His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche served as the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism until March 2017, when the throneholder duties were handed over to His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the 42nd Sakya Trizin, formally addressed as His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trizin Rinpoche.
His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen is a member of Tibet‘s noble Khon family, which founded the Sakya Order in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Just as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, who embodies great compassion, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen is an emanation of Manjushri, who embodies transcendent wisdom.
In addition to his leadership of the Sakya Order for over fifty years, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen is renowned throughout the world for the brilliance and clarity of his teachings and his fluency and precise command of English. Receiving teachings directly from His Holiness carries a special lineage of blessings from the founders of the Sakya Order, as well as from Manjushri himself.