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BRIEF BIOGRAPHY BEFORE ARRIVAL AT SAKYA DOLMA PHODRANG

Dagmo Kalden Dunkyi Sakya was born on the 29th of June, 1978, in Kalimpong, India, in the year of the Earth Horse. During her years of schooling in India she participated in many extra-curricular activities including Athletics, Swimming, Elocution, Dramatics and Editor of the school newsletter. Often chosen as Captain and Prefect of her classes and teams, she also received many prizes both for her scholastic and her athletic abilities, including the prize for the “All Round ‘Best’ Girl” in her final year of school.

After schooling in India she went on to complete her higher education in the USA, where she graduated with Cum Laude Honors in Psychology in 2002. A Dean’s List student and Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society) member, she also was an active volunteer during her college years, often visiting old people’s homes, serving food to the homeless and visiting sick children. In 2001,while on vacation at home in Kathmandu, she spent a whole summer at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, often getting down on her knees to help the sisters in looking after the abandoned senior citizens there.

That same summer there was a very private ceremony of engagement to His Eminence Ratna Vajra Sakya, who met her for the first time! She was asked to join Sakya Dolma Phodrang as consort to the eldest son of HH the Sakya Trizin the very next year. The process of selecting a consort was carried out according to the long-standing Sakya tradition of great secrecy when choosing and welcoming a consort.

Following the ancient Sakya tradition, before being considered as a consort, numerous inquiries are made after the girl’s family and background. Background is considered very important as the Sakya lineage is such a noble one. Next, inquiries are also made into the girl’s personal background since many individual qualities have to be present. Finally when all preconditions are fulfilled, her name is put into an urn along with other potential names in a unique method of divination performed by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin.

Thus, it was Dagmo Kalden’s name that leapt out first before His Holiness. Even after this, detailed astrological charts testing for compatibility were studied before the matrimony was finalized. Lastly, numerous arrangements were made to prepare for Dagmo Kalden’s arrival to her new home—all performed in great secrecy to ward off misfortune, ill-wishes and obstacles. The next year another private ceremony took place for close family members and the holy matrimony was blessed by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin.

As news of the new addition to the family spread, blessings and well wishes poured in from all over the world. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave his personal blessings and presented a precious “thangka” during a private audience soon after the wedding. Their Eminences Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and Luding Khenchen Rinpoche too blessed the couple with their prayers and good wishes as did all lamas of all the sub-schools of the Sakya tradition…a truly auspicious beginning.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

FATHER Dagmo Kusho’s father, Lhundup Topden, comes from a prosperous Markham business family called Tsatultsang, close relatives of the famous Pandatsang family, the wealthiest Tibetan business family in pre-’59 Tibet, and a great patron of the Sakyas. On her paternal grandmother’s side she is related to the Lhagyari noble family, recognized by the Tibetans as the direct descendents of the great Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo.

MOTHER Dagmo Kusho’s mother, Yangchen Dolkar, comes from the well known Tehor family of Sadutshang, said to be second to the Pandatsang’s in wealth in pre-’59 Tibet. On her maternal grandmother’s side she is related to the 5th Reting Rinpoche (her grandmother’s uncle), who recognized the present 14th Dalai Lama and brought him to Lhasa to be enthroned. From her mother’s side she is also first cousin to Talung Shabdrung Rinpoche of the Ghazi lineage and ancient Dokar Ragasha family, descendents of one of the first six original families of Tibet, known in Tibetan as ‘Miwoo dung duk’.

RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS Dagmo Kusho is also related to several other incarnate lamas of various sects, among whom are the late Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, one of the four regents of the late16th Karmapa, Drikung Chungtsang Rinpoche, who is second to Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche, Yutra Rinpoche of the Drikung Kagyu sect, Gyalton Rinpoche of the Karma Kagyu sect and more distantly, to Dema Lochoe Rinpoche, the eminent Gelug lama.

TIBETAN GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS On her mother’s side relatives have faithfully served the Government of HH the Dalai Lama, starting with her maternal grandfather, Kungo Rinchen Sadutshang, who was an official in the Foreign Office of independent Tibet, pre-1959, and who later became a Kalon or Minister of the exile Government in Dharamsala. Her late maternal aunt’s husband, Kungo Tashi Wangdi, served as Minister for three terms and is presently the Representative of the Dalai Lama’s exile Government in Brussels. Her maternal uncle, Dr. Tsetan Sadutshang, is personal physician to HH the Dalai Lama. Her maternal great uncle, Lobsang Nyendak, was one of the first People’s Deputies in the Parliament of the fledging exile Government. He was also earlier one of the original leaders of the Khampa resistance movement based in Lokha, Tibet, called ‘Chushi Gang duk’. Her eldest great uncle, Lobsang Gedun, assembled and led a group of brave, armed Khampa attendants and provided voluntary security to HH the Dalai Lama when he fled to Yatung in 1951. Likewise, he again led a group and defended the Norbu Lingka palace when the Chinese soldiers shelled it in March 1959. He gave up his life in the process.

This brief biography of Her Eminence was compiled and requested by Kunga Geleg, with information from her mother, YangDol Tsatultsang.