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Sakya facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Sakya is the name of one of four main types of Tibetan Buddhism. It's like a special branch of a big tree of Buddhist teachings. The other main branches are called Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. The Sakya school is sometimes called a "Red Hat sect" because of the color of hats worn by some of its teachers during ceremonies.

Sakya tibet2
Sakya Monastery

What is the Sakya School?

The Sakya school is a very old and important part of Tibetan Buddhism. It began in Tibet and has a long history of famous teachers and unique teachings. People who follow the Sakya path learn special ways to understand the world and find peace.

How the Sakya School Started

The Sakya school began in the 11th century. A very important family, called the Khön family, started it. They built the first Sakya Monastery in a place called Sakya, which means "pale earth" in Tibetan. This monastery became the main center for the Sakya teachings.

Important Leaders of Sakya

The leaders of the Sakya school are called Sakya Trizins. They are like the main teachers or spiritual guides. One of the most famous leaders was Sakya Pandita. He was a very wise scholar who lived a long time ago. He wrote many books and helped spread the Sakya teachings far and wide.

Sakya Pandita
Sakya Pandita

The Khön Family's Role

The Khön family has been very important to the Sakya school for hundreds of years. The leaders of the Sakya school are usually from this family. This tradition helps keep the teachings and practices of the Sakya school strong and connected to its roots.

Unique Teachings of Sakya

The Sakya school has special teachings that focus on deep wisdom and meditation. One of their main teachings is called "Lamdre," which means "the Path and its Result." This teaching helps followers understand how to practice Buddhism to achieve enlightenment. It's a step-by-step guide to spiritual growth.

The Role of Virūpa

The Lamdre teachings came from a great Indian teacher named Virūpa. He lived many centuries ago and was known for his amazing spiritual powers. The Sakya masters learned these teachings from him and brought them to Tibet, where they have been passed down from teacher to student ever since.

Indian Adept (siddha) - Virupa 16 century Private coll.
Virūpa, 16th century. This painting shows a famous story where he stopped the sun in the sky.

Sakya's Place in History

The Sakya school was not just important for its spiritual teachings. For a time, its leaders also had a big role in the government of Tibet. They worked with powerful leaders from other countries, like the Yuan dynasty in China, to help manage Tibet. This showed how respected and influential the Sakya masters were.

Yuan dynasty and Tibet
Tibet within the Yuan dynasty, managed by a special department called the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sakya (doctrina budista) para niños

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