Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism (Tibetan: ས་སྐྱ་, sa skya, “Grey Earth”)
The Sakya school is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, known for its deep commitment to scholarly study and its systematic approach to spiritual practice, particularly the Lamdre (“Path and its Fruit”) teachings. Founded in the 11th century, the Sakya school takes its name from the Sakya Monastery, which was established in a region of Tibet known for its distinctive “grey earth” landscape, giving the tradition its name. The Sakya tradition has been influential in both spiritual and political spheres in Tibet and remains an important tradition today.
Historical Origins:
The Sakya school was founded in 1073 by Khön Könchok Gyalpo (1034–1102), a member of the Khön family, which had deep roots in Tibet, with connections to both pre-Buddhist and Buddhist traditions. The Khön family, whose lineage continues to play a key role in the leadership of the Sakya tradition, was instrumental in establishing the Sakya school as a major force in Tibetan Buddhism.
One of the most significant figures in the development of the Sakya school was Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182–1251), a renowned scholar and Buddhist master. His erudition and diplomatic skills helped to establish the Sakya school’s influence both within Tibet and with the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty. Sakya Pandita’s nephew, Phagpa (1235–1280), is particularly notable for his role in establishing Tibetan Buddhism’s relationship with the Mongol rulers, leading to a period where the Sakya school held political authority over Tibet.
Key Teachings and Practices:
The Lamdre teachings are the core practice of the Sakya tradition and are derived from the Indian master Virupa, a key figure in the Hevajra Tantra lineage. The Lamdre system integrates the stages of the path (lam) and the fruit (dre) of enlightenment into a comprehensive practice. It combines both sutra and tantra teachings, guiding practitioners through a systematic path of ethical conduct, meditation, and realization of the nature of reality. The Lamdre system emphasizes the union of samatha (calm abiding meditation) and vipashyana (insight meditation), along with tantric practices that use visualization and deity yoga to help the practitioner attain Buddhahood. It is considered one of the most detailed and profound systems of practice within Tibetan Buddhism. 2. Hevajra Tantra: The Hevajra Tantra is the central tantric practice of the Sakya school. Hevajra is a wrathful deity associated with the highest yoga tantra, and practices related to Hevajra are central to the Sakya tantric path. The Hevajra Tantra serves as a foundation for many of the Sakya’s advanced meditative and ritual practices, offering a path for practitioners to realize the nature of mind and attain enlightenment. 3. Monastic and Scholarly Tradition: The Sakya school is known for its rigorous academic approach to Buddhist philosophy and practice. Sakya monasteries have long been centers of learning, producing many great scholars and practitioners. This emphasis on scholarship is a hallmark of the tradition, and Sakya monasteries are well-known for their textual study, debate, and preservation of ancient Buddhist texts. 4. Tantric Practices and Rituals: Like other Tibetan Buddhist schools, the Sakya tradition incorporates a wide array of tantric practices, including deity yoga, visualization, and ritual empowerment (abhisheka). Initiations into specific tantric practices are required for deeper engagement with these teachings, and the guidance of a qualified lama is essential.
The Khön Family and Lineage:
The Sakya school is unique among the Tibetan Buddhist traditions in that its leadership has remained within the Khön family for centuries. This hereditary system of leadership, rather than the tulku (reincarnate lama) system used by other schools, has helped maintain the integrity and continuity of the tradition. The heads of the Sakya school are typically drawn from the Khön family, with the most senior figure being the Sakya Trizin (“Holder of the Sakya Throne”).
The Sakya Trizin is the spiritual leader of the Sakya school and is responsible for transmitting the core teachings and guiding the community. The position has traditionally been held by a succession of patriarchs from the Khön family, ensuring that the Sakya lineage remains unbroken.
In recent years, there has been a shift in how the Sakya Trizin is selected, with a rotating system between members of the Khön family now in place, allowing for multiple members of the family to serve as heads of the school during their lifetime.
Historical Role in Tibetan Politics:
The Sakya school played a central role in Tibetan politics during the 13th and 14th centuries. Under the leadership of Sakya Pandita and his nephew Phagpa, the Sakya school forged a significant relationship with the Mongol rulers of China. Phagpa, as the spiritual teacher of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, was appointed as the political ruler of Tibet, and for about a century, the Sakya lamas held political authority over Tibet. This period, known as the Sakya-Mongol period, marked the height of the Sakya school’s political influence, though it later gave way to other schools’ leadership, particularly the Gelug school under the Dalai Lama.
Prominent Figures in the Sakya Tradition:
One of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhist history, Sakya Pandita was a scholar, translator, and teacher whose work significantly shaped the intellectual and spiritual foundations of the Sakya tradition. He was a master of both sutra and tantra and contributed to the spread of Buddhism beyond Tibet through his diplomatic connections with the Mongol Empire. 2. Phagpa (1235–1280): Phagpa was a key figure in establishing the political relationship between Tibet and the Mongol Empire. As a close advisor and spiritual teacher to Kublai Khan, Phagpa developed the Phagpa script, an alphabet that Kublai Khan hoped would be used throughout his empire. Phagpa’s influence helped establish the Sakya school’s political authority in Tibet during the 13th century. 3. Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147–1216): Another major figure in the early Sakya lineage, Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen played a crucial role in consolidating the teachings of the Sakya school and ensuring their transmission to future generations. His works are foundational texts in Sakya study and practice.
Sakya School Today:
Today, the Sakya school remains one of the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, with monasteries and centers worldwide. While it no longer holds political power in Tibet, its rich philosophical and meditative teachings continue to influence practitioners globally. The current Sakya Trizin, along with other senior lamas, actively teaches both in Tibet and in exile, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of the Sakya tradition.
In Summary: