Renowned for his erudition and the clarity of his teachings, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin belongs to the prestigious Khön family, whose successive generations have provided an unbroken lineage of outstanding masters.
His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, is the eldest son of His Holiness the Sakya Trichen (the 41st Sakya Trizin). He is considered one of the most highly qualified lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism.
Early Childhood & Early Education
Born on November 19, 1974, in Dehradun, India, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin was, from birth, the recipient of countless blessings, empowerments, and teachings from his father, His Holiness the Sakya Trichen, as well as many other learned and accomplished masters.
His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin’s formal education began when he was six years old, under the tutorship of Venerable Rinchen Sangpo, with the study of Tibetan reading, writing, grammar, memorization, and recitation of basic prayers and rituals.
In 1987, when His Holiness was twelve, he passed his first major examination at the Sakya Centre in Rajpur, Dehradun. Two years later, he completed his basic studies of the major rituals and scriptures of the tradition.
Major Studies & Training
In 1990, His Holiness joined the Sakya College, where he studied mainly Buddhist philosophy under the late Khenpo Migmar Tsering. In 1998, after years of rigorous training, His Holiness completed his studies there and was awarded the Kachupa degree, “master of ten scriptures.” In addition to his philosophical studies, His Holiness received many exoteric and esoteric teachings, empowerments, blessings, initiations, oral transmissions, explanations and pith instructions, mainly from His Holiness the Sakya Trichen, and also from many other important lineage masters, including His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, and Khenchen Appey Rinpoche.
Starting from an early age of twelve, His Holiness has completed numerous meditation retreats, including the rigorous and complete Hevajra retreat, one of the prerequisites for bestowing the Lam Dre empowerments. Among all his precious teachers, His Holiness the Sakya Trichen has always been, and continues to be, his main root guru and source of guidance and inspiration.
Family
In 2002, Her Eminence Gyalyum Kalden Dunkyi was chosen, in the age-old Sakya tradition of holy divination, to be the spiritual consort of His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin.
They have three children: eldest daughter- Jetsunma Kunga Trinley Palter Sakya ; son- Dungsey Akasha Vajra Rinpoche; and second daughter Jetsunma Kunga Chimey Wangmo Sakya- They are also being brought up in accordance with the ancient Buddhist traditions of scholarship.
Enthronement
With wisdom and compassion, His Holiness continues to regularly transmit numerous empowerments and teachings at renowned Buddhist institutes such as the Sakya Institute, the Dzongsar Institute, Sakya College, Tantric College, International Buddhist Academy, and countless other schools, centers, and monasteries all over the world.
On March 9, 2017, His Holiness accepted the mantle of leadership from his esteemed father and root guru, in his new capacity as the 42nd Sakya Trizin or throne holder of the lineage.
In doing so, he will continue to guide and inspire Dharma students from all over the world with his wisdom, genuine qualities of unaffected simplicity, humility and complete honesty, by presenting the Buddha’s teachings in the most authentic way, while maintaining the purest of Buddhist traditions.
