Sakya Pandita: Unparalleled Scholar and Guardian of Authentic Dharma
We invite you to sponsor the sacred 14 inch statue of Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen, the fourth of the "Five Magnificent Sakya Masters" and one of Tibet's most illustrious scholars, whose intellectual brilliance and unwavering commitment to authentic teachings continue to inspire practitioners worldwide.
Born in 1182, Sakya Pandita mastered all fields of traditional Buddhist learning, becoming proficient in the five major sciences and the five minor sciences. His encyclopedic knowledge and exceptional analytical abilities earned him the title "Pandita" (great scholar), a rare honor previously reserved for the learned masters of India. His works, including the renowned "Treasury of Valid Cognition" and "Distinguishing the Three Vows," remain cornerstones of Buddhist philosophical study to this day.
Sakya Pandita's commitment to preserving the purity of Buddha's teachings led him to compose "Clear Differentiation of the Buddha's Teaching from Other Doctrines," establishing precise standards for authentic dharma practice. This work helped maintain the integrity of Buddhism during a period when various misinterpretations were emerging throughout Tibet.
In his historic journey to the Mongol court, Sakya Pandita introduced Buddhism to Mongolia and established diplomatic relations that would profoundly influence Central Asian history. Through skillful dialogue and debate, he demonstrated the superiority of Buddhist philosophy, converting the Mongol prince Godan and laying the groundwork for the spread of Buddhism throughout Mongolia.
By sponsoring this statue, you connect with a master whose perfect union of scholarship, debate, composition, and meditation exemplifies the comprehensive approach of the Sakya tradition.
Your contribution honors Sakya Pandita's unparalleled legacy and supports the Sakya Temple of Peace in maintaining the same standards of authentic transmission that have characterized this lineage for centuries.
The Sakya Temple of Peace is currently being built in Kambah, Canberra. This will be a new Tibetan Buddhist temple in the nation's capital and a beacon of peace, kindness and understanding for Australia and the world.
We are so close to realising this dream, but we need your help!
To complete the project on time in only six months by September 2025, we need to raise $500,000 by 31 May 2025.
Scroll down to see all the items below that you can sponsor, ranging from $20 for a Stupa brick to $50,000 for the centrepiece 5.5ft Sakyamuni Buddha Statue. You can sponsor a whole item, or make a contribution towards one or more of them.
All donations are tax deductible in Australia.
Sponsorship of these items will contribute towards our overall goal of raising $500,000. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to opening the doors of this sacred space as scheduled.
If 1,000 people donated just $500 each, we will reach the goal!
Could you be one of these people for this final push to bring the temple to life?
You can also make a general donation by clicking on the Donate Here button above.
Don't want to donate online?
You can make a deposit directly into our bank account. If there is a particular item you wish to sponsor, please email president@sakya.com.au with the details and we will update the Fundrazr tally manually. The bank account details are:
Account name: SBF
BSB: 633-000
Account number: 130 960 883
Thank you for being part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
