(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor David) The great Lopon Sonam Tsemo (1142-1182 CE) was the 2nd of the five founding fathers of the Sakya tradition and the 9th in Naropa’s lineage of Vajrayogini practice. He was the eldest of the three great sons of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, the 1st founding father of the Sakya tradition. The father’s consort and mother to Sonam Tsemo was Machig Odron. His younger brother was Jetsun Drakpa Gyeltsen (different than Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen), who eventually became the 3rd founding father of the Sakya tradition. Sonam Tsemo’s father, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158 CE) was the son and student of the founder of the Sakya School, Khon Konchok Gyalpo (1034-1102 CE). At 12 years old, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo came under Bari Lotsawa’s guidance. Upon performing a six-month retreat on Manjushri, he gained a pure vision of the bodhisattva who gave him teachings that have since became known as the Parting from the Four Attachments. Sachen was the first to write down the previously-oral teaching called Dorje Tsig Kang or Vajra Verses, a foundational teaching of the Lamdre tradition that is attributed to Virupa. He was the 1st of the five Sakya patriarchs, and the 3rd throneholder of Sakya Monastery. Sachen had many prominent students, including Pakmodrupa, Jangchub Sempa Aseng, and […]