Phagba (1235-1280), born as Lodro Gyaltsen, is the fifth patriarch of Sakyapa. This famous religious leader and Buddhist master is also a politician of Yuan Era. From his young days, Lodro learned from his uncle Sakya Pandita and accompanied him in a trip to Liangzhou for negotiating the submission of Tibet with Mongol's Köden. In 1251, he succeeded to the Sakya's patriarchy and got granted “Master of the State” by Yuan's Emperor Shizu in 1260. From 1264, he took charge of Supreme Control Commission (later renamed “Commission for Buddhist and Tibetan affairs”) as ordered and established a regime at Sakya. He became the “Master of Great Yuan” in 1269 and attained nirvana therein in 1280. This great monk expert in five insights (pañca-vidyā) contributed enormously to the exchange between Tibet and the inland in Yuan Era. (Damzin Tashi)

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1. The Origin of Reincarnation of Living Buddha