It takes imagination, and even courage to envision a path forward to serving the Dharma in an unconventional way. Great women have always been part of the Buddhist tradition. Institutions of the Dharma consist of a transcendent dimension as well as a worldly one. The latter is inevitably marked by the tides of human history, culture, and imperfections, and as a result, down the millennia, female Buddhist leaders have always envisioned and paved their own paths of leadership.
In the modern world, one of these women is Dagmo Dunkyi Kalden of Sakya Center in Dehra Dun. The Sakya Center is the current seat of the Sakya school, which was founded by Dagmo-la’s father-in-law, HH the 41st Sakya Trizin. She would not like to be known solely as the inheritor of the Sakya school’s ancient, contiguous inheritance, and although that remains part of her identity, she has expanded her public persona into one that supports worthy causes, advocates for humanitarian help across the Himalayas, and documents the Sakya’s contemporary place among the four great schools of Vajrayana.
As a journalist of religion, I have followed Dagmo-la and her family’s travels and activities for over a year. While she might hesitate to use the word “influencer,” she is most certainly an amplifier of positive energy. And as a frequent user of social media, she has a wide reach and curates and shares her work with her many followers (I count circa 27,000 followers on Facebook and nearly 22,000 on Instagram). At times, she might amplify local activities and events that otherwise would go unknown to many of her followers. For example, in October 2024, she attended an Inter-School Literary and Cultural Meet at Sambhota Tibetan School in Tenzingaon (Arunachal Pradesh). She sees the school’s high standards of Tibetan and debating lessons as part of a crucial aspect of all-rounded education, which, in her words, led to confidence and leadership in the students.
With authenticity and genuine connection, Dagmo-la helps to document, often in real time, the journey of her family members – in particular, her children, who represent the future of the Khön clan and therefore the Sakya school itself. There are three assuming critical responsibilities: Jetsunma Kunga Trinley Palter, Dungsey Akasha Vajra Rinpoche, and Jetsunma Kunga Chimey Wangmo Sakya. Dagmo-la is particularly proud of how each of them will be, as the website Paramita describes, “tradition sustainers,” which means “taking on the protection and expansion of teachings through the creation of convents and monasteries, and through the spiritual training of nuns, monks, and the community of lay followers.” (Paramita)
Dagmo-la is presently occupied with overseeing the training and education of her children, all three of whom must undergo rigorous training Buddhist philosophy, the sacred languages of Sanskrit and Tibetan, along with Hindi, Chinese, Nepali, and more. They also accompany their mother in engaging in charitable and community initiatives in Dehra Dun and other Himalayan areas. Perhaps this is self-evident (but worth reminding society), but motherhood is a form of unacknowledged leadership as well. Beyond the banter of the mum being the boss of the household, the steerer of a family’s domestic or inner circle, Dagmo-la’s family-oriented profiles on social media reflect a keen awareness and embrace of her karmic responsibilities in the Sakya institution.
Beyond the growth of these three young, future leaders, there is much more that the Sakya school needs to be a part of: the ongoing conversation between the problems of young people and enduring Dharma values, the preservation of Vajrayana material culture and heritage, and how Buddhism can contribute to peace in an increasingly volatile world. Given her considerable experience in supporting local causes and amplifying the voices of the Tibetan community in India, what callings could lie ahead for this family woman, this leader of the Khön family’s future?
See more
Jetsunma Kunga Trinley Palter: an upcoming leader in the Sakya Tradition
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Community, Calling, and Connection: A Conversation with Dagmo Kalden Dunkyi Sakya
