Excerpts from His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche’s Visit

HELD AT KAMALASHILA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
31 March - 6 April 2026

“Of course, faith is very important but having faith with understanding will be much stronger and more stable. In these kinds of programs with empowerments and teachings, with this understanding, you will be able to change your point of view, and one may be able to say one can ‘see’ another point of view. To have that curiosity and build your curiosity, to explore this curiosity. To be able to think out of the box. These teachings will show you a different path, a different method and a whole new way of approaching our lives. The Buddha’s teachings always have many benefits, with short-term benefits, long-term benefits and ultimate benefits. The short-term benefits are that one will have a calmer life, a life without stress and anxiety, without daily suffering, for then you will understand that there is not much point in going through all these sufferings because we realise it is just made up in one’s mind.

“The long-term benefit through these understandings and practices, you can gain merit, meaning the more merit one has in this life it will be better and in future lives, for we believe in future lives, we will be born in a better place, where there is food, good weather, like Australia [everyone laughs], although not much water, but still everything is much better here. Now, physically it is important to have a good physical body to hold your mind, basically. If one is physically unwell, for example, having a terminal illness one cannot work with the mind properly.”

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“We think, oh, Khenpo is teaching, I don’t have time, one needs to have time, one basically needs to make time. Then Khenpo needs to have time, Khenpo is not in retreat, Khenpo is not travelling, there are many, many areas that need to come together, to see as a precious human life. To recognise, Khenpo is not going through any physical problems, Khenpo is also physically well, Khenpo is mentally stable [laughter from His Holiness and all in the gompa]. So, one must be healthy, stable, physically well, and then Khenpo must be as well. So, all of these factors must come together and meet at the right time. 

“Then to be able to concentrate, but not just to concentrate but also to understand, not just to understand but also to digest, for no matter how long one sits in the classroom or sits in the teaching, if one is not accepting all these things there is no point. Oh yes, Khenpo is saying all these things, but I don’t believe this or not really trust in this, then the power of the teachings will not be felt and will not gain any benefit, basically. So many things must come together. Then we consider ourselves as very lucky and value our precious life. 

“Again, in this type of situation of everything coming together, if one does not have the awareness, one needs wisdom to be able to digest Khenpo’s teachings. Relating to all students in the Himalayan Region, to gain wisdom they all practice Manjushri. For Manjushri is the combination of all the Buddha’s wisdom in all forms and shapes, this is the Manjushri practice. Almost all the children in most of the monasteries first thing in the morning, especially the younger children, they practise Manjushri’s practices. So, for then whatever practice they choose to do, it will make it easier for them to understand.

“So many things must come together, so here right now – it is coming together, for this is no less than a miracle that we are all here together. We all have jobs, families, but you have made the time, we have all come together, you are mentally stable, you are physically okay, you have come here to receive the teachings as well as Khenpo giving teachings, this is almost like one in a billion, basically. This is no less than a miracle to me, this is how I see it! 

“I think it is very important for you to see it, for the more precious you think it is the more you will be ready to accept these teachings, the more concentration you will have. If you take it all lightly and don’t care, one will not get much from it, even though you are sitting right in front. One person may think, ‘oh yes, Khenpo is giving a very precious teaching’ – then that person will gain all of the benefit. Yet a person sitting in the same class, the same room, but taking it all so lightly, will only gain so much, it is according to one’s own understanding and belief that you will gain benefit. As I said, these teachings are seen from not just solving your daily problems but giving you the ultimate – the key to the end of your suffering! Nowadays, everything is put in how much value does something have, so basically this is a multi-million dollar course, you are getting it for a very good deal [laughter]. 

“One time, I was in India speaking with some Indian Officials about so many of their most beautiful and most precious museums, it is impossible to put a price on any of these most precious artefacts. Nobody has heard of the Indian museums, yet we have heard of the French museum, the English museum, this region and other regions, because they have all put money into them. Oh this is a $50 million dollar painting – whereas I always find it quite strange that when those paintings were made, for example Picasso, when he was painting it, it was worthless, then I am told maybe 10 years or 100 years on – ‘oh Picasso is so great, his paintings worth millions’ – beyond such numbers I do not understand.”

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“With the youth of today, having a million dollar this and that, flying all over the world to see a particular museum to see some painting, people are in awe. Yet because no one has put a value on any of the artifacts in Indian museums, nobody is going there, these artifacts are just sitting behind glass, considered as low value. So, it needs to have importance. 

“Similarly, you must give importance to these teachings. Because it is not just a teaching, it can solve your immediate problem, your ultimate problem, basically giving you more than putting a number on this, it is impossible to put a number on this. How can you put a number on one’s peace, on one’s happiness? No amount of money can give you peace. It is only when you receive these teachings and when one accepts, then one digests it only then can you see the beauty of this, it is so simple. 

“I think this is a great opportunity that we are all experiencing and that Khenpo is starting these courses (The 2nd Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course and the Advanced Shedra Course), as I am very happy and appreciate Khenpo’s hard work. 

“Khenpo is one of the great masters, and I believe that when he teaches, he teaches from his experience, not from just reading. He experiences everything, for experience is what makes it valuable. If it is just a matter of reading it and then teaching it, there is little value, but with the experience, it is the best. Khenpo’s master was Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, one of THE greatest masters, not just for the Sakyas but for all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He is considered one of the best masters, and Khenpo is a student of his. So, we must remember this. Khenchen Appey Rinpoche is right here [His Holiness is looking up at the photograph of Khenchen Appey Rinpoche], for when I was little, I used to see him quite often, when we would go to the Sakya College, on special occasions. 

“Again, this is a very good opportunity for everyone to receive the teachings and to really make a difference in one’s life, for receiving initiations is one thing but receiving teachings is another great method of practising.”