Drogon Choegyal Phakpa Statue
We invite you to sponsor the sacred 14 inch statue of Drogon Choegyal Phakpa, the fifth of the "Five Magnificent Sakya Masters" and a figure of extraordinary historical significance whose diplomatic skill and spiritual authority helped shape an era.
Born in 1235 as the nephew of Sakya Pandita, Choegyal Phakpa demonstrated remarkable intellectual capabilities from an early age. Following his uncle's footsteps, he journeyed to the court of Kublai Khan, where his profound wisdom and diplomatic acumen earned him the title of Imperial Preceptor. In this unprecedented role, he became the first Tibetan lama to serve as spiritual guide to the Mongol Empire, establishing a "priest-patron" relationship that would influence Asian geopolitics for centuries.
Under Kublai Khan's patronage, Phakpa was appointed as temporal and spiritual ruler of Tibet, unifying the region under enlightened governance. During this period, he created a new script for writing Mongolian and other languages, developed innovative administrative systems, and oversaw the construction and restoration of numerous monasteries throughout Tibet and China.
Despite his political responsibilities, Phakpa remained a scholar of the highest caliber and a realized master. He authored influential commentaries on both sutra and tantra, including essential works on the Hevajra practice. His perfect balance of worldly engagement and spiritual attainment exemplifies the Sakya tradition's approach to bringing Buddhist principles into all aspects of life.
By sponsoring this statue, you establish a connection with this remarkable master whose legacy demonstrates how wisdom and compassion can transform political institutions and foster harmony between diverse cultures and traditions.
Your contribution honors Drogon Choegyal Phakpa's enduring impact and supports the Sakya Temple of Peace - may all the masters wishes be fulfilled.
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!
