The Sakya Sect is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism including Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. It has its origins in the ancient Khön Family of Tibet when one of the family members, Khön Lui Wangpo Sungwa, became a disciple of the great Indian Saint Padmasambhava in the 8th century becoming one of the first seven Tibetan monks. Sakya (Tibetan: sa skya, English: grey, whitish earth), is named after a large area of white earth in the shape of a lion’s face on the side of Ponpori Mountain in South Western Tibet. In the Manjushri Root Tantra, Buddha had prophesied that a Sakya Monastery would cause his teachings to flourish in the land of Snows. This Monastery was also prophesied by Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava who also wrote, “An emanation of the Indian Virupa-Drogmi Lotsawa will appear”. In CE 1040, the Pandit Atisha Dipamkara traveling from India, stopped and performed prostrations after seeing on the mountainside a syllable “Hrih”, seven “Dhih”, and one “Hung”, and prophesied that manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, seven of Manjushri, an one of Vajrapani would divine great blessings on this site.
The Sakya Tradition was established with the first Temple built by Khön Konchog Gyalpo named the Gorum Zimchi Karpo in CE 1073. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Sakya Tradition rose to a position of prominence in the religious and political life of Tibet, primarily due to the endeavors of the Five Great Sakya Masters (Tibetan: rJe.tzun. gong.ma Inga). Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), Lobpön Sonam Tsemo (1142-1182), Jetsun Dakpa Gyaltsen (1174-1216), Sakya Pandita (1182-1251), Chögyal Phakpa (1235-1280).
In CE 1207, Mongol armies invaded and occupied Tibet. In CE 1244, Godan Khan, intrigued by Sakya Pandita’s reputation, invited him to Mongolia to give Buddhist teaching through which, Godan Khan became a Buddhist, and appointed Sakya Pandita Viceroy of Tibet. In CE 1253, Chögyal Pagpa, the nephew of Sakya Pandita, became the religious teacher to Godan Khan’s famous successor, Kublai Khan. Chögyal Pagpa gave many profound teachings and invented a new script for the purpose of writing the Mongolian language. Kublai Khan was so impressed by Pagpa’s many performances that he declared Buddhism the state religion of Mongolia and in CE 1260, named Drogon Chögyal Pagpa the Imperial Preceptor thereby becoming the first person in Tibetan history to gain religious and secular authority over the entire country.
The Khön Family descendants are the hereditary heirs to the leadership of Sakya which has alternated each generation between the Phuntsog Phodrang, led by H.H. Dagchen Gongma Rinpoche, and the current 41st Throne Holder of the Drolma Phodrang, H.H. Sakya Trizin. Through their sublime blessings and continual guidance, Long Live the Sakya Tradition and may all sentient beings be released from the wanderings of Samsaric suffering.

Main Sakya Monasteries in Tibet

In Sakya tradition there were two main monasteries, the North and South Monasteries.  The North Monastery was built by Khön Konchog Gyalpo in 1073, and it specialized in Tantric practices.  The head of the Monastery was titled Gyatso Lopon with assistance from other monks.  However, this Monastery no longer exists.  The South Monastery, Thubten Trulpe Lhakang Chenmo, was built in the 13th century by Sakya Zangpo under the commission of Chogyal Pagpa (Figure 3).  This Monastery specialized in Sutrayana practices and it is one of the few well-preserved Monastery’s in Tibet.  The abbot of the Monastery was titled Khyentri, with assistance from Khyenzur and other monks.  Both Khyentri and Khyenzur had to be present when vows were given to the monks.  Monks in this Monastery are experts in the Tripitaka, and they were famed for their pure moral behavior.  The Monastery that H.H. J.D. Sakya is going to build in India will emulate the Sutrayana South Monastery and the unique traditions and culture.