Sakya Trizin Explained

Sakya Trizin ("Sakya Throne-Holder") is the traditional title of the head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.^[1]

The Sakya school was founded in 1073 CE,^[2] when Khön Könchog Gyalpo (; 1034–1102), a member of Tibet's noble Khön family, established a monastery in the region of Sakya, Tibet, which became the headquarters of the Sakya order.^[3] Since that time, its leadership has descended within the Khön family.

The 41st Sakya Trizin, whose reign spanned more than fifty years, was the longest reigning Sakya Trizin.^[4] The current Sakya Trizin is Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, officially known as Kyabgon Gongma Trizin Rinpoche,^[5] the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.

Origin of Khön

Lharig, the divine generation

According to legend Ciring descended from the Rupadhatu (Realm of Clear Light) to earth.

• Ciring
• Yuse
• Yuring
• Masang Cije
• Togsa Pawo Tag
• Tagpo Ochen
• Yapang Kye

Khön family, the royal generationBecause previous generations subjugated the rakshasas (demons), the family became the Family of Conquerors (shortened to Khön)^[6] and therefore a royal family.

• Khön Bar Kye
• Khön Jekundag, minister of Trisong Detsen, student of Padmasambhava
• Khön Lu'i Wangpo Srungwa
• Khön Dorje Rinchen
• Khön Sherab Yontan
• Khön Yontan Jungne
• Khön Tsugtor Sherab
• Khön Gekyab
• Khön Getong
• Khön Balpo
• Khön Shakya Lodro
• Sherab Tsultrim

Sakya Trizin lineage

Sakya lineage, generations as Buddhist teachers.^[7]

Khon Konchog Gyalpo founded the monastery in Sakya in 1073, and therefore the lineage was renamed Sakya.^[8]

	Name	Biographical data	Tenure	Tibetan name
1.		1034–1102	1073–1102
2.		1040–1111	1103–1110
3.		1092–1158	1111–1158
4.		1142–1182	1159–1171
5.		1147–1216	1172–1215
6.		1182–1251	1216–1243
6a.	regent of Sakya Pandita		1243–1264
7.		1235–1280	1265–1266 1276–1280
8.		1238–1279	1267–1275
7a.	Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 2nd reign		1276–1280
9.	Dharmapala Rakshita^[9]	1268–1287	1281–1287
10.		1258–1306	1288–1297
11.		1262–1324	1298–1324
12.		1305–1343	ca. 1324–1342
13.		1310–1344	ca. 1342-1344
14.		1312–1375	1344–1347
15.		1332–1364	1347–1364
16.		1339–1399	ca. 1364-1399
17.		1366–1420	1399–1420
18.		1398–1472	1421–1441
19.		1418–1462	1442–1462
20.		1436–1494	1463–1472
21.		1444–1495	1473–1495
22.		1485–1533	1496–1533
23.		1517–1584	1534–1584
24.		1519–1621	1584–1589
25.		1563–1617	1589–1617
26.		1592–1620	1618–1620
27.		1597–1659	1620–1659
28.		1638–1685	1659–1685
29.		1656–1711	1685–1711
30.		1705–1741	1711–1741
31.		1729–1783	1741–1783
32.		1763–1809	1783–1806
33.		1792–1853	1806–1843
34.		1819–1867	1843–1845
35.		1824–1865	1846–1865
36.		1842–1882	1866–1882
37.		1850–1899	1883–1899
38.		1855–1919	1901–1915
39.		1871–1936	1915–1936
40.		1900–1950	1937–1950
41.		1945	1951–2017
42.		1974	2017–2022
43.	Gyana Vajra Rinpoche	1979	2022–present

New succession system

On 11 December 2014, a new throne holder succession system was announced during the 23rd Great Sakya Mönlam prayer festival on a resolution passed by the Dolma Phodrang and Phuntsok Phodrang, where members of both Phodrang will serve the role of Sakya Trizin in one three-year term, according to their seniority and qualification.^{[10] [11]}

Ratna Vajra Rinpoche was enthroned on 9 March 2017 as the 42nd Sakya Trizin, the first to be enthroned under the new system.^[5] Due to the COVID Pandemic, the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche was enthroned on 16 March 2022, five years after the enthronement of the 42nd Sakya Trizin. He is the current throne holder of the Sakya school.

References

• Penny-Dimri, Sandra. (1995). "The Lineage of His Holiness Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga." The Tibet Journal. Vol. XX, No. 4 Winter 1995, pp. 64–92. .
• Trizin, Sakya. Parting from the Four Attachments. Shang Shung Publications, 1999.

External links

• Sakya Dolma Phodrang's official website
• Hungarian website of Sakya Trizin including some information about Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding see last section
• http://www.glorioussakya.org/history/hhst/
• https://treasuryoflives.org/en/institution/Sakya-Monastery#Abbots

Notes and References

1. Holy Biographies of the Great Founders of the Glorious Sakya Order, translated by Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, Ani Kunga Chodron and Victoria Huckenpahler. Published by Sakya Phuntsok Ling Publications, Silver Spring MD. June 2000.
2. Web site: Glimpses on History of Tibet.
3. The History of the Sakya Tradition, by Chogay Trichen. Manchester Free Press, U.K. 1983.
4. Web site: His Holiness the Sakya Trizin: Current News ~ The Golden Jubilee and Monlam. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140310212717/http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/currentnews_jubilee.html . 10 March 2014 .
5. Web site: Kyabgon Gongma Trizin Rinpoche - Rigpa Wiki.
6. Web site: The Sakya Tradition: Biography of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin . 2017-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170524001204/http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/bio_hhst.html . 2017-05-24 . dead .
7. Drogmi Buddhist Institute, Throneholders of Sakya
8. Web site: The Sakya lineage. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140914042957/http://drogmi.org/the-sakya-tradition/the-sakya-lineage . 14 September 2014 .
9. A /琼结巴 or from /萨护罗国/萨霍尔国. Son of 达玛惹扎, grandson of 夏扎布达, or son of /恰那多吉? http://www.tibet3.com/lishi/2009-03/25/content_27282.htm
10. Web site: Archived copy . www.hhthesakyatrizin.org . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150606025618/http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/pdfs/HHSakyaTrizin_2014Announcement.pdf . 6 June 2015 . dead.
11. Web site: Enthronement 2020.