Who holds the highest throne?

[Harold]

I was just wonder if anyone knows who holds the highest throne seat within the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism?

When His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was the head of Tibet I know he held the highest seat.

His Holiness Sakya Trizin held the second highest seat.

Now that H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama is no longer the head of Tibet does he hold the highest seat or would H.H. Sakya Trizin now hold it?

This is purely and academic question not a battle between these two sects.

[lobster]

I was just wonder if anyone knows who holds the highest throne seat within the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism?

The Buddha.

[ngodrup]

I'm sure if you ask the Sakya Trizin, he will say it is HH the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama's clout is not dependent on his political position, rather
as Chenrezig in person the Spiritual Leader of *all* Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhists.
He is the teacher of the teachers-- a scholar's scholar and yogi's yogi.
Quite a few Geshes, Khenpos and Lamas of all schools, Bon included have the view
that HHDL is their Guru, but not their king. Ordinary, Tibetans, however
don't make the distinction . He may not be "head of state" anymore but
he's still their leader.

[JKhedrup]

Yes most Tibetans would agree that it is HH Dalai Lama, as he represents the Tibetan people. You will find that Tibetans of all lineages will be very quick to say this, though with Westerners, they might be less inclined to agree. This is in many cases because for non-Tibetans, what the Dalai Lama represents as the figurehead of Tibet is not something they identify with so much. Still, many Buddhists from all the lineages who have been around 10 years or longer have taken empowerments and teachings from His Holiness, so they see him as an important source of inspiration, if not the main one.

Traditionally the "pyramid" of the stature of the various lamas went something like this, according to the political structure: Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, Sakya Trizin, Karmapa, Ganden Tripa. Though of course for Karma Kagyus this position of the Karmapa would be supreme in importance, as their lineage really is built around the incarnations of the Karmapa. Most serious Karma Kagyu practitioners practice a Guru Yoga associated with one of the Karmapas (Karma Pakshi, 16th Karmapa etc) and recite "Karmapa Khyenno" as the Guru Yoga component of their ngondro.

The Nyingma tradition is less institutional than the others so it is not until exile that there was an appointed "throne holder" for the entire tradition, though now that there is I am sure that position would figure somewhere in the pyramid as well.

The role of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has become even more crucial in the present day, when the Tibetans have been scattered across the earth, as he serves as a beacon of unity and hope for the Tibetan people. I pray that he lives long and continues his beneficial activities for beings.