Drupdra Khenpo Tenzin Tsultrim Rinpoche

Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche’ was born in the Hor’ region of East Tibet (Kham’), in 1968 to a Bönpo family of nomadic cattle herders. As a boy, he tended his family’s sheep and yaks, and learnt reading and writing from his grandfather. At nineteen, he entered Lungkar Monastery. During this time, Tsultrim Tenzin completed the traditional preliminary practices and studied Tibetan grammar and poetry as well as Bönpo philosophy. Tsultrim Tenzin served as umze, or chant master, for three years in the Lungkar Monastery.

At the age of twenty-five, he went to Menri’s Monastery in Central Tibet to study with Pönlob Kalzang Nyima’ from whom he received teachings on Denö Dzö’ authored by Shardza Trashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche’ (1859-1935) and the A-Thril’ Bönpo Dzogchen manual. At this time he also gained the experiential understanding of Great Perfection. 

In 1993, Tsultrim Tenzin made the arduous journey to Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, to study intensively with his root Master, Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, under whose guidance he deepened his knowledge of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. He also learnt astrology, traditional Tibetan medicine, and Sanskrit. While studying, Tsultrim Tenzin served as the monastery’s chant master for six years, and as gekhöz (disciplinarian) for three years. After completing the 14-year study programme, he passed the Geshe examination in 2001 and received his degree.

In 2002, Tsultrim Tenzin was appointed by Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche as Drubdra Khenpo – Abbot of the Meditation School – in Triten Norbutse Monastery. Since then he has been teaching Dzogchen in the meditation school there as well as giving instructions on Sutra, Tantra, Dzogchen, astrology and mandala and painting in the monastic dialectic school.

Alongside teaching, Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche practices Dzogchen meditation and Magyu tsalung, thrulkhor and tummo for two hours every morning. He sometimes travels to Tibet, China, Japan, Europe and England to teach Dzogchen, Tantra and tsalung.