Personal background

Born near Gyashar Kushang monastery in Shigatse, central Tibet, in 1919, between the ages of seven and eight Chogyey Trichen Rinpoche lived at Shangpo hermitage where his father and elder brother taught him to read and write to memorize the Expression of the Names of Manjurshri. He wished to devote his time to threefold practice of hearing, contemplation and meditation. He had two principal teachers. Khenchen Dampa Rinpoche, a very holy lama, and the last Zimog Dorje Chang. Of course, all received teachings form Sakya Gomgma. In addition, he had three general teachers - a language and literature teacher, a ritual & chanting teacher, and a teacher of the main texts of Buddhist studies.

Tsar-Nalanda Monastery Trichen Rinpoche's main monastery was Nalanda. In Sakya there are three monasteries known as the Sa-Ngor-Tsar-Sum. The principal one is Sakya and then there are the two Tantric traditions of Ngor and Tsar. The division of Sakya, Ngor and Tsar is made on the basis of Tantric teachings. There are many high lamas in these three sub-traditions, but Sakya Gongma is the highest. Rinpoche's predecessors received many titles and honours from the Chinese Emperor.

After Rongton Sheja Kunrig, during the time of the six successive abbots, there was great progress in the monastery of Nalanda. There were 3000 monks and 45 houses. Initially, it was purely a monastery for Sutra studies and was the main seat of Sakya for studying philosophy and dialectics. Rongton named the monastery Nalanda after the great ancient Buddhist college in India.

Up until the seventh abbot, everything went well but during the time of the seventh abbot problems developed. The monastery was almost deserted because many of the monks returned to their homes due to various outbreaks of illness. At this crucial time Sakya Dagchen Lodrö Gyaltsen was invited to Nalanda.

Possible candidates for the position of abbot were discussed. Some suggested Gorampa, others suggested Ngorton Sangyey Rinchen, a well known tantric adept. However Dagchen Lodrö Gyaltsen advised that a great master or tantric adept would not help. Instead, he said only someone who had attained the level of a Bodhisattva would be able to hold the throne of Nalanda.

Lineage of the Chogyey Trichen or Throne Holder Accordingly, Khedup Chöje from Zhalu was invited. Khedup Chöje was the eighth throne holder and from then on there was no further degeneration in the monastery. Khedup Chöje was the first Chogyey Trichen and was a reincarnation of Drom Tönpa Gyalwai Jungney. He is universally held in high esteem and respected by all Sakyapas. He received and gave the highest teachings of Kalachakra and Vajra Yogini and his lineage, passed to his nephew, is regarded as extremely precious. It was not a lineage of his reincarnations.

The great Fifth Dalaï Lama advised Nalanda monastery to retain their precious bone-lineage. Only the ordained members of the lineage can become the throne holder. When counted from the eighth throne holder Khedup Chöje, Trichen Rinpoche is the eighteenth, but counted from Kundhyen Rongtonpa he is the twenty-sixth.

The second throne holder was invited to China and received many honours and titles, including the famous hat 'only ornament of the world'. After that the Tibetan government also offered him an honorary rank. Therefore, the monastery was highly regarded among Sakyapas, with titles from both China and Tibetan Government. However, according to the general account, Sakya is now first, Ngor second and Tsar third.

Trichen Rinpoche's principal disciple was Yarlung Tashi Chödhe Tulku who was left behind in Tibet. In India his disciples included Zimog Tulku and many others. Trichen Rinpoche himself escaped from Tibet two days after the Chinese occupied Lhasa. He consulted a very holy female deity protector about whether to leave or stay - she said to leave, but to go north. He did this and was successful, although he had earlier thought of escaping with His Holiness the Dalaï Lama towards the south. Although it is not proper for Trichen Rinpoche to disclose the transmissions which he has given His Holiness the Dalaï Lama without His Holiness's consent, he has given him a number of rare transmissions. For instance, His Holiness's two tutors told him that the transmission of the Vajradhatu Tantra no longer existed amongst Gelugpa lamas, so he passed this transmission to him. Previously Trichen Rinpoche was general Secretary of the Council for Religious & Cultural Affairs.

Principal Sakya Monasteries in Tibet

There are three principal monasteries, Sakya, Ngor and Tsarpa. Initially the main Tsarpa monastery was in Magag and another in Lokha. Nalanda was originally a general learning centre of philosophy, but later it became the principal Tsarpa Monastery. In all there were about one thousand Sakya monasteries in Tibet. There are also around thirty Sakya monasteries in exile, including those in Ladakh. Of Sakya, Ngor and Tsar, Tsarpa is in the most critical state. Chogyey Trichen Rinpoche is its only remaining lama. Sakyapas occurred all over the three provinces of Tibet. Sakya monastery and Ngor monastery are in Tsang, and Nalanda is in Central Tibet near Lhasa. Each has many branch monasteries throughout Tibet.

Indian Origins of the Sakya Tradition

First of the Khon lineage to become a disciple of Acharya Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava during the reign of the Tibetan King, Trisong Detsen was Khon Lui Wangpo. He was one of the first seven ordained monks of Tibet. The Sakyapas received the precious transmission of Yangdak Phurba from him. This is not the general Phurba teaching of Nyingmapas, which was a Revealed Treasure teaching. It was transmitted directly from Guru Padmasambhava himself and is therefore extremely precious. There have been innumerable practitioners who achieved various feats from this practice, some of them alive today. Although the Sakyas are classed as a new translation tradition they are also quite close to the Nyingmapas and have preserved this original tradition. During Khon Könchok Gyelpo's time the adoption of the new tantras took place. Four translators were involved : Bari Lotsawa, Ngok Lotsawa, Rinchen Sangpo, and Nyel Lotsawa.

After the great translators, the Sakya tradition was much promoted during the time of the Five Great Sakya Lamas - Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Sonam Tsemo, Jetsun Kakpa Gyaltsen, Sakya Pandita, and Drögon Chögyal Phagpa. The lineage has continued uninterrupted until today. The Sakyas were also influenced by the Kadampas. The teachings of Kadampas are held in high esteem in the Sakya tradition, especially the practice of mind training. All the Kadampas teachings are incorporated into the tradition and practices of Sakyapas.

The great Sakya work Compendium of Tantras consists of teachings and lineages of all Tibetan schools of Buddhism. There are 315 great initiations and 25 great commentaries in it which include teachings from eight or nine different traditions - Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, Bodong, Dolpa, Jonang, Zhijed, Ogyen Nyengyud, and Kalachakra.

Classification of Tantras When Khon Könchok Gyelpo adopted the new tantras, he received the transmission of Hevajra from his master Drogmi Lotsawa and this is still regarded as the principal deity. Howewer, it is incorrect to say that mother tantras are particularly emphasised in this tradition. Sakyas practice all the four classes of tantras and Hevajra is not regarded as a mother tantra, but as a non-dual tantra. There are some six different Kalachakra initiations which Trichen Rinpoche has given to Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, four of them - the Kalachakra of Bulug, Jonang, Maitri-gyatsa, Domjung - are contained in the Compendium of Tantras.

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