Buddhist philosophical texts under the tutelage of the Most Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche and the late Khenpo Rinchen. His Holiness received the complete Collection of Tantras (Gyude Kuntu) and Lamdre Lobshe from His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche in the early 1970s. His Holiness founded Sakya Centre in Rajpur and Sakya Settlement in Puruwala in 1960s; Sakya College and Sakya Institute in 1970s and Sakya nunnery in 1990s. As the patron and spiritual head of many centers, His Holiness directly supports the establishment of Buddhist centres and monasteries all around the world. In 2003, His Holiness founded and inaugurated Sakya Kunchab Ling, as his seat in the USA.
His Holiness has worked ceaselessly for the preservation of Sakya’s rich and profound heritage. In addition to these weighty responsibilities, he has undertaken major and minor retreats, given numerous initiations, written a large amount of texts and given the vast Lam Dre teachings at least 11 times.
As well as teaching in Tibet and India, His Holiness has visited and taught in countries all over the world. When he is not teaching, His Holiness lives at Sakya Dolma Phodrang in Rajpur, Dehradun, UA, India. He lives with his wife and their two sons, Ratna Vajra and Gyana Vajra, who have both received a thorough Buddhist education to preserve the traditions of the Khon family.
His Holiness is an unsurpassed and profound teacher. He has been prepared for his teaching role by receiving deep, broad and thorough teachings in an unbroken lineage dating right back to the Lord Buddha himself. His Holiness has traveled many countries and taught widely throughout the whole world.
His Holiness has visited Australia three times and given Lamdre Tshogshe, Lamdre Lobshe, Vajrayogini teachings and the Thirteen Golden Dharmas. During His first visit to Australia in 1988, His Holiness dedicated the forming of Sakya Losal Choe Dzong in Canberra and conducted a Lamdre Lineage Guru Puja. During His last visit in 2003, His Holiness blessed Jamchen Buddhist Centre in Balwyn, Melbourne. Now there are at least sixteen Sakya centres around Australia including, Jamchen Buddhist Centre and Sakya Choekhor Lhunpo in Melbourne. These are founded under the guidance and inspiration of His Holiness Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. His Holiness is able to explain and communicate complex teachings in ways that can be easily understood by students of all levels of understanding. We are fortunate indeed to be blessed with his presence in the world during these difficult times.