His Holiness Ratna Vajra Sakya is the 42nd throne holder of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, inheriting this role from his father, His Holiness the 41st Sakya Gongma Trichen, in March 2017. Born in 1974 in Dehradun, India, into the prestigious Sakya Khön family—whose successive generations have provided an unbroken lineage of outstanding masters—His Holiness received rigorous training from childhood under the guidance of his father and many other accomplished masters including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After years of intensive study at Sakya College, he was awarded the Kachupa degree as "master of ten scriptures" in 1998, and has completed numerous meditation retreats including the complete Hevajra retreat required for bestowing the sacred Lamdre empowerments. Considered one of the most highly qualified lineage masters of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness is renowned for his erudition, the clarity of his teachings, and his genuine qualities of simplicity, humility, and honesty. He regularly transmits empowerments and teachings at Buddhist institutes worldwide, guiding students with wisdom and compassion while maintaining the purest Buddhist traditions and presenting the Buddha's teachings in the most authentic way.