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Difference between revisions of "Sakya Pandita"

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[[File:Sakya Pandita.jpg|thumb|Sa'gya Paṇḍita]]
 
[[File:Sakya Pandita.jpg|thumb|Sa'gya Paṇḍita]]
[[File:Chogyal.JPG|thumb|220px|[[Drogön Chögyal Phagpa]]]]
+
[[File:Chogyal.JPG|thumb|220px|[[Drogön Chögyal Phagpa]])]
[[Qoijê Sa'gya Paṇḍita Günga Gyaicain]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཆོས་རྗེ་ས་སྐྱ་པཎྜི་ཏ་ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན།]]}}, Wylie: [[chos-rje sa-skya paN+Di-ta kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan]]/ (EWTS), ZYPY: [[Qöjê Sa'gya “Bantida” Günga Gyäcän]]; alt. [[Choeje Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltse]]), also known as [[Günga Gyaimcain Bai Sangbo]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན་དཔལ་བཟང་པོ]]།}}, Wylie: [[kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan dpal bzang-po]]/, ZYPY: [[Günga Gyämcän Bä Sangbo]]; alt. [[Kunga Gyaltshan Pal Zangpo]]; 1182–1251) was a [[Tibetan]] [[spiritual]] leader and [[Buddhist scholar]] and the fourth of the [[Five Venerable Supreme Sakya Masters of Tibet]]. [[Günga Gyaicain]] is generally known simply as [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]], a title given to him in [[recognition]] of his [[scholarly]] achievements and [[knowledge]] of [[Sanskrit]]. He is held in the [[tradition]] to have been an [[emanation]] of the [[Bodhisattva]] [[Manjushri]], the [[embodiment]] of the [[wisdom]] of all the [[Buddhas]].
 
  
He became known as a great [[scholar]] in [[Tibet]], [[Mongolia]], Coastal [[China]] and [[India]] and was proficient in the five great {{Wiki|sciences}} of [[Buddhist philosophy]], [[medicine]], [[grammar]], [[dialectics]] and [[sacred]] [[Sanskrit]] {{Wiki|literature}} as well as the minor {{Wiki|sciences}} of [[rhetoric]], synonymies, [[poetry]], [[dancing]] and [[astrology]]. He is considered in [[Tibet]] to be the fourth "Great Forefather" and sixth [[Sakya Trizin]], and one of the most important figures among the [[Sakya] lineage.
 
  
He was born at [[Sa'gya]] of the [[noble]] family of [[Jam-yan-gon]]. His father was Palchen of Öpochey. [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]] was the nephew, and became the principal [[disciple]] of [[Jetsun Dakpa Gyeltsen]] or [[Drakpa Gyaltsen]] (1147–1216).
 
  
After the [[death]] of {{Wiki|Genghis Khan}} in 1227, the [[Tibetans]] stopped sending tribute. As a result, in 1240, the grandson of {{Wiki|Genghis Khan}} and second son of {{Wiki|Ögedei Khan}}, {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] invaded [[Tibet]] killing some 500 [[monks]] and destroying and looting [[monasteries]], villages and towns. {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] asked his commanders to search for an [[outstanding]] [[Buddhist]] [[lama]] and, as [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]] was considered the most [[religious]], [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] sent a [[letter]] of "invitation" and presents to him.
 
  
In 1244 he left for {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan's]] {{Wiki|royal}} camp with two of his young nephews, the ten year-old [[Drogön Chögyal Phagpa|Pagba]] and six year-old Chhana, who later published a collection of [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita's]] writings. As he continually {{Wiki|preached}} sermons along his way he did not arrive at {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan's]] camp until 1247 where he gave [[religious]] instruction to the {{Wiki|prince}} and greatly impressed the court with his [[personality]] and {{Wiki|powerful}} teachings. He is also said to have cured {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] of a serious {{Wiki|illness}} and, with the help of his nephew, [[Phagpa]], he adapted the {{Wiki|Uighur}} script so that the [[Buddhist Scriptures]] could be translated into {{Wiki|Mongolian}} which, until that [[time]], was an unwritten [[language]] In return, he was given "temporal authority over the 13 myriarchies [[Trikor Chuksum]] of {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibet]]."
+
[[Qoijê Sa'gya Paṇḍita Günga Gyaicain]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཆོས་རྗེ་ས་སྐྱ་པཎྜི་ཏ་ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན།]]}}, [[Wylie]]: [[chos-rje sa-skya paN+Di-ta kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan]]/ (EWTS), ZYPY: [[Qöjê Sa'gya “Bantida” Günga Gyäcän]]; alt.  
  
Thus began a strong alliance and the {{Wiki|capital}} of [[Sakya]], [[gDan-sa]], became the {{Wiki|capital}} of [[Tibet]]. This lasted until about the middle of the 14th century. During the reign of the 14th [[Sakya Trizin]], [[Sonam Gylatsen]], the {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibetan]] province of U was taken by the Myriarch, marking the "beginning of the end of the period of [[Sakya]] [[power]] in {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibet]]."
+
[[Choeje Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltse]]), also known as [[Günga Gyaimcain Bai Sangbo]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན་དཔལ་བཟང་པོ]]།}}, [[Wylie]]: [[kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan dpal bzang-po]]/, ZYPY: [[Günga Gyämcän Bä Sangbo]]; alt.  
  
[[Sakya Pandita]] [[died]] in 1251, at the age of seventy in the city of Gyu-ma. As he did not marry he chose his brother's son [[Chogyal Phagpa]] as his heir and nominated him before his [[death]] as his [[religious]] authority by giving him his [[conch shell]] and [[begging bowl]]. After his [[death]] [[Phakpa]] continued his [[mission]]. The [[conch]] is one of the [[Ashtamangala]] and the [[begging bowl]] was a particular [[symbol]] of [[Buddha Shakyamuni]] and the [[Shramana]] [[Traditions]].
+
[[Kunga Gyaltshan Pal Zangpo]]; 1182–1251) was a [[Tibetan]] [[spiritual]] leader and [[Buddhist scholar]] and [[the fourth]] of the [[Five Venerable Supreme Sakya Masters of Tibet]].
 +
 
 +
[[Günga Gyaicain]] is generally known simply as [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]], a title given to him in [[recognition]] of his [[scholarly]] achievements and [[knowledge]] of [[Sanskrit]].
 +
 
 +
He is held in the [[tradition]] to have been an [[emanation]] of the [[Bodhisattva]] [[Manjushri]], the [[embodiment]] of the [[wisdom]] of all the [[Buddhas]].
 +
 
 +
 
 +
He became known as a great [[scholar]] in [[Tibet]], [[Mongolia]], Coastal [[China]] and [[India]] and was {{Wiki|proficient}} in the [[five great sciences of Buddhist philosophy]];
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[medicine]],
 +
[[grammar]],
 +
[[dialectics]] and
 +
[[sacred]] [[Sanskrit]] {{Wiki|literature}}
 +
 
 +
as well as the minor {{Wiki|sciences}} of [[rhetoric]], synonyms, [[poetry]], [[dancing]] and [[astrology]].
 +
 
 +
He is considered in [[Tibet]] to be [[the fourth]] "Great Forefather" and [[sixth Sakya Trizin]], and one of the most important figures among the [[Sakya lineage]].
 +
 
 +
He was born at [[Sa'gya]] of the [[noble]] [[family]] of [[Jam-yan-gon]].
 +
 
 +
His father was [[Palchen of Öpochey]].
 +
 
 +
[[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]] was the nephew, and became the [[principal]] [[disciple]] of [[Jetsun Dakpa Gyeltsen]] or [[Drakpa Gyaltsen]] (1147–1216).
 +
 
 +
 
 +
After the [[death]] of {{Wiki|Genghis Khan}} in 1227, the [[Tibetans]] stopped sending tribute.
 +
 
 +
As a result, in 1240, the grandson of {{Wiki|Genghis Khan}} and second son of {{Wiki|Ögedei Khan}}, {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] invaded [[Tibet]] {{Wiki|killing}} some 500 [[monks]] and destroying and looting [[monasteries]], villages and towns.
 +
 
 +
{{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] asked his commanders to search for an [[outstanding]] [[Buddhist]] [[lama]] and, as [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita]] was considered the most [[religious]], [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] sent a [[letter]] of "invitation" and presents to him.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
In 1244 he left for {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan's]] {{Wiki|royal}} camp with two of his young nephews, the ten year-old [[Drogön Chögyal Phagpa|Pagba]] and six year-old [[Chhana]], who later published a collection of [[Sa'gya Paṇḍita's]] writings.
 +
 
 +
As he continually {{Wiki|preached}} [[sermons]] along his way he did not arrive at {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan's]] camp until 1247 where he gave [[religious]] instruction to the {{Wiki|prince}} and greatly impressed the court with his [[personality]] and {{Wiki|powerful}} teachings.
 +
 
 +
He is also said to have cured {{Wiki|Prince}} [[Wikipedia:Godan Khan|Godan]] of a serious {{Wiki|illness}} and, with the help of his nephew, [[Phagpa]], he adapted the [[Uighur script]] so that the [[Buddhist Scriptures]] could be translated into {{Wiki|Mongolian}} which, until that [[time]], was an unwritten [[language]]
 +
 
 +
In return, he was given "{{Wiki|temporal}} authority over the 13 [[myriarchies]] [[Trikor Chuksum]] of {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibet]]."
 +
 
 +
Thus began a strong alliance and the {{Wiki|capital}} of [[Sakya]], [[gDan-sa]], became the {{Wiki|capital}} of [[Tibet]].
 +
 
 +
This lasted until about the middle of the 14th century.
 +
 
 +
During the reign of the [[14th Sakya Trizin]], [[Sonam Gylatsen]], the {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibetan]] province of U was taken by the Myriarch, marking the "beginning of the end of the period of [[Sakya]] [[power]] in {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibet]]."
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Sakya Pandita]] [[died]] in 1251, at the age of seventy in the city of Gyu-ma.  
 +
 
 +
As he did not marry he chose his brother's son [[Chogyal Phagpa]] as his heir and nominated him before his [[death]] as his [[religious]] authority by giving him his [[conch shell]] and [[begging bowl]].  
 +
 
 +
After his [[death]] [[Phakpa]] continued his [[mission]].  
 +
 
 +
The [[conch]] is one of the [[Ashtamangala]] and the [[begging bowl]] was a particular [[symbol]] of [[Buddha Shakyamuni]] and the [[Shramana]] [[Traditions]].
 +
 
 +
In the [[lineage of the Tibetan Panchen Lamas]] there were considered to be four [[Indian]] and three [[Tibetan]] [[mindstream emanations]] of [[Amitabha Buddha]] before [[Khedrup Gelek Pelzang]], who is recognised as the [[1st Panchen Lama]].
 +
 
 +
The [[lineage]] starts with [[Subhuti]], one of the original [[disciples of Gautama Buddha]].
 +
 
 +
[[Sakya Pandita]] is considered to be the [[second Tibetan emanation of Amitabha Buddha]] in this line.
  
In the [[lineage]] of the [[Tibetan]] [[Panchen]] [[Lamas]] there were considered to be four [[Indian]] and three [[Tibetan]] [[mindstream]] [[emanations]] of [[Amitabha Buddha]] before [[Khedrup Gelek Pelzang]], who is recognised as the [[1st Panchen Lama]]. The [[lineage]] starts with [[Subhuti]], one of the original [[disciples]] of [[Gautama Buddha]]. [[Sakya Pandita]] is considered to be the second [[Tibetan]] [[emanation]] of [[Amitabha Buddha]] in this line.
 
  
 
==Works==
 
==Works==
  
He is best known for his works such as the [[Treasury of Logic]] on [[Valid Cognition]] ([[Tshad ma rigs pa'i gter]]) and the {{Wiki|Discrimination}} of the [[Three Vows]] ([[sDom-gsum rab-dbye]]). He produced five major works in all, the other three {{Wiki|being}} the The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] ([[Mkhas pa rnams 'jug pa'i sgo]]), [[Clarifying the Sage's Intention]] ([[Thub pa'i dgongs gsal]]), and the [[Elegant Sayings of [[Sakya Pandita]] ([[sa skya legs bshad]]). The latter is a collection of [[moral]] [[precepts]] in [[verse]] which was imitated by others and translated into {{Wiki|Mongolian}}. He focused on [[doctrine]] and [[logic]] "basing himself upon the [[Pramanavarttika]] of [[Dharmakirti]]" and was very [[interested]] in [[rhetoric]].
+
 
 +
He is best known for his works such as the [[Treasury of Logic on Valid Cognition]] ([[Tshad ma rigs pa'i gter]]) and the {{Wiki|Discrimination}} of the [[Three Vows]] ([[sDom-gsum rab-dbye]]).  
 +
 
 +
He produced five major works in all, the other three {{Wiki|being}} the The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] ([[Mkhas pa rnams 'jug pa'i sgo]]), [[Clarifying the Sage's Intention]] ([[Thub pa'i dgongs gsal]]), and the [[Elegant Sayings of Sakya Pandita]] ([[sa skya legs bshad]]).  
 +
 
 +
The [[latter]] is a collection of [[moral]] [[precepts]] in verse which was imitated by others and translated into {{Wiki|Mongolian}}.  
 +
 
 +
He focused on [[doctrine]] and [[logic]] "basing himself upon the [[Pramanavarttika]] of [[Dharmakirti]]" and was very [[interested]] in [[rhetoric]].
 +
 
 +
 
  
 
===Five major works===
 
===Five major works===
  
*    Treasury of [[Logic]] on [[Valid Cognition]] ([[Tshad ma rigs pa'i gter]])
+
 
*    The [[Padmakara Translation Group]] (2005: p. 37) holds that the [[Tsod-ma rigs-gter]], a celebrated work many consider [[Sakya Pandita's]] [[Wikipedia:Masterpiece|magnum opus]], champions [[Dhamakirti's]] 'antirealism' by countering Chapa's ([[phya pa chos kyi seng ge]], 1109–1169) interpretation of [[Dharmakirti]].
+
 
*    {{Wiki|Discrimination}} of the [[Three Vows]] (sDom-gsum rab-dbye)
+
*    [[Treasury of Logic on Valid Cognition]] ([[Tshad ma rigs pa'i gter]])
*    Published in {{Wiki|English}} as A [[Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes]]: [[Essential Distinctions among the Individual Liberation]], [[Great Vehicle]], and [[Tantric Systems]] by [[Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen]], translated by Jared Douglas Rhoton. ({{Wiki|State University of New York}} Press: 2001).
+
 
 +
 
 +
*    The [[Padmakara Translation Group]] (2005: p. 37) holds that the [[Tsod-ma rigs-gter]], a celebrated work many consider [[Sakya Pandita's]] [[Wikipedia:Masterpiece|magnum opus]], champions [[Dhamakirti's]] 'antirealism' by countering [[Chapa's]] ([[phya pa chos kyi seng ge]], 1109–1169) [[interpretation]] of [[Dharmakirti]].
 +
 
 +
*    [[Discrimination of the Three Vows]] ([[sDom-gsum rab-dbye]])
 +
 
 +
*    Published in {{Wiki|English}} as A [[Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes]]: [[Essential Distinctions among the Individual Liberation]], [[Great Vehicle]], and [[Tantric Systems]] by [[Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen]], translated by [[Jared Douglas Rhoton]]. ({{Wiki|State University of New York}} Press: 2001).
 
*    The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] ([[Mkhas pa rnams 'jug pa'i sgo]])
 
*    The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] ([[Mkhas pa rnams 'jug pa'i sgo]])
*    Section III published in {{Wiki|English}} as The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] (Section III): [[Sakya Pandita]] on [[Indian]] and [[Tibetan]] [[Traditions]] of [[Pramana]] and [[Philosophical]] [[Debate]]. by David P. Jackson (Arbeitskreis fur Tibetisch und Buddhistiche Studien Universiteit Wein: 1987); Section I published in {{Wiki|English}} as "The [[Dharma's Gatekeepers]]: [[Sakya Pandita]] on [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|Scholarship}} in [[Tibet]]", by Jonathan C. {{Wiki|Gold}} (SUNY: 2007)
+
 
*    Clarifying the Sage's [[Intention]] (Thub pa'i dgongs gsal)
+
*    Section III published in {{Wiki|English}} as The [[Entrance Gate for the Wise]] (Section III): [[Sakya Pandita]] on [[Indian and Tibetan Traditions of Pramana and Philosophical Debate]]. by [[David P. Jackson]] (Arbeitskreis fur Tibetisch und Buddhistiche Studien [[Universiteit Wein]]: 1987); Section I published in {{Wiki|English}} as "The [[Dharma's Gatekeepers]]: [[Sakya Pandita]] on [[Buddhist Scholarship in Tibet]]", by [[Jonathan C.Gold}} (SUNY: 2007)
*    A commentary on the on two verses of Maitreya’s [[Mahayanasutralamkara]], this serves as the main [[Lam Rim]] text in the [[Sakya school]].
+
 
*    The Elegant Sayings of [[Sakya Pandita]] ([[sa skya]] {{Wiki|legs}} bshad)
+
*    [[Clarifying the Sage's Intention]] ([[Thub pa'i dgongs gsal]])
*    Published in {{Wiki|English}} as Ordinary [[Wisdom]]: [[Sakya Pandita's]] [[Treasury of Good Advice]], translated by John T. Davenport. ([[Wisdom]] Publications:2000)
+
 
 +
*    A commentary on the on two verses of [[Maitreya’s]] [[Mahayanasutralamkara]], this serves as the main [[Lam Rim]] text in the [[Sakya school]].
 +
 
 +
*    The [[Elegant Sayings]] of [[Sakya Pandita]] ([[sa skya legs bshad]])
 +
 
 +
*    Published in {{Wiki|English}} as Ordinary [[Wisdom]]: [[Sakya Pandita's]] [[Treasury of Good Advice]], translated by [[John T. Davenport]]. ([[Wisdom]] Publications:2000)
 +
 
  
 
===Other works===
 
===Other works===
 +
  
 
*    [[sgra'i bstan bcos]]
 
*    [[sgra'i bstan bcos]]
Line 50: Line 127:
 
*    [[lam sbas bshad dang bla ma'i rnal 'byor]]
 
*    [[lam sbas bshad dang bla ma'i rnal 'byor]]
 
*    [[sems bskyed che mo lung sbyor]]
 
*    [[sems bskyed che mo lung sbyor]]
*    [[chos]] [[nyams]] su blang ba'i rim pa
+
*    [[chos nyams su blang ba'i rim pa]]
 
*    [[theg pa chen po'i lam gyi rnam gzhag mdor bsdus]]
 
*    [[theg pa chen po'i lam gyi rnam gzhag mdor bsdus]]
 
*    [[bsngo ba'i yon bshad]]
 
*    [[bsngo ba'i yon bshad]]
Line 62: Line 139:
 
*    [[bstod pa rgyud gsum 'khor lo'i 'grel pa]]
 
*    [[bstod pa rgyud gsum 'khor lo'i 'grel pa]]
 
*    [[sangs rgyas la bstod pa sogs bstod pa mang po mdzad]]
 
*    [[sangs rgyas la bstod pa sogs bstod pa mang po mdzad]]
 +
  
 
==={{Wiki|Translations}}===
 
==={{Wiki|Translations}}===
  
*    [[Pramānavārttika]] of [[Dharmakīrti]] (with [[Śākyaśrībhadra]])
+
 
*    [[Pramānavārttikatīkā]] of [[Śamkaranandana]] (with [[Samghaśrī]])
+
*    [[Pramānavārttika of Dharmakīrti]] (with [[Śākyaśrībhadra]])
*    [[Samksiptapranidhāna]] of [[Candragomin]]
+
*    [[Pramānavārttikatīkā of Śamkaranandana]] (with [[Samghaśrī]])
*    [[Amarakośa]] of[[ Amarasimha]] (partial)
+
*    [[Samksiptapranidhāna of Candragomin]]
*    [[Kāvyādarśa]] of [[Dandin]] (partial)
+
*    [[Amarakośa of Amarasimha]] (partial)
 +
*    [[Kāvyādarśa of Dandin]] (partial)
 
*    [[Āryaguhyamanitilaka]] ([[tantra]])
 
*    [[Āryaguhyamanitilaka]] ([[tantra]])
 
*    [[Āryavajrapātālatantrarāja]]
 
*    [[Āryavajrapātālatantrarāja]]
*    Sarvatathāgatakāyavākcitta Guhyālamkāravyūhatantrarāja
+
*    [[Sarvatathāgatakāyavākcitta Guhyālamkāravyūhatantrarāja]]
 
*    [[Ganacakravidhi]]
 
*    [[Ganacakravidhi]]
 
*    [[Yuganaddhaprakāśasekaprakriyā]]
 
*    [[Yuganaddhaprakāśasekaprakriyā]]
 
*    [[Vajrakīlamūlatantra]]
 
*    [[Vajrakīlamūlatantra]]
  
{{R}}
 
[[Wikipedia:Sakya Pandita]]
 
  
 +
 +
 +
 +
{{W}}
 +
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]]
 
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist Teachers]]
 
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist Teachers]]
 
[[Category:Sakya Pandita]]
 
[[Category:Sakya Pandita]]
[[Category:Panchen Lamas]]
+
[[Category:Five Sakya patriarchs]]
 
 
__NOTOC__
 

Latest revision as of 11:04, 9 June 2024

Sa'gya Paṇḍita

[[File:Chogyal.JPG|thumb|220px|Drogön Chögyal Phagpa)]



Qoijê Sa'gya Paṇḍita Günga Gyaicain (Tibetan: ཆོས་རྗེ་ས་སྐྱ་པཎྜི་ཏ་ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན།, Wylie: chos-rje sa-skya paN+Di-ta kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan/ (EWTS), ZYPY: Qöjê Sa'gya “Bantida” Günga Gyäcän; alt.

Choeje Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltse), also known as Günga Gyaimcain Bai Sangbo (Tibetan: ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན་དཔལ་བཟང་པོ, Wylie: kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan dpal bzang-po/, ZYPY: Günga Gyämcän Bä Sangbo; alt.

Kunga Gyaltshan Pal Zangpo; 1182–1251) was a Tibetan spiritual leader and Buddhist scholar and the fourth of the Five Venerable Supreme Sakya Masters of Tibet.

Günga Gyaicain is generally known simply as Sa'gya Paṇḍita, a title given to him in recognition of his scholarly achievements and knowledge of Sanskrit.

He is held in the tradition to have been an emanation of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, the embodiment of the wisdom of all the Buddhas.


He became known as a great scholar in Tibet, Mongolia, Coastal China and India and was proficient in the five great sciences of Buddhist philosophy;


medicine, grammar, dialectics and sacred Sanskrit literature

as well as the minor sciences of rhetoric, synonyms, poetry, dancing and astrology.

He is considered in Tibet to be the fourth "Great Forefather" and sixth Sakya Trizin, and one of the most important figures among the Sakya lineage.

He was born at Sa'gya of the noble family of Jam-yan-gon.

His father was Palchen of Öpochey.

Sa'gya Paṇḍita was the nephew, and became the principal disciple of Jetsun Dakpa Gyeltsen or Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147–1216).


After the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, the Tibetans stopped sending tribute.

As a result, in 1240, the grandson of Genghis Khan and second son of Ögedei Khan, Prince Godan invaded Tibet killing some 500 monks and destroying and looting monasteries, villages and towns.

Prince Godan asked his commanders to search for an outstanding Buddhist lama and, as Sa'gya Paṇḍita was considered the most religious, Godan sent a letter of "invitation" and presents to him.


In 1244 he left for Prince Godan's royal camp with two of his young nephews, the ten year-old Pagba and six year-old Chhana, who later published a collection of Sa'gya Paṇḍita's writings.

As he continually preached sermons along his way he did not arrive at Prince Godan's camp until 1247 where he gave religious instruction to the prince and greatly impressed the court with his personality and powerful teachings.

He is also said to have cured Prince Godan of a serious illness and, with the help of his nephew, Phagpa, he adapted the Uighur script so that the Buddhist Scriptures could be translated into Mongolian which, until that time, was an unwritten language

In return, he was given "temporal authority over the 13 myriarchies Trikor Chuksum of Central Tibet."

Thus began a strong alliance and the capital of Sakya, gDan-sa, became the capital of Tibet.

This lasted until about the middle of the 14th century.

During the reign of the 14th Sakya Trizin, Sonam Gylatsen, the Central Tibetan province of U was taken by the Myriarch, marking the "beginning of the end of the period of Sakya power in Central Tibet."


Sakya Pandita died in 1251, at the age of seventy in the city of Gyu-ma.

As he did not marry he chose his brother's son Chogyal Phagpa as his heir and nominated him before his death as his religious authority by giving him his conch shell and begging bowl.

After his death Phakpa continued his mission.

The conch is one of the Ashtamangala and the begging bowl was a particular symbol of Buddha Shakyamuni and the Shramana Traditions.

In the lineage of the Tibetan Panchen Lamas there were considered to be four Indian and three Tibetan mindstream emanations of Amitabha Buddha before Khedrup Gelek Pelzang, who is recognised as the 1st Panchen Lama.

The lineage starts with Subhuti, one of the original disciples of Gautama Buddha.

Sakya Pandita is considered to be the second Tibetan emanation of Amitabha Buddha in this line.


Works

He is best known for his works such as the Treasury of Logic on Valid Cognition (Tshad ma rigs pa'i gter) and the Discrimination of the Three Vows (sDom-gsum rab-dbye).

He produced five major works in all, the other three being the The Entrance Gate for the Wise (Mkhas pa rnams 'jug pa'i sgo), Clarifying the Sage's Intention (Thub pa'i dgongs gsal), and the Elegant Sayings of Sakya Pandita (sa skya legs bshad).

The latter is a collection of moral precepts in verse which was imitated by others and translated into Mongolian.

He focused on doctrine and logic "basing himself upon the Pramanavarttika of Dharmakirti" and was very interested in rhetoric.


Five major works



Other works


Translations



Source

Wikipedia:Sakya Pandita