Since the 11th century, the Khon Family has been intimately linked to the Sakya lineage. Known to be one of the holiest families of Tibet, the heads of the family have acted as the patriarchs of their sacred tradition. In the 8th century, one of the earliest members of the Khon family, Khon Lui Wangpo Sungwa became a disciple of the great Indian saint Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche. At that time, he was amongst the first seven monks to be ordained in Tibet. Later in 1073, another member of the Khon family, Khon Konchok Gyalpo established Sakya Monastery in Tibet. The Khon family as it exists today are direct descendants of Khon Konchok Gyalpo. Therefore the familial lineage has remained unbroken since the establishment of the monastery. The Sakya tradition established by the Khon family has since become one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The head of the Sakya lineage is called the ‘Sakya Trizin’ or the Sakya throne holder. In accordance with its unique tradition, the throne of the Sakyas is passed down in a hereditary manner, from father to son within the Khon family. Sometime in the 18th century, the Khon family split […]