Teachings Received by His Holiness Sakya Trizin

His Holiness has received many precious and profound teachings, such as empowerments, blessings, initiations, oral transmissions, explanations and pith instructions from many great Gurus. Some of the principal teachings he received from his kind Gurus are described below.

From his Noble Father, the Vajradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen, he received major empowerment of the Khön tradition and other sacred and secret teachings.

From Dhampa Rinpoche (Vajradhara Ngawang Lodrö Shenphen Nyingpo, his main Root Guru) he received both common and uncommon Lam Dre teachings.

From His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, he received the Avalokiteshvara empowerment and many other exoteric and esoteric teachings.

From Vajradhara Khangsar Shabdrung Rinpoche, regent of Vajradhara Dhampa Rinpoche, he received the Collection of Sadhanas.

From Vajradhara Khenchen Jampal Sangpo, he received the precious Lam Dre teachings.

From Vajradhara Ngaglo Rinpoche he received the sacred and secret teachings on major Tantras such as profound Whispered Teachings belonging to Sakya tradition.

From Vajradhara Chögye Trichen Rinpoche he received the precious Lam Dre teachings of the Tsarpa sub-sect of the Sakya tradition and most of the empowerments of the Collection of Tantras.

From Vajradhara Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodro he received some very important major empowerments of the Sakya tradition, as well as oral transmissions of Nyingmapa cycles of teaching.

From Vajradhara Deshung Rinpoche he received the oral transmission of Sakya Kabum (collection of works of Five Founding Masters of Sakyapa tradition).

From Vajradhara Phende Khen Rinpoche he received some major empowerments of the Sakyapa tradition.

From Vajradhara Jadral Jangchub Dorje he received the complete treasure Dharma of Apam Terton.

From many great scholars of the Sakya school, including most venerable Khenpos such as Khenpo Thubten Rinpoche, Khenpo Appey Rinpoche, Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche, and Khenpo Rinchen Rinpoche, His Holiness received teachings on the six major divisions of Buddhist philosophy according to the Sakya tradition. These are Vinaya, Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Pramana, Madhyamaka and the Trisamvaraprakarana, (the famous text by the Great Sakya Pandita known in English as the Differentiation of the Three Vows). He also received teachings on the three major Tantras and other subjects such as astrology, calligraphy, grammar, poetry, rhetoric, lexicography and various rituals and ritual dances. He developed great expertise in mudra and in playing all the ritual percussion instruments.

His Holiness always feels indebted to his Masters who, with inexpressible kindness, bestowed upon him many precious and profound teachings, more revered and far more difficult to obtain than a wish-fulfilling jewel. He has spent most of his life in the practice of Dharma, completing over twenty major solitary retreats.

His Holiness began to study English in 1959. Since then, during leisure time from his constantly busy schedule, he has managed to find a little time to continue his study informally. His excellent and effortless command of the English language exemplifies the truth of his being a manifestation of Manjushri.

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