Khondung Gyana Vajra was born on the 5th of July 1979 in Dehra Dun, U.P. India. During his childhood, he along with his elder brother, Khondung Ratna Vajra, studied religious texts, reading, writing, grammar, memorization of important prayers and rituals under the tutorship of Venerable Rinchen Sangpo.He then joined Sakya Centre, the main monastery and seat of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, where he learned all the basic rituals and prayers for few years. Following the completion of his studies and training at Sakya Centre he joined Sakya College and furthered his studies in Buddhist philosophy for next five years.

During his college life; he often participated in various religious ceremonies held annually at Sakya Centre. He has received numerous major initiations and also many common and uncommon teachings from His Holiness. He has also accompanied His Holiness

during many of his teaching tours throughout India and abroad. After five years of study at Sakya College, he sought leave from the college to fulfill his other religious duties and presently resides at Sakya Centre.

At present he has taken the initiative of setting up Sakya Academy Project. The principle aim of the Sakya Academy is of course to impart the young novices a very good Buddhist education and preservation and dissemination of the precious dharma teachings of Lord Buddha.

Another aim is to keep alive the unique teachings and tradition of the Sakyapa masters, so that they are preserved for the generations to come who will benefit from this vast treasury of Dharma. Apart from that, a curriculum that will also enable the young monks to learn math, sciences and other relevant subjects. The academy will provide the young novices a modern education that will help them relate to the outside world and make sure that their Buddhist learning is relevant to it. At its completion, the academy will also have facilities like a library that houses Buddhist canons and modern works of literature and sciences and computer.

Source: Sakya Centre