Within the Sakya tradition, spiritual authority is expressed above all through the figure of the Sakya Trizin, the “throne holder,” whose role embodies both the doctrinal heritage and the living practice of the school. The position is held within the Khön family, and in recent times it has been understood that more than one Sakya Trizin can remain an active spiritual force even after a formal transition of the throne. Thus, leadership is not a simple matter of succession alone, but a shared continuity of guidance and blessing.

Among the principal leaders is Sakya Trizin Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, recognized as a central throne holder of the tradition. His role represents the ongoing vitality of the Sakya lineage, in which the integration of sutra and tantra is not merely a historical achievement but a present, guiding reality. Alongside him, Sakya Trizin Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, who previously held the throne for many years, continues to function as a principal spiritual leader, sustaining the depth and breadth of the school’s teachings.

This shared leadership can be seen as a living expression of the Sakya understanding of lineage: not a single thread, but a woven fabric of realized masters who uphold the same transmission. The presence of both a current throne holder and a former one, still active in teaching and spiritual guidance, reflects a model in which authority is transmitted without being exhausted. In this way, the Sakya school maintains a balance between formal succession and enduring spiritual influence, allowing its leaders to serve as complementary embodiments of the same profound tradition.