Our President
H.H. the 42nd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche (Current President)
His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche was born in 1974, on the fifth day of the tenth month of the Wood Tiger year in the 16th Rabjung cycle, to His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin and Gyalyum Chenmo Phagma Tashi Lhakyi. His noble father gave him the name Ratna Vajra – which means ‘Adamantine Jewel’. From a young age he displayed acute wisdom and an upright character. When he had reached the right age, his father gave him the transmission for the practice of Manjughosha and started his formal education by introducing to him the thirty letters of the Tibetan alphabet. From his personal tutor, Venerable Rinchen Sangpo, he studied the fundamentals of trainings as well as Tibetan grammar and so forth, all of which he mastered effortlessly. In 1987, H.H. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche led the seventh grand Vajrakilaya ritual for which he had memorized the entire liturgy and all aspects of the ritual execution in perfect detail. In 1990, he joined Sakya College, where he completed his studies of the cause-based vehicle, mainly under the guidance of late Khenchen Migmar Tsering. In particular, he went on to receive teachings from H.H. the 14th Dalai lama, H.H. the 41st Sakya Trizin, H.E. Chogye Trichen, H.E.Luding Khen Rinpoche, Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk, Khenchen Lungrig Senghe including many other eminent masters, mastering the entire doctrine of both sutra and tantra. He also learned languages and common sciences. In 2015, he inaugurated the new Sakya monastery, Tsechen Dargyeling, at Kalimpong, where he gave the Lamdre teachings to a gathering of about two thousand disciples. He also visits annually and give teachings on both sutra and tantra at various seats of learning, including the three main monastic colleges.
H.H. Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (Former President)
His Holiness Ngawang Kunga Thekchen Palbar Thrinley Samphel Wangi Gyalpo was born in 1945, to father Vajradhara Kunga Rinchen and mother Sonam Dolkar. He was recognised as the reincarnation of Terton Thinley Lingpa, the heart-son of Guru Padmasambhava. In1949, he received from his noble father the grand empowerment for the higher and lower activities of Vajrakilaya. From that moment on his work for the benefit of the teachings and sentient beings never succumbed to whatever obstacles he encountered. He himself said that this was solely due to the compassion of the fully awakened Kila Vajrakumara. Because his father passed away when he was still very young, he travelled to the Ngor monastery to pursue his studies as advised by Khenchen Jampal Sangpo. Upon meeting the eminent master Vajradhara Khenchen Dampa Rinpoche for the first time, His Holiness was profoundly moved by a sense of trust and fervent, boundless devotion stemming from their age-old connection. In deep reverence, he received from him the entire instructions of the precious Lamdre Tsogshe teachings. From a young age His Holiness received many teachings of both Indian and Tibetan origin, with a particular emphasis on the Lamdre cycles of teaching on the "Path Including the Result". His main teachers in this early period were his noble father Vajradhara Kunga Rinchen, Khangsar Khenchen Ngawang Lodro Shenphen Nyingpo, Shabdrung Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin Nyingpo, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, Zimog Jampa Kunga Tenzin, Lama Ngalo Rinpoche, Phende Khenchen Ngawang Khedrup Gyatso and Khenchen Jampal Sangpo. He studied under about thirty great masters of all traditions, accomplished in learning and practice, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Rike Chadral Rinpoche, Deshung Lungrig Nyima Rinpoche, Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, Khenpo Rinchen and Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk. From these masters he received countless teachings on the result-based vehicle of the Vajrayana, including both cycles of the Lamdre teachings, i.e., Tshogshe and Lobshe, the collections of Tantras and the Collection of Sadhanas, as well as teachings on the cause-based vehicle, such as the Eighteen Great Treatises. Among the great lamas from traditions other than his own who received his teachings figure prominently the Gyalwa Karmapa in both his previous and present manisfestations, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Trulshik Rinpoche, Chadral Rinpoche, Shamar Rinpoche, Kongtrul Rinpoche, Kundeling Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Druk Khamtrul Rinpoche, Choktrul Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, Bodong Tulku and Khalka Jetsun Dampa. Among the masters of the Sakya tradition figure the great Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, who was like a lamp for the Rime movement, the Dungseys or Dharma heirs of both Sakya palaces, headed by His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Ngor Luding Khenchen Dorjechang and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. These are just a few of the eminent masters who received the Dharma from His Holiness. Moved by his great compassion, His Holiness has travelled the whole world to share his wisdom, and given the precious Lamdre teachings, both Tshogshe and Lobshe, more than twenty times. He kindly administered the Sakya seat as its 41st Throne holder from 1959 to 2017. With great achievements and compassion, he continues to work tirelessly for the propagation of the dharma and benefit of all sentient beings.