The following article is from the Winter, 2003 issue of the Snow Lion Newsletter and is for historical reference only. You can see this in context of the original newsletter here.

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin

US Visit in 2003

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin and his eldest son, Dungsei Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, came to the United States in the summer of 2003 to consecrate his seat at Tsechen Kunchab in New York and to bestow an extended version of the Vajayogini teaching cycle. During the summer, His Holiness also gave teachings at Sakya Centers in major cities on the east coast and in California.

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His Holiness the Sakya Trizin (center), His Eminence Raina Vajra Rinpoche (left), and His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche (right).

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin is the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism, and a member of Tibet's noble Khon family. He is also a descendent of the five great masters who founded the Sakya Order in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Of his teaching, great lamas and scholars have said that even if the five founders themselves were to manifest and teach the Dharma, there is no aspect in which they could improve upon the Sakya Trizin's teaching.

Just as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the manifestation of all the Buddhas' great compassion, the Sakya Trizin is the emanation of Manjushri, the manifestation of all the Buddhas' transcendent wisdom.

In addition to his leadership of the Sakya Order, the Sakya Trizin is renowned throughout the world for the great brilliance and clarity of his teachings and his fluency in and precise command of English.

His Holiness is the guide and leader of the many Sakya monasteries, Dharma centers, monks, nuns, and lay students in Tibet, India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. From his main seat in Rajpur, India, he travels tirelessly throughout the world to direct the work of the temples and centers and to fulfill requests for teachings.

Both of His Holiness's sons have received intensive Dharma training since early childhood from His Holiness himself in addition to other great lamas of the Sakya Order. They are now excellently qualified teachers in their own right. His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche is the Sakya Trizin's elder son. He bestowed a number of teachings during the teaching tour. His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche is His Holiness's younger son. He serves as abbot of the Sakya Monastery in Rajpur India and leads the Sangha in his father's absence.

 

Consecration of His Holiness's Temple and Seat in the United States

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Tsechen Kunchab Ling in Walden, New York, Seat of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin in the United States.

Tsechen Kunchab Ling Temple of All-Encompassing Great Compassion is His Holiness's seat in the United States. Situated in the Catskill Mountains in the Village of Walden in Orange County, New York, it is a little over an hour's drive northeast of New York City.

Purchased in 2001, the temple has now been renovated and prepared for His Holiness's consecration and formal opening through the guidance and efforts of Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, Vice President, and the hard work and generosity of many students throughout the U.S.

His Holiness the Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Dunsei Ratna Vajra Rinpoche consecrated the new temple and resided there during July.

Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, Vice President of Tsechen Kunchab Ling, explained the historic and religious significance of His Holiness's visit and of the teachings he will bestow.

"His Holiness's consecration of his U.S. temple seat and residence there during the summer of 2003 marks a turning point in the development of the Dharma in the United States and opportunities for English-speaking students. This is the first time that the head of one of the four orders of Tibetan Buddhism has resided at their U.S. seat and bestowed a major teaching cycle. Receiving these teachings directly from His Holiness himself carries a special lineage of blessings from the founders of the Sakya Order, as well as from Maryushri himself.

"His Holiness will open the door of Dharma by teaching Parting from the Four Attachments, a famous mind-training teaching transmitted by Marjushri to the great lama Sakyapa Kunga Nyingpo, first founder of the Sakya Order. This will be followed by Bodhisattva Vows according to a uniquely Sakya lineage which originated from Manjushri and Nagarjuna and descended through Shantideva and the great teachers of the Sakya Order. His Holiness will then bestow the Chakrasamvara major two-day empowerment according to the Naropa tradition. This will be followed by the Vajrayogini Blessing and eight days of intensive teachings on the Vajrayogini practice based on the oral instructions through which hundreds of Sakyapa masters achieved realization and the rainbow body. Following the teachings, for a week His Holiness and His Eminence will personally lead students in daily meditation sessions in a group retreat. Many of His Holiness's students from around the world are already planning to travel to upstate New York to attend this historic event and receive these precious teachings, and fortunate students of every lineage are welcome. I urge everyone to take this golden opportunity to receive these precious teachings from such a great master."

For more information:

H.H. Sakya Trizin

H.H. Sakya Trizin was born in Tibet in 1945. His Holiness the Sakya Trizin is the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism, and a member of Tibet's noble Khon family. He is also a descendant of the five great masters who founded the Sakya Order in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.