Early Education

Lama Ngaglo Rinpoche gave His Holiness the special empowerment of Orange Manjushri and many other empowerments. He then started to learn reading from Lama Ngaglo Rinpoche, who taught him in the presence of a very holy statue of Manjushri. He learned the first letters of the alphabet from a specially blessed scroll written in golden ink by Sachen Kunga Lodroe, which had previously been used by the successive Dungsays of the Khön Lineage. His first tutor, Kunga Gyaltsen, taught him the fundamentals of reading, writing and recitation of prayers. His Holiness applied himself diligently to learning how to read until he completely mastered the art. He believes that this was the foundation of his excellent reading skill, which is one of his many remarkable qualities.

In the autumn of 1950 he travelled to Ngor Ewam Choeden to receive the exoteric Lam Dre teaching from his root Guru, the great abbot Vajradhara Ngawang Lodroe Shenpen Nyingpo. The moment he saw his Guru, a great devotion arose in him. His Holiness realized that the great Abbot had been and would be his Guru in every lifetime. In the same year, during an extensive ritual for his long life, he recited by heart the verses of response, agreeing to live long, which was considered a very admirable feat for one so young. In 1951, when His Holiness was six years old, he began to memorize the very important texts of Tantra. It was in that year also that he met His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for the first time.

In early 1952, the officially sealed proclamation of the succession designating him as the future Sakya Trizin was read by the representative of the national government of Tibet and a brief preliminary ceremony of enthronement took place. About that time he took an oral examination at which he was successful in reciting texts by heart. His ability to memorize was considered extraordinary. He had memorized many major and minor texts, comprising in all over a thousand pages.

At about this time, Venerable Kunga Tsewang was appointed as his tutor. His Holiness performed rituals and made a prediction to discern the best candidate for the new Abbot of the Sakya Monastery. Venerable Mangtho Gyatso was chosen for the post. From then on, the task of selecting various position holders in the Sakya Order continuously remained with the office of His Holiness.

His Holiness undertook his first retreat in 1953. This was a long life retreat. He also bestowed his first initiation in that same year. Despite many entreaties from His Holiness to remain in bodily form, his main Guru, Vajradhara Ngawang Lodroe Zhenphen Nyingpo (Dhampa Rinpoche) entered into Parinirvana in the fourth lunar month, seated in the meditation posture. Many miraculous signs appeared during and after the cremation. His regent, Khangsar Shabdrung Ngawang Lodroe Tenzin Nyingpo Rinpoche, had such devotion for his Guru, Dhampa Rinpoche, that while reciting the Lineage Guru Prayers he was not able even to pronounce the name of his own Guru. Even many years later, tears would come to his eyes when he pronounced his Guru's name. His Holiness also has such devotion to his Guru.

In the seventh lunar month of that year, he commenced a major retreat which lasted for more than seven months. During this retreat, he also engaged in many other practices and actually conducted about twenty different retreats at the same time. In this way he fulfilled the unparalleled spiritual activities of his predecessors. His Holiness successfully followed the examples set in the field of meditation by the great Sakya masters.

In 1954 His Holiness took examinations in the inner and outer spiritual dances, in order to preside over the extended ritual. He performed the ritual dance wearing the blessed mask worn by the preceding Khön Lineage masters. The task of Vajra master, leading rituals and ritual dances continues to be part of his role even today.

In the same year, certain auspicious signs occurred in the Gorum shrine room. The statue turned towards the east, revealing a silken thread tying it to the wall. Even the shrine keeper had never seen this before. During that period, His Holiness Dalai Lama and many other great Lamas had visited China. People believed that this was a sign that the deity was constantly protecting them. Seven or eight months later, the image returned to its normal position with the thread no longer visible. The next year at the Dolma Phodrang, His Holiness gave his first major empowerment to more than a thousand people in small groups, extending over many days.

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