Sakya Tharpa Ling is honoured to have received visits from the three great masters and lineage holders of the Sakya tradition, who have each conducted blessings of the centre. His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche was the third of the great Sakya Lineage Holders of Tibetan Buddhism to have visited the Centre. Previously His Holiness Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche have visited and conducted Blessings and Teachings.
His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Sakya Trizin
His Holiness Sakya Trizin was born in Tsedong near Shigatse (South Tibet) on the first of the eighth Tibetan month (September 7, 1945). "Sakya Trizin" means "The Throneholder of Sakya." His Holiness is the 41st Patriarch of the Sakya Sect, one of the four main sects of Tibetan Buddhism, and is a direct descendent of the Khon Lineage.
His main Gurus were the Ngor Abbots Ngawang Lodro Shenpen Nyingpo, Khangsar Shabdrung, Lama Ngawang Lodro Rinchen, the Venerable Jamyang Kyhentse Rinpoche, the great Nyingmapa yogi Drupchen Rinpoche, Phende Khenpo, Sakya Khenpo Jampal Sangpo, His father, Dezhung Rinpoche and Chogye Rinpoche.
He formally acceded to the Throne of Sakya in early 1959. Almost immediately after the coronation ceremony, he had to leave for India because of the Communist takeover of Tibet.
His Holiness has been ceaselessly serving the Dharma. He has many disciples in India and other countries and has made several journeys to the West where he has taught extensively and founded many Dharma centres.
His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche
His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche
His Eminence the 18th Chogye Trichen Rinpoche was head of the Tsharpa sub-lineage of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the 26th patriarch of Phenpo Nalendra Monastary, founded by Rongton Sheja Kunrig (1367-1449). Born in 1920, His Eminence was recognised by the 13th Dalai Lama as 18th in the lineage of Chogye Trichens.
Since coming into exile, Chogye Trichen Rinpoche built two monastaries: one in Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha and the other in Kathmandu. Rinpoche was regarded as a master of masters; most Tibetan Buddhist lineage holders were his disciples, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizin and the late Dudjom Rinpoche. Rinpoche conducted a series of three and a half year solitary meditation retreats for senior Sakyapa monks over the past fifteen years. Lately living in Nepal, Rinpoche spent so much time in meditation retreat that he was regarded as a hidden master.
His Eminence passed away at his residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 22 January 2007.
His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche
His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche
His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche is the 75th chief abbot of Ngor Monastery. He has held this post for over 40 years. His Eminence was born in 1931 in Tsang, Tibet, to an important religious family. He was ordained as a monk at the age of 10. As befitted a major lineage holder, he was given extensive training by the best teachers in the Sakya and other traditions. At the age of 24, he succeeded his teacher, the former Ngor abbot Jamyang Thupten Lungtog Gyaltsen, as abbot of the Ngor Monastery, and has served as abbot continuously since that time.
Extraordinarily learned, the embodiment of compassion, His Eminence's presence radiates peace and wisdom. Through his great efforts, the Ngor lineage has not only been re-established, it has been spread throughout the world.