Vijyender Sharma
Dharmshala ---The Central Tibetan Administration today held a prayer service to mourn the demise of His Eminence Vajra Dhara Kyabgon Dagchen Rinpoche, holder of one of the two main Sakya lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche, 88, passed away at Seattle in the United States.
Members of the Kashag, Tibetan parliamentarians, Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration attended the prayer service along with staff of CTA.
Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration led by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay expressed its profound condolences to all the followers and devotees of Rinpoche and prayed for Rinpoche's swift reincarnation.
Kashag Secretary Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok read out a brief biography of His Eminence at the prayer service.
His Eminence Vajra Dhara Kyabgon Dagchen Rinpoche Ngawang Kunga Sonam was the founder and Principal Guru of Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Seattle, WA. He was born into the Phuntsok branch of the Khön lineage in 1929 in southwestern Tibet. He began his studies under the guidance of his father, His Eminence Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchuk, who was the 40th throne holder of the Sakya school. Dagchen Rinpoche received instructions in the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana systems of Buddhism. Upon completion of this comprehensive training, Dagchen Rinpoche received the unbroken Sakya lineage transmission of the Sakya Vajrakilaya and Hevajra initiations and the complete Lamdre Tsogshe (Path and Fruit), which are the main teachings of the Sakya tradition. Following this period of intensive study and initiations, Dagchen Rinpoche went into a long series of study and meditation retreats. He then conferred the Lamdre Tsogshe to monks, nuns, and lay people of Sakya.
After the passing of his father, Dagchen Rinpoche His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya travelled to East Tibet, where he studied with Dzongsar Khyentse Jamyang Chökyi Lodrö, master of all lineages, and Dilgo Khyentse Rabsel Dawa Rinpoche, master of the Nyigma school. Two of these lamas also became Dagchen Rinpoche's root gurus. These two highly realized masters helped formulate Dagchen Rinpoche's non-sectarian approach to Buddhism. After completing his major religious studies, Dagchen Rinpoche bestowed initiations and teachings throughout East Tibet and established 17 Sakya colleges and 10 retreat centers in that region. In 1955, he conferred the Lamdre Tsogshe, for a second time, to over 1200 practitioners in Minyag, East Tibet.
In 1959 Dagchen Rinpoche, his wife H.E. Dagmo Kusho Sakya, and their family were forced to flee to India, where Dagchen Rinpoche became the Sakya representative to the Tibetan Religious Office in Exile, which was instrumental in arranging for the resettlement of Tibetan refugees. The following year he was invited to participate in a research project on Tibetan civilization at the University of Washington sponsored by a Rockefeller Foundation grant.
Dagchen Rinpoche has resided in Seattle since 1960 along with his wife, five sons and other family members. Appreciating the benefits of American freedom and prosperity, he works actively to help preserve and share the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. To this end he has given extensive empowerments and teachings throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
In 1974, Rinpoche co-founded the Sakya Thekchen Choeling in Seattle, one of the first dharma centres in the west, with Deshung Rinpoche. They worked actively together to impart the teachings of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and ritual practice to westerners. Since then, Rinpoche has been travelling extensively around the world including India, Singapore, Malaysia and Europe to give empowerments and teachings at the request of devotees
In 1984, Rinpoche's dharma center Sakya Thegchen Choeling was renamed Sakya Tsechen Kunkyab Thekchok Choeling. The centre hosted scholars from all the four Tibetan Buddhist traditions including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche, among others.
In 1996, Rinpoche accompanied by his wife, visited Tibet and went on a pilgrimage to the Jokhang temple, Samye monastery and the great Sakya monasteries in southern Tibet. Rinpoche also gave teachings and empowerments to the public during his visit.
Having taught the Lamdre Lopshey (The Path and Its Fruit in its more esoteric form) five times in his lifetime, Rinpoche has accumulated numerous disciples around the world. Therefore to cater to the spiritual needs of these students, Rinpoche has established many dharma centers and Sakya institutes around the world including in New Delhi, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
An ecumenical Buddhist scholar and a non-sectarian spiritual teacher, Rinpoche places great emphasis on education and encourages inter-religious and interdisciplinary meetings for the collective growth of the Tibetan Buddhist world. He continued to give instructions, empowerments and transmissions to everyone until his journey into parinirvana
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