H.E. Abhaya Vajra Sakya Rinpoche

His Eminence Khöndung Abhaya Vajra Sakya was born in Seattle in 1997, the younger son of H.E. Khöndung Zaya Vajra Rinpoche and Dagmo Lhanze Youden. At the age of 11, having received the Lamdre from his late grandfather, H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Dorje Chang (1929-2016), he joined his brother H.E. Khöndung Avikrita Vajra Sakya in India to pursue his education in the Sakya tradition. He has received an uninterrupted stream of teachings from his late grandfather as well as his grand-uncle H.H. Sakya Trichen, and from many high Lamas of the Sakya tradition.

He expressed his strong wish at the age of 12 to receive monastic ordination. At present he is the sole ordained member of the Khön lineage. At the Ngor Luding Ladrang in Manduwala, he received his novice monastic vows from H.E. the late Luding Khenchen Dorje Chang in an ordination ceremony witnessed by H.E. the present Luding Khen Rinpoche, H.E. Khangsar Shabdrung Rinpoche, Ven. Antro Tullku and the Abbot of the Sakya Institute of Vajrayana, Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen. On February 19, the holy day of miracles 2019, he received the full ordination as a bhikshu from the same masters in the sacred site of Bodh Gaya, taking the ordained name of Gelong Jamyang Kunga Thubten Jigme.

Rinpoche studied under Abbot Emeritus Khenpo Jamyang Choephel and Abbot Emeritus Khenpo Samdup at Dzongsar Institute of Higher Buddhist Philosophy and Research for a decade, graduating with distinction and being revision teacher for several semesters. Thereafter, he transferred to Sakya Institute of Vajrayana in Manduwala, where he is completing his study of the tantric teachings of the Sakya tradition. He has bestowed many teachings, including his first initiation (that of Namgyalma) at Sakya Monastery.

Rinpoche is author of Living the Excellent Way, a digital book published by Sakya Monastery.