His Eminence Khondung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, the youngest son of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin, was born on 5 July 1979 in Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, India. In his early years, he studied alongside his elder brother under the guidance of Venerable Rinchen Sangpo, focusing on religious texts, reading, writing, grammar, and the memorisation of important prayers and rituals.
He later entered Sakya Centre, the principal monastery and seat of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, where he received training in the essential rituals and prayers of the tradition. After completing his studies there, he continued at Sakya College, deepening his knowledge of Buddhist philosophy over the next five years. Throughout this period, he regularly took part in the annual religious ceremonies held at Sakya Centre and received numerous major initiations, as well as common and uncommon teachings, from His Holiness.
Over the course of many years, he underwent intensive training from His Holiness himself, along with other respected lamas including the late His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche, Khenpo Appey Rinpoche, and the late Khenpo Migmar Rinpoche. He also accompanied His Holiness on many teaching tours in India and abroad, and has since returned to lay life. His Eminence Gyana Vajra Rinpoche married Dagmo Sonam Palkyi on 21 April 2008.
After five years at Sakya College, he requested leave in order to carry out other religious responsibilities and began his first major initiative, the Gyana Project. This project is dedicated to translating Sakya teachings and commentaries into English, and has received blessings from His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, and His Eminence Ngor Luding Khen Rinpoche.
His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin noted that presenting the history of the Sakya School, the teachings of the five founding masters of the Sakya lineage, and the Six Elegant Ornaments of the Land of Snows, together with their essential teachings in English, would be of great value to Western academics and Dharma students. Such a collection would offer a complete understanding of the Buddhist canon of Tantra and Sutra, including Vinaya, Prajnaparamita, Madhyamika, Adhidharma, Pramana, and the distinction among the three vows.
Because these texts have long been available mainly to Tibetan readers and the Tibetan-speaking community, due to the rarity of translations, the project was created to serve all students and followers of the Sakyapa School and Dharma more broadly. It was first envisioned by the late Khenpo Migmar Tsering, then Abbot and Principal of Sakya College. His passing was a profound loss, and during his final days Rinpoche promised his teacher that he would help bring this vision to life.
His Eminence is also working toward the goals of the Sakya Academy Project, which was initiated by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. Its main purpose is to provide young novices with a strong Buddhist education, while also including a modern curriculum such as mathematics and science, so that monastic learning remains relevant in the wider world.
A further aim of the Sakya Academy is to preserve and share the precious Dharma teachings of Lord Buddha, as well as the distinctive teachings and living tradition of the Sakyapa masters, so they may continue to benefit future generations.