Our Teachers
His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin
Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche
Born in Tibet in 1945, His Holiness ascended to the throne of Sakya at the age of seven. Trained in the various teachings of Sutra and Tantra, His Holiness embodies the complete qualities of a Tantric master. Presently residing in Mussoorie, Northern India, His Holiness travels frequently and is tireless in bestowing initiations and teachings to a growing group of dedicated students. His Holiness the Sakya Trizin is our supreme teacher and guide. >Visit His website for more
>Visit Tsechen Kunchab Ling’s website: www.sakyatemple.org
His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin
Kyabgon Gongma Trizen Rinpoche
Born in 1974, His Holiness is the eldest son of His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (the 41st Sakya Trizin). He is considered one of the most highly qualified lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Renowned for his erudition and the clarity of his teachings, His Holiness the 42nd Kyabgon Gongma Trizin belongs to the prestigious Khön family, whose successive generations have provided an unbroken lineage of outstanding masters. >Visit Sakya Center website for more.
His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche
His Eminence is a senior lineage holder of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism, and the younger son of His Holiness Sakya Trizin. He received decades of rigorous training from His Holiness himself, as well as many other lamas such as H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, H.E. Luding Khen Rinpoche, The Very Venerable Khenpo Appey Rinpoche, and the late Khenpo Migmar Rinpoche. H.E. Gyana Vajra Rinpoche completed his monastic ritual training at Sakya Monastery and his philosophical training at Sakya College. >Visit Sakya Center website for more.
His Eminence Kyabje Dorje Chang Luding Khenchen Rinpoche
His Eminence Luding Khencen Rinpoche is one of the most highly respected and learned teachers of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is believed to be the emanation of Vajrapani and is head of the Ngor, one of the two sub-sects of the Sakya tradition. His Eminence was born to the clan of Shang, Sharchen, or Ludingpa, which is renowned for producing great scholars and siddhas. >Visit Luding Foundation’s website for more.
His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche
His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche is the second son of Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding, the sister of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. Rinpoche belongs to one of the oldest royal families of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His Eminence was enthroned on March 16, 2000 as the abbot of the Ngor Monastery of the Sakya Order and is head of hundreds of branch monasteries. He is one of the most important young lineage holders of the Sakya Order. >Visit Luding Foundation’s website for more.
Venerable Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche
Venerable Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche was born into a noble family in Lhasa in 1935, the son of Tsipon Shuguba, the Treasurer in the Dalai Lama’s government. At the age of 7, Lama Kunga was recognized as a reincarnation of Sevan Repa, a heart disciple of Milarepa. Rinpoche came to America in 1972, and subsequently established the Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center in Kensington California. Lama Kunga has also taught in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, southern California, and Hawaii. >Visit Ewam Choden website for more.
Venerable Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen
Khenpo Kalsang is vice president of Tsechen Khunchab Ling, Seat of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin in the United States. He is a widely recognized and accomplished teacher and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also the spiritual director of Sakya Phuntsok Ling in Silver Spring, Maryland. His Holiness and other Lamas of the Sakya Order have repeatedly praised his Dharma activities as exemplary. >Visit Tsechen Kunchab Ling’s website for more.
Venerable Khenpo Lama Migmar Tseten
Lama Migmar has been serving Harvard-wide student, faculties, and staff as a Buddhist Chaplain since 1997. He received both a traditional and a contemporary education in India. He graduated with an Acharya degree in 1979 from Tibetan Institute of Sanskrit University, Varanasi, India. He founded Sakya Institute for Buddhist Studies in Cambridge, MA in 1990. He was awarded a medal for academic excellence by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. He was also recognized as Khenpo for his scholarship and service to the Dharma by His Holiness Sakya Trizin. >Visit Lama Migmar Tseten’s website for more.
Venerable Khenpo Pema Wangdak
In 1982, Khenpo Pema Wangdak was sent to the West by His Holiness Sakya Trizin, as the first of the younger generation of Tibetan teachers in America from the Sakya School. In 1989 Lama Pema founded the Vikramasila Foundation that encompasses the Palden Sakya Centers in New York City, Woodstock, NY, Philmont, NY, Cresskill, NJ, Springfield, VT, and Dayton OH. Khenpo Pema was recognized with the title of “Khenpo” by His Holiness Sakya Trizin in 2007. He received the distinguished “Ellis Island Medal of Honor” award by the National Ethical Coalition of Organizations in May, 2009 at Ellis Island for his humanitarian work around the world. Khenpo Pema is the first Tibetan ever to have received such an award. >Visit Vikramasila Foundation’s website for more.
Venerable Khenpo Thupten Gongphel
Lama Khenpo Thupten Gongphel became a monk of the Sakya Order in 1984. In 2004, he obtained his Kachupa degree (equivalent to a BA in Buddhist Philosophy), and his Loppon degree (equivalent to an MA) in 2006. In 2008, he joined the International Buddhist Academy as a member of the Monastic Leadership Program. He is qualified to act as translator and interpreter in Tibetan, English, Mandarin, and Hindi. He is well known as a genuine monk of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism and a person of excellent moral character and standing.