Khon family

The first supreme title of the Khon family is Lha-Rig meaning 'celestial family'.

From the Rupadhatu heavenly realm arose three manifestations of Manjushri.

The second of these three was Yuring who had seven sons.

The youngest son was grandfather to Yapang Kye abiding within the luminosity of this celestial realm.

The second title was received after Yapang Kye subdued the raksha, Kya Ring and married his wife, also a raksha.

Their son was given the title Khon because of the union of a celestial being and a raksha.

Thus, Khon means 'subduer of ignorance'.

Each of these precious Khon lineage holders showed many great signs of holy beings, such as a dharmachakra in the palms of their hands.

The son from this union was father to Khon Pawo Che, who became one of the innermost ministers of King Trisong Detsen (8th Century CE), and at that time Tibet greatly flourished both politically and spiritually.

The eldest son of Pawo Che was Nagendra Rakshita, one of the seven principal disciples of Padmasambhava, who received bikkshu vows from the great abbot Sangarakshita.

This means that one of the first known monks in Tibet was an ancestor of the Khon lineage.

The younger brother of Nagendra continued the family lineage.

Through many generations, practices such as Vajrakilaya were preserved and masters accomplished many attainments.

In the 11th century CE, Khon Konchog Gyalpo received instructions from his elder brother, Khon Rog Sherab Tsultrim, to study with the great master Drogmi Lotsawa who lived at Mang Khar.

On the way there, Khon Konchog Gyalpo met the senior disciple of Drogmi Lotsawa, Chen Lotsawa, from whom he received many tantric teachings.

Before he passed into parinirvana, Chen Lotsawa advised his student to receive the remaining teachings from Drogmi Lotsawa himself.

Khon Konchog Gyalpo met Drogmi Lotsawa and received all the profound tantric teachings from him.

He also received many teachings from great masters such as Mal Lotsawa and Bari Lotsawa and others, and so became an owner of the teachings.

Khon Konchog Gyalpo built a small monastery and began teaching, giving profound teachings.

His noble activities increased and he later established the seat of the glorious Sakya lineage, as was prophesied within the Manjushri root Tantra, which begins with the syllables SA and KA.