10 Questions for His Holiness Sakya Trizin

[plwk]

I was wondering though on the interviewer's statement, 'Second only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama?'
I always thought that HHST is the highest authority in the Sakya Sect? Hmmm......

[Kunga]

Yes, in the Sakya lineage HHST is number one, the supreme head. The interviewer's talking about precedence in Tibetan Buddhism, rather than the Sakya lineage, where, after the Dalai Lama, the throne holder of Sakya is the next senior figure.

[J-Bird]

... after the Dalai Lama, the throne holder of Sakya is the next senior figure.

Well this isn't exactly true. In the Central TIbetan political system pre-1959, the Panchen Lama was the closest in succession to retaining the political role of the executive of the central TIbetan Government. This being said however, from a religious point of view, the Karmapa incarnations, were held the 2nd highest religious throne in Tibet, aside from the Dalai Lamas.

It is an itheresting discusison though, and my understanding may be somewhat misguided. If anyone has any other info, I would be interested to better understand the heriarcy between the Glug, Sakya, Kagyu-pa and Nyigma lamas in relation to political power.

[Kunga]

Hi, the Karmapas may be the next senior incarnation lineage for sure: as the Sakya lineage is hereditary it can't be compared in this regard, but, in terms of protocol, HHST is the 2nd most senior figure in Tibetan Buddhism - after HHDL's throne, the throne of Sakya monastery is the next highest.

[Malcolm]

... after the Dalai Lama, the throne holder of Sakya is the next senior figure.

Well this isn't exactly true. In the Central TIbetan political system pre-1959, the Panchen Lama was the closest in succession to retaining the political role of the executive of the central TIbetan Government. This being said however, from a religious point of view, the Karmapa incarnations, were held the 2nd highest religious throne in Tibet, aside from the Dalai Lamas.

It is an itheresting discusison though, and my understanding may be somewhat misguided. If anyone has any other info, I would be interested to better understand the heriarcy between the Glug, Sakya, Kagyu-pa and Nyigma lamas in relation to political power.

Traditionally speaking, in terms of the height of the seat to which a given high Tibetan lama is entitled, the throne holder of Sakya is lower only than the Dalai Lama. All other Lamas have seats lower than the throne holder of Sakya.

[username]

There were many protocols in Lhasa (U&Tsang) like certain figures including Panchen lama & Karmapa & the Ambon & Retings were to be escorted under parasols, revenue allocations, immunity, entourage rights, etc. And the main official protocol was the official capital hierarchy in which the head of Sakya was indeed number two. I think Panchen was third and Karmapa fourth, all this after the civil war.