H.H. Sakya Trizin

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin was born in South Tibet on the first day of the eighth Tibetan Month (7 September 1945). 'Sakya Trizin' means 'Throne Holder of the Sakya'. His Holiness is the 41st Patriarch of the Sakya tradition, one of the four main traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, and is a direct descendant in the Khon lineage, a very ancient Tibetan family. He is second in Tibetan Buddhism protocol only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Eminence 14th Dungyud Tulku Rinpoche

Our current Resident Teacher is His Eminence 14th Dungyud Tulku Rinpoche. His Eminence is head of the Bir Monastery called The Bir Sakya Lama Society in India, and Dirru Monastery in Kham province of Tibet. Since completing his own studies at Sakya College, Rinpoche has given teachings in many countries in Asia. He also maintains responsibility to support his monks and the monastic activities in the monasteries in India and Tibet.

The late 14th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche

The late 14th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche established Sakya Tharpa Ling in 1988. It was the first Sakya centre to be established in Australia. Rinpoche had trained in both Tibet and India and was widely known for his great kindness and generosity. He passed away in Canberra in 1993.

15th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche

The 15th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche was enthroned in India in 2002. He is the joint Head of the Driru Monasteries in Tibet and India with H.E. the 14th Dungyud Tulku Rinpoche.

His Eminences Gyalsay Rinpoche and Dungyud Rinpoche are the joint Spiritual Heads of Sakya Tharpa Ling.

H.E. 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. For 500 years, Ngor Monastery has been the head of hundreds of other branch monasteries, and its school of ritual studies has been the citadel of training and practice of tantric ritual in the Sakya tradition.

H.E. Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding

Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding is known by many names: Mrs Luding, Lama Chime, Jetsun Kushok, Chime Osel Rikdzin Bhutri Thrinley Wangmo, Sakya Jetsunma, Chime Luding or just plain Chime-La. She is often mentioned in conjunction with her family: sister of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, the sister-in-law of His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, or the mother of Luding Shabdrung Rinpoche. On other occasions she is invoked as one of the three women in the history of Sakya to have transmitted the Lam Dre teachings. She is spoken of as an emanation of Vajrayogini, the enlightened energy of liberation. But to those who know her well, she is the earth itself, stable, unshakable, free from the eight worldly dharmas, and a pure example of the fruition of practice under difficult circumstances.

H.E. Luding Khen Rinpoche

His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche is an excellently qualified, wise, and compassionate Dharma teacher, and a member of one of the great families of Tibetan Buddhism. His mother is Her Eminence Jetsun Kushog Chime Luding, the sister of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, and his father is Sei Kushog, the brother of the senior abbot of Ngor Monastery in India.

Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin

Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin studied at Sakya College under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche until 1984 and later served as the acting Khenpo until 1989. He then undertook a three year retreat under the guidance of H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. Since 1994 he has been teaching philosophy and Tibetan language at his monastery in Mundgod, South India.