Sakya Monastery was built at an auspicious location prophesied by the great Indian master Atisha, who foresaw that emanations of Mahakala, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and Avalokiteshvara would take birth at this place and perform great activities for the benefit of the Dharma and all beings.
In 1268 Chogyal Phagpa, the fifth of the five founders of the Sakya Order, greatly expanded the monastery, and over the centuries it has grown into a complex of hundreds of temples, shrines, and monastic residences.
The buildings contain thousands of statues, paintings, murals, stupas, mandalas, and other holy objects, as well as libraries of scriptures in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Sanskrit piled from floor to ceiling. Among the holy objects in the monastery are the lifesize statue of Manjushri that spoke to Sakya Pandita to assist him during a famous debate; a small statue of Tara that was Atisha’s personal meditation object; and the conch shell blown by the Buddha’s disciples to summon monks to his teachings. Sakya Monastery became a citadel of learning and the fount from which the ten major and minor sciences were introduced to Tibet from India.
The fame of Sakya Monastery and its teachers reached the ears of Kublai Khan and Godan Khan, the Mongol rulers of China. They invited Sakya Pandita, who was the fourth of the five founders, and Chogyal Phagpa to their court. Through the teachings of these two great masters, Vajrayana Buddhism reached China. Under the leadership of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, major portions of Sakya Monastery that were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution have been renovated, and religious activities still continue there as they have for nearly a thousand years. For additional information, see The Sakya Tradition.
A Brief History of Sakya Monastery
Sakya Monastery is one of the sites most sacred to the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is located in the city of
Sakya Monastery was established in 1073 by Khon Khonchog Gyalpo. His son, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, and grandsons greatly developed the structure of the monastery, as well as its religious activities until it became a citadel of learning and meditation renowned throughout
Near the future site of the monastery, he had a prophetic vision in which he foresaw that emanations of Mahakala, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and Avalokiteshvara would take birth at this place and perform great activities for the benefit of the Dharma and beings. He had his attendants set up a temporary shrine and made offerings to the great masters and holy activities that were to come.
The original portion of the monastery that was built by Khon Khonchog Gyalpo became known as the northern shrine. It includes many sacred statues and scriptures, including a stupa containing Khon Khonchog Gyalpo’s holy relics.
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, who was the son of Khon Konchog Gyalpo and the first of the five founders of the Sakya Order, was born at Sakya Monastery. He was the first of the Sakyapa to receive the precious Lam Dre teaching, and under his teaching and leadership, the Lam Dre was established as the core practice of the Sakyapa. He established the tradition of scholarship and practice that was followed by succeeding founders and masters of the Sakya Order.
Sakya Monastery became a beacon of learning and the fount from which the ten major and minor sciences were introduced from
Chogyal Phagpa bestowed the Hevajra empowerment upon Godan Khan, and as an offering of appreciation Godan Khan offered Chogyal Phagpa the three provinces of
Sakya Monastery contained thousands of statues, paintings, stupas, mandalas, and other holy objects, as well as rooms full of scriptures piled from floor to ceiling. Among the holy objects in the monastery are a life-size statue of Manjushri that spoke to Sakya Pandita to assist him during a famous debate; a small statue of Tara that was Atisha’s personal object of meditation; the conch shell that was blown by the Buddha’s disciples to summon the monks to his teachings; and many other priceless holy objects.
Following the political changes in
Under the leadership of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, major portions of Sakya Monastery in Tibet that were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution have now been renovated, and religious activities there continue as they have for nearly a thousand years.
Source: by Ani Kunga Chodron, Cho Trin, Volume 1, Number 1