H.H. the Sakya Trizin is considered second only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the spiritual hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness was born into the noble Khon family, upholders of the Sakya religious tradition for over nine hundred years. His Holiness is distinguished among the great Lamas by the vast amount of teachings he has received. His Holiness spends most of his time practicing the Dharma, and has completed many solitary retreats. His Holiness has also taught extensively both in Asia and the West, generously bestowing his wisdom for the benefit of living beings through such major sets of initiations and instructions as the Collection of Tantras, Collection of Sadhanas, and the Path and its Result (Lam-Dre).

In short, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin upholds the entire Buddhist doctrine and has caused it to flourish far and wide, throughout the world. He has been an unfailing source of wisdom and compassion for all of his Dharma students.

"Many people are now interested in the Buddha's teachings and it is very important for them to study properly in order to follow the Dharma correctly. In the IBA our aim is to give the facilities to those foreigners who are interested in studying the Buddha's teachings. It is our wish that the IBA will become a great learning center where foreigners can come and study, contemplate, and meditate, so that eventually they will be able to accomplish the great realization."

The late Most Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche was the founder of the International Buddhist Academy. Rinpoche studied under outstanding masters, including Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, Deshung Ajam Rinpoche and Dragyab Lodro.  He taught in several distinguished institutions in Tibet and India, before coming to Nepal, where he began the work of establishing the International Buddhist Academy. The IBA is dedicated to making the great Buddhist tradition of rigorous scholarship and soundly-based practice accessible to international scholars. Rinpoche was renowned for the precision, vastness and inspirational power of his teachings. His detailed knowledge of vast numbers of commentarial texts has made him a precious, and greatly-missed treasury of the Buddha's teachings. 

"The main objective of sentient beings in this universe is to avoid suffering and obtain happiness. This objective can only be partially and temporarily realized through worldly methods. Only the Dharma can eradicate all suffering and accomplish permanent happiness. So it is essential to practice the Dharma. For this, it is important to first study and contemplate. Since many people in this age are interested in Tibetan Buddhism, I founded the IBA with the hope that they can study the Dharma and that it will flourish worldwide."