Tibet Oral History Project: Interview with His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin on 3/31/2017

Read the interview transcript in English at http://tibetoralhistory.org/Interview... ** This interview about life in Tibet was conducted by the Tibet Oral History Project. This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history and culture of the Tibetan people by interviewing elderly Tibetan refugees about life in Tibet before and after the Chinese invasion. Learn more at http://www.TibetOralHistory.org. ** Interview Summary: His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin was born in Tsethong in Utsang Province in 1945. He fondly recalls his aunt who raised him after the passing away of his parents. He talks about his family’s special Sakya lineage and the tradition of preparing the children for their future as leaders of that sect of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness describes his religious education in the Sakya tradition provided by his root guru and other lamas. During his first visit to Lhasa in 1950 at age 8, His Holiness was nominated as the Trizin ‘Throne Holder’ of Sakya by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His official enthronement celebration did not take place until 1959. Soon after the situation in Lhasa became dangerous under the Chinese occupation and His Holiness escaped to India. He moved around to various places in India such as Darjeeling, Dharamsala, Mussoorie and finally settled in Rajpur, where he established the Sakya Monastery in 1964.His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin explains the recent changes he made by nominating his son to be the next Sakya Trizin. He plans to complete his autobiographical book soon. His Holiness shares his thoughts on the relevance of Buddhism in today’s world.