His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche

 A Short Biography

His Eminence Khöndung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, youngest son of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, was born on the 5th of July 1979 in Dehradun, U.P. India. During his childhood, together with his elder brother, His Eminence Khöndung Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, His Eminence studied religious text, reading, writing, grammar, memorization of important prayers and rituals under the tutorship of Venerable Rinchen Sangpo.

His Eminence then joined the Sakya Center where he learned all the basic rituals and prayers for a few years. After completing his religious studies and training at the Sakya Center, His Eminence joined the Sakya College for further studies in Buddhist Philosophy and studied there for the next five years.

During this period, he often participated in the religious ceremonies which are held annually at the Sakya Center. He has also received many major initiations and also many common and uncommon teachings from His Holiness.  His Eminence has accompanied His Holiness during many of his teaching tours throughout India and abroad.

His Eminence, after studying at the Sakya College for five years, sought leave from the college to fulfill his other religious duties.  Presently His Eminence is resident at Sakya Center, which is the main monastery and seat of His Holiness Sakya Trizin and has started to work on his first religious project the "Gyana Project".

The Gyana Project involves extensive translation of Sakya texts and is the first major program that His Eminence has taken up since his college studies. He has received blessings from His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and His Eminence Ngor Luding Khen Rinpoche to undertake this project.