His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, is the eldest son of His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (the 41st Sakya Trizin). He is considered one of the most highly qualified lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Renowned for his erudition and the clarity of his teachings, His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin belongs to the prestigious Khön family, whose successive generations have provided an unbroken lineage of outstanding masters.
Born on November 19, 1974, in Dehradun, India, His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin was, from birth, the recipient of countless blessings, empowerments, and teachings from his father, His Holiness Kyabgon Sakya Gongma Trichen, as well as many other learned and accomplished masters.
His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma 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.
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 Kyabgon Gongma Trichen, and also from many other important lineage masters, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, and Khenchen Appey Rinpoche.
Starting from the 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 Lamdre empowerments.
Among all his precious teachers, His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen has always been, and continues to be, his main root guru and source of guidance and inspiration.
In 2002, after a long search for a suitable wife, Her Eminence Dagmo Kalden Dunkyi was chosen, in the age-old Sakya tradition of holy divination, to be the spiritual consort of His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin. They have three children together, who are also being brought up in accordance with the ancient Buddhist traditions of scholarship.
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.
His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin accepting the official seal from His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen
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.
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