The 1960s: Sakya Journey

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Laura Ellis

The story of the Royal Family’s Journey from Tibet to India to America and back to India

H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Dorje Chang with Khöndungs and H.E. Dagmo Kusho Sakya.

Where the journey began: Lhasa, Tibet 1959

This family photo was taken in Lhasa just before the Sakya royal family left Tibet. Mati Rinpoche was just over a year. The photo was taken in Lhasa during the time His Holiness Dalai Lama was receiving his Geshe degree. Khöndung Mati Rinpoche was born in Lhasa during this time. The Sakya family left two days after H.H. Dalai Lama left when they had to escape to India in 1959.

The Sakya Phuntsok Phodrang family and entourage arrived at the Bhutanese border after crossing the Himalayan Mountains on yaks, horses and on foot. There were close to 2000 people at the Bhutan border. They were held in between the Tibet and Druktsampa Bhutan border for 3 weeks. Tibetan refugees were sent different routes to reach India. The Sakya family came through the Phuntsoling border which is now Jaigaon. As soon as they got to India the Indian government helped them find a place to stay. They stayed in Jaigaon at least a week at an old army base. It was very hot having just came from Tibet. Some of the sights the family saw for the first time were Indian ladies carrying water jugs on their heads and enormous buffalo wallowing in the river. Sharing the river with these giant animals when bathing and collecting water from the river was somewhat daunting.

Land In Jaigon — The land in Jaigaon where the Sakya Phunsok Phodrang Monastery is currently under construction.

The refugees were being sorted by the Indian government to go to different destinations. Younger monks and nuns were sent to South India. Mothers, children, and elders were sent to Jaigaon. The family was separated for a short time while H.H. Trinley Rinpoche and Mangthola were sent to south India. H.E. Dagmo Kusho and the Khöngdungs were sent to Kalimpong. H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche joined them a few days later. While most refugees had not choice regarding their destination, if one had relatives in India, one could choose to join one’s relatives. H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche had an aunt in Sikkim so he was able to join the rest of the family a few days later. After spending some time in Sikkim, the family moved to Darjeeling.

H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche’s father, Trichen Ngawang Thuthop Wangchuk had visited Darjeeling where he knew Sherpa family patrons. The Sakya family lived in Darjeeling until moving to Seattle in 1961.

Newspaper photo of the Sakya family landing in Hawaii on the way to Seattle. There were 10 people in the Sakya family as well as Geshe Nornang

At the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo with Taktser Rinpoche (eldest brother of the Dalai Lama) in 1963 or 64

H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche and H.H. Trinley Rinpoche with Dezhung Rinpoche III’s student, Gene Smith, a graduate student at UW who studied with H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche.

Khöndung Zaya Vajra Rinpoche arrives, the first Tibetan to be born in the United States, 1961.

Translation of the above:

“This precious human life is hard to obtain, and time is limited for us. When death comes, there is nothing one can do, no matter if we are wealthy or poor. We are all conditioned by impermanence such that death is certain and can strike anytime. Holding this thought in mind is beneficial. It is important to understand the nature of the impermanence, or we will have difficulty improving our dharma practice. If we are not ready for death, we might be reborn in the three lower realms. Therefore we should always keep death and impermanence in our mind while advancing on the path to Buddhahood!” –H.H. Jigdal Dagchen

Translated by Kunga Lhamo

Category: News Tags: history, photos