His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin at SIBA
and Canberra in March 2026
A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity
We welcome a rare visit of the current throne holder of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Regarded as a living Buddha, we invite you to participate in an incredible series of empowerments and practices with His Holiness in celebration of our new temple, the Sakya Temple Of Peace.
About His Holiness 43rd Sakya Trizin
As the younger son of His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Trichen, His Holiness Gyana Vajra Rinpoche is the current Head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in India, His Holiness was raised and trained under the watchful eyes of His Holy Father His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Trichen and completed the full monastic education at Sakya College and Sakya Centre, as well as completing major meditation retreats.
Among his many important noble Dharma activities in India and Nepal, His Holiness is the founder of the Sakya Academy in Dehra Dun. In 2021, He was enthroned as the 43rd Sakya Trizin at the Sakya Monastery in Puruwala. His Holiness is constantly travelling and teaching around the world for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Five Day Retreat with HH 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche
- SIBA RETREAT CENTRE, W Tree, Victoria
- 17 - 22 March 2026
For the full 5 day SIBA Event – click here >
For the 2 day Hevajra Cause empowerment only – click here >
It is our great good fortune that we have the opportunity to host a very special five-day retreat consisting of empowerments, teachings and Dharma activities with His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin in the beautiful, peaceful environment of SIBA Retreat Centre in East Gippsland, Victoria.
His Holiness will bestow the Vajrasattva and Green Tara empowerments (18 & 19 March) followed by a Two-Day Hevajra Cause Empowerment (20 & 21 March) and the Red Tara empowerment (22 March).
As part of this five-day retreat, there will also be daily teachings, guided Sadhana meditations and practice sessions with Lama Choedak Rinpoche. You will have ample time to have a relaxing retreat to be close to nature with likeminded people.
All the events at SIBA Retreat Centre require bookings for catering and accommodation purposes.
Vajrasattva Empowerment
18 March 2026
Vajrasattva – whose name means “Diamond Being” – is one of the most universally revered deities in Tibetan Buddhism. This practice is considered among the most powerful methods for purifying negative karma accumulated over countless lifetimes.
Receiving the Vajrasattva empowerment from a living lineage master such as His Holiness is an extraordinarily precious opportunity. The 100 syllable mantra of Vajrasattva is said to be so potent that even hearing it just once creates an imprint that will eventually lead to liberation.
Whether you are new to Tibetan Buddhism or an experienced practitioner, receiving the Vajrasattva empowerment is a deeply transformative blessing – one that clears the way for future Vajrayana practice and serves to open your heart to boundless compassion and wisdom. Don’t miss this precious opportunity!
This empowerment is included in the 5-Day SIBA Event. Click the button below to secure your place:
Green Tara Empowerment
19 March 2026
In Tibetan Buddhism, Tara is known simply as “the Mother” – the protector who rapidly responds to beings in need with unconditional compassion. According to tradition, she was born from a tear of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who wept upon beholding the vast suffering of all sentient beings. From that single tear arose Tara – compassion made manifest, vowing to work tirelessly for the liberation of all until samsara itself is stopped.
Of all the forms of Tara, Green Tara is the most practiced and well known. Seated in a posture of readiness with one foot extended, she is always poised to rise and come to the aid of those who call upon her. This quality of swift compassion has made her one of the most cherished figures in the Tibetan tradition for centuries – a presence that practitioners across generations have turned to in times of fear, hardship and uncertainty.
Receiving the Green Tara empowerment directly from His Holiness opens the door to her blessings for yourself and those around you. For those new to Tibetan Buddhism, she is a profound and accessible entry point into the world of Vajrayana Buddhism. For seasoned practitioners, receiving this empowerment from His Holiness is an opportunity to refresh and deepen your practice. You will receive a Sadhana practice of Green Tara.
This empowerment is included in the 5-Day SIBA Event. Click the button below to secure your place:
Two-Day Hevajra Cause Empowerment
20 – 21 March 2026
At the very heart of the Sakya tradition stands Hevajra – the principal deity of the lineage, and the foundation upon which the most important cycle of Sakya teachings, the Lamdre, is built. Lamdre, meaning “the Path and its Result,” is regarded as the crown jewel of the Sakya school: a complete map of the path to enlightenment, from the most basic preliminaries all the way to the final realisation of Buddhahood. Its origins trace back to the 7th century Indian Mahasiddha Virupa, who received the entirety of this teaching directly from Vajra Nairatmya, Hevajra’s wisdom consort, in a series of profound visionary transmissions. Virupa then transmitted these teachings through an unbroken lineage that passed eventually to Tibet, where it was received and preserved by all the Sakya masters and has remained at the core of the tradition ever since.
The Hevajra Cause Empowerment is a major two-day initiation that serves as the essential gateway into Hevajra practice. In the traditional language of Tibetan Buddhism, it plants the seed. Without the right conditions, even the most perfect seed cannot germinate – and this empowerment is precisely what creates those conditions in the practitioner’s mindstream, authorising and empowering one’s engagement with Hevajra’s practice and with the deeper levels of the Lamdre teachings. It is considered a prerequisite for anyone wishing to engage with the higher practices of the Sakya Tradition.
The Hevajra Cause Empowerment is rarely offered in Australia, and receiving it from His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin – himself a living lineage holder of this unbroken transmission – is an extraordinarily auspicious opportunity that practitioners on our continent may not encounter again for many years. It is imperative that you attend both days of this empowerment. It is an opportunity of a lifetime!
You will have the choice either to do a short daily Sadhana practice or at least make a daily commitment to recite its mantra. Once being initiated you will be eligible to attend further teachings and retreats on Hevajra practice.
The Red Tara Empowerment
22 March 2026
Of the twenty-one forms of Tara venerated in Tibetan Buddhism, Red Tara is the embodiment of magnetism and transformative power. Fiery and luminous, she dances in a posture of dynamic energy, wielding a flower-tipped bow and arrow that she uses to draw all circumstances toward the path of awakening. Her colour, red, is the colour of magnetising – of drawing forth what is beneficial, auspicious and life-giving.
Red Tara’s practice is traditionally associated with the power to attract positive conditions: harmonious relationships, favourable circumstances, and the opening of hearts and minds to the Dharma.
Receiving her empowerment from His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin is a rare and auspicious occasion. It is an invitation to connect with one of the most dynamic and joyful expressions of enlightened feminine energy in the Vajrayana tradition – and to carry her blessings as a living presence in your practice and daily life. You will receive the Sadhana manual on Red Tara.
This empowerment is included in the 5-Day SIBA Event. Click the button below to secure your place:
Canberra Program with HH 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche
- SAKYA LOSAL CHOE DZONG, Canberra, ACT
- 23 - 29 March 2026
In Canberra, the program with His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin will feature:
Click each link below for each event
- 23 March – a traditional Tibetan Welcome Ceremony
- 24 March – Hevajra Consecration Ceremony of the Sakya Temple of Peace
- 25 – 27 March – a special three-day Vajrakilaya Drub-cho Puja and Vajrakilaya Torma Empowerment for World Peace
- 29 March – Amitayus and Hayagriva King Tradition Long-Life Empowerment
Further information is below:
Traditional Tibetan Welcome Ceremony
23 March 2026
We will welcome His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin to Canberra and the Sakya Temple of Peace with a traditional Tibetan welcoming ceremony and 16 Arhat Puja.
Hevajra Consecration Ceremony
24 March 2026
His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin will perform a Hevajra Consecration Ceremony for the new Sakya Temple of Peace in Canberra.
You can participate in this historic occasion as His Holiness will fully consecrate the new shrine and temple.
Three-Day Vajrakilaya Drub-cho Ritual for World Peace
25 – 27 March 2026
Vajrakilaya, also known as Vajrakumara, is a powerful wrathful manifestation of Vajrasattva and one of the most profound practices within the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Originating with the great master Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Vajrakilaya practice is renowned for its ability to swiftly remove obstacles, purify negativities, and transform adverse conditions into wisdom and compassion.
Within the Sakya tradition, Vajrakilaya holds a uniquely central place through the Khön lineage. Khön Lui Wangpo, an ancestor of the Khön family and minister to Emperor Trisong Detsen, received the Vajrakilaya teachings directly from Padmasambhava, establishing an unbroken transmission that continues to this day. The Khön Vajrakilaya Drubchö itself has been practiced continuously for over 450 years, preserved through generations of Sakya lineage holders.
Kyabgon the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, has upheld this sacred tradition by presiding over annual Vajrakilaya Drubchös in Asia, Europe and the United States. This will be the first-ever Khön Vajrakilaya Drub-chö in Australia, which therefore marks an exceptionally rare and auspicious occasion – an opportunity to receive the blessings of this profound practice and to connect directly with an unbroken lineage of realisation extending back to Padmasambhava himself. Sponsoring the Vajrakilaya Drub-cho will bestow you the blessings of peace, healing and prosperity.
The Amitayus and Hayagriva King Tradition Long-Life Empowerment
29 March 2026
Amitayus, the Buddha of Boundless Life, is the long-life aspect of Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. His practice is a meditative yoga for cultivating a long and meaningful life, free from untimely death and the obstacles that prevent us from completing our journey on the path.
This particular transmission descends from the lineage of the great Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo, a revered figure in the Sakya tradition who himself lived to the remarkable age of 130. It has come to be known as the “Hundred Year Long-Life Initiation,” reflecting the many practitioners across the centuries who have lived well past one hundred years through its practice.
Hayagriva is the wrathful emanation of Avalokiteshvara. His practice is particularly renowned for dispelling illness, purifying bodily obscurations arising from karmic conditions, and removing obstacles caused by unseen negative influences – making him a natural and powerful companion to the long-life practice of Amitayus. All are welcome!
Become A Benefactor - Sponsor His Holiness' Visit
To attend or sponsor the four-day event from 24 – 27 March in Canberra, we would like to introduce a traditional Buddhist way of supporting these events by requesting people to become generous benefactors either for the entire program, or for one day’s event or a part of an event.
By sponsoring the cost of this visit you will be covering costs such as airfares, food, transportation and logistics. Your generosity will empower the establishment of this traditional Buddhist activity where all give generously according to their means, enabling all people to have access to the teachings without any constraints.
Becoming a benefactor is also an excellent way to gain merit and you can dedicate this action on behalf of someone else. Supreme, Gold and Silver Benefactors will be offered free access to all the events in SIBA and Canberra.
If enough generous benefactors are found, the four-day event may be attended for free. If not, individuals will be requested to book by paying the suggested donation to secure their place. The limited seats will be offered to those who book early once registrations are open.
- Supreme benefactor: $50,000
- Gold benefactor: $15,000
- Silver benefactor: $10,000
- Bronze benefactor: $5,000
- Airfares of HH and entourage: $5,000
- Catering: $5,000
- Chairs for the gompa: $5,000
- Ground transportation: $1,200
- Suggested donation: $200 for your own lunch for four days (24 – 27 March)
If you are interested in becoming a benefactor, please contact Rachel O’Rourke at [email protected] or you can make a direct deposit into the bank account (Account name: Rongton BSB: 633 000 Account number: 128581295).
The empowerment ceremonies and events listed are open to all, and it is suggested to make a traditional offering to His Holiness at the end of the empowerment/s.
For all events open to bookings, go to our What’s On page here.
Remember to subscribe to email updates for more information about this exciting series of events.