The Saskya Sect

The Saskya Sect came into existence in the 11th century. the Sect's Doctrines have been handed down for generations by the Kun clan. Kun means "hostility"in Tibetan. The clan has hen eulogized as the living Buddha. the founders of the temple comprise Kun-dga'-snyyingpo, Grags-pa-rgyal-mtshan, Sa-pan Kun-dgav-rgyal-mtshan, bSo-nam-rtse-mo and Phags-pa. They made great contributions to developing the Saskya Sect and dissemination Tibetan Buddhism doctrines. Their works have been compiled into the Complete Works of the Five founders of the Saskya Sect, valuable Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. Sa-pan, among the most eminent monks, was in good command of Ten Virtues and famous for his Motto of Saskya Sect that vividly expounds Buddhist values. The sect lends importance to the Path and Its Fruit doctrine in addition to Holder of the Thunderbolt and Time-wheel Diamond sutras. The Time-wheel Diamond Sutra serves as an important branch of Tibetan Buddhism.
In the 13th century, the influence of the sect was so strong that it played a dominant role in the social life of the Yuan court. Both Sa-pan and Phags-pa contributed to the consolidation of the Yuan Empire and played integral roles in the development of the Saskya Sect. Phags-pa was respected by Emperor Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty and was honored Master of the Yuan Empire. He was worshipped by locals wherever he went, as though he were the living Buddha himself. His Phags-pa Script has been popular throughout Mongolia and has played an important role in promoting cultural and social progress in Mongolia.
Unlike other Buddhists, the Saskya Sect followers are allowed to get married. The men are not allowed to approach women after they have children, though. Monks wear red hoods in the shape of lotuses and red robes.
The ancestral Saskya Monastery was built on the gray-white land in the Chongqu River Valley. The walls of the monastery are painted with tri-color pattern of red, white and black. The Saskya Monastery houses more than 10,000 titles of scriptures and classic exquisitely written by famous calligraphers from all over Tibet in gold, silver, cinnabar and diamond inks. The monastery is noted for a "Square Scripture" that measures one meter high and one meter wide. Written with gold ink, the scripture is the most valuable among Buddhist treasures. The monastery houses more that 40,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures and texts.
In 1550, the Saskya Sect set up the Dege Buddhist Press in Sichuan Province's Dege that specializes in prinying Tibetan Buddhism scriptures, important works of different religious schools, and books on calendar systems and medical science. The press plays a positive role in protecting and developing culture of Tibetan Buddhism.