Ratna Vajra Rinpoche

Ratna Vajra Rinpoche (born 19 November 1974), is considered one of the highest qualified lineage masters of both the esoteric and exoteric traditions of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He is a descendant of the famous Khon family in Tibet, which holds an unbroken lineage of great and famous masters for over a thousand years. He is the eldest son of the present 41st Sakya Trizin, the throne holder of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He teaches Buddhism and travels extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North America.

From birth, Rinpoche has been the recipient of blessings, empowerments, initiations and teachings from many of the foremost high lamas and scholars of this age. Most of these were bestowed by the 41st Sakya Trizin and others were bestowed by the 14th Dalai Lama, Chogye Trichen Rinpoche (1920–2007), Luding Khenchen Rinpoche and Dezhung Rinpoche (1906–1987). In addition to receiving many empowerments and teachings from the Sakya Trizin, he learned many facets of traditional rituals from him also.

On the 14th day of the 11th Tibetan lunar month, the anniversary of Sakya Pandita (December 20, 1980), he began to receive the cycle of the precious uncommon Lam Dre teachings from HH the Sakya Trizin for the first time at Sakya Thubten Namgyal Ling monastery in Puruwala, India.

At the age of six, he started his formal education under the tutorship of Venerable Rinchen Sangpo. On October 10, 1981, he took his first oral examination in the presence of H.H. Sakya Trizin, his tutor and prominent members of the Sakya Centre on The Remembrance of the Triple Gem, The Three Heap Sutra, The Confession Sutra, the extended lineage Guru's prayers and several other texts. Since then, he has taken many oral examinations, including the examinations in which he had to lead special rituals in the Sakya Centre. In 1986 he performed his first meditation retreat together with his mother, Gyalyum Kushok Tashi Lhakee.

In 1987, when Rinpoche was fourteen, he passed his first major examination at the Sakya Centre, Rajpur, India. Two years later, he completed all his basic studies of different rituals and scriptures. The following year, he entered the Sakya College and studied there for seven years. During that time, he studied Buddhist philosophy mainly under Khenpo Ngawang Lekshey Kunga Rinpoche (aka. Khenpo Migmar Tsering. 1955-1999). In 1998, he graduated with a Kachupa Degree, which is equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree.

From his adolescent years to adulthood, Rinpoche has sought and received numerous teachings from the great Sakya scholars including Khenchen Appey Rinpoche (1927–2010), Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche (1921–2008) and Khenpo Lungrik Senge. He has also completed many retreats on the principal deities of the Sakya tradition.

Family

On September 12, 2002, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche married Dagmo Kalden Dunkyi. Their first child, daughter Jetsunma Kunga Trinley Palter Sakya was born on January 2, 2007, the Parinirvana Day of Sakya Pandita, which is considered auspicious according to Tibetan custom.

Their son, Dungsay Akasha Vajra Rinpoche, was born on March 27, 2010, the 12th day of the 2nd month of the Tibetan calendar, the anniversary of the Paranirvana of Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen. His birth was accompanied by a slight earthquake in New Delhi where he was born. Such an event is considered an auspicious sign according to Tibetan belief. It portends that a great being has entered this world.

Ratna Vajra Rinpoche oversees the management of many Sakya monasteries and Sakya centers throughout the world.