Tulku Tsultrim Zangpo

Tulku Tsultrim Zangpo (Wyl. tshul khrims bzang po) aka Tulku Tsullo (Wyl. sprul sku tshul lo) (1884-c.1957^[1]) — one of the greatest Tibetan scholars of recent times, was an important student of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, as well as the author of his secret biography and a lineage-holder of his terma teachings. He was also a student of the Third Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima and of Amye Khenpo Damchö Özer of Dodrupchen Monastery. Khenpo Damchö said of him on one occasion, “I am just a dog, but I have a lion for a student.” Although it was notoriously difficult to meet Dodrup Jikmé Tenpé Nyima in his later years, Tsullo was able to do so because of his work as a scribe. He copied many texts for Dodrupchen Rinpoche’s personal library and used the work as an opportunity to get access to Rinpoche and to receive clarifications.

Tsultrim Zangpo’s father was Gönpo Wangyal and his mother was Shyiwam Tso, daughter of Khordong Terchen Nüden Dorje. His main residence was at Shukjung Monastery in the Do Valley, which is located about 15 to 20 miles from Dodrupchen Monastery and which belongs to the Northern Treasures tradition. He also spent time at Khordong Monastery, which was under the care of his younger brother, Gyurme Dorje.

Those who saw him say that he looked statuesque, seated in meditation posture, hardly ever moving, and with an impressive white beard.

He was the root teacher of Khordong Tertrul Chime Rigdzin, popularly known as C.R. Lama (1922-2002), as well as Tulku Gyenlo and Zhichen Öntrul, who passed away recently in Tibet.

He had two main reincarnations, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche of Nango Gonpa Trango and Tulku Lungtok.

Writings

Tsultrim Zangpo was a monk who upheld the Vinaya, as well as an accomplished tantric adept, and among his writings is a two-volume commentary on Ngari Panchen’s Ascertainment of the Three Types of Vows (sdom gsum rnam nges), as well as several texts on Dzogchen, including an instruction manual (khrid yig) for the Gongpa Zangthal, which has been translated into English by Tulku Thondup, and a commentary on the famous Prayer of Kuntuzangpo. His other writings include a commentary to Padmasambhava’s Garland of Views and many works related to the tantras of the New Translation tradition.

His unpublished commentary on Jikmé Lingpa's Treasury of Precious Qualities, based on teachings by Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima, was recently discovered in Tibet.

Volume ka

kun bzang dgongs pa zang thal gyi khrid yig skal bzang re skong (148 pages)
phag mo zab rgya'i dmigs khrid gsang khrid gsal ba'i lde mig (42 pages)
kun bzang smon lam gyi rnam bshad kun bzang nye lam (28 pages)

Volume kha

bla ma gsang ba 'dus pa'i sgrub thabs kyi bshad pa sbas don blta ba'i mig 'byed (32)
tshe sgrub bdud rtsi 'khyil ba'i sgrub thabs kyi rnam bshad byin rlabs sprin phung dngos grub rol mtsho (109)
khrid yig kun bzang dgongs rgyan (39)
man ngag lta ba'i phreng ba'i bsdus 'grel blo gros 'dab stod 'byed pa'i nyi snang (54)
lta ba'i rim pa'i man ngag gi 'grel tshig gzhung don rab gsal rin chen phreng mdzes (42)

Volume ga

rig 'dzin rtsa sgrub kyi dmigs khrid padma'i dgongs rgyan rin chen phreng mdzes (119)
phur pa phrin las 'bring po'i rnam bshad tshig don gnad 'byed sgron ma'i phreng ba (81)
lha brag phur pa'i tshogs sgrub dang 'brel ba'i bsnyen sgrub mdor bsdus (13)
gu ru'i zab gter phur pa yang gsang khros pa'i rnam bshad rin chen gter gyi sgron ma (32)
thabs lam dbang bzhi'i rim pa gsang chen kun 'dus kyi tshig don gsal byed bdud rtsi'i rgyun bzang (32)

Volume nga

gter chen dpa' bo las rab gling pa phrin las mtha' yas rtsal gyi rnam par thar pa rmad byung ngo mtshar padma dkar po'i phreng ba (363)
gsang 'dzin dpa' bo dgyes rab rdo rje rtsal lam mgon po dbang gi rgyal po'i rnam thar ngo mtshar dad pa'i 'khri shing (71)
gsang rnam dad pa'i 'jug ngogs (4)
blo sbyong sbyor ba bdun ma'i dmigs khrid zab lam sgo 'byed (115)
sngon 'gro rin po che gnad kyi gzer lnga'i tshig don legs par ston pa rin po che'i them skas kun bzang myur lam (91)

Volume ca

sdom gsum rnam nges kyi rnam bshad paN chen dgongs pa rab gsal bE D'ur dkar po'i 'od snang skal bzang 'jug ngogs kyi snga dum (401)

Volume cha

de'i phyi dum byang sngags man (??)
gsang 'dus rim lnga'i bshad pa (16)
bde mchog las gsungs pa'i rim lnga'i bshad pa (4)
kye rdor gyi bshad pa (2)
sa skya'i lugs srol kyi lam 'bras kyi bshad pa (5)
gsang ba 'dus pa'i lugs kyi rtsa rlung thig le'i rnam bzhag (8)
pdal dus kyi 'khor lo'i rdzogs rim sbyor ba drug gi rnam bshad lha'i rgyud mang (14)
steng sgo'i lam gnad cung zad bshad pa gsal byed 'od snang sgron me (7)
sgyu 'phrul lugs kyi tshe 'dir 'phags lam bgrod tshul(5)
ma yin dgag gi rigs gshegs snying (4)
gzhi bdun gyi dpyad pa (4)
rang bzhin rdzogs pa chen po'i gzhi lam 'bras bu'i rim pa (5)
gzhi lhun grub kyi 'char tshul brgyad kyi rnam bzhag (3)
lhun sgrub rin po che'i sbub gsum (8)
rang bzhin brgyad cu'i bshad pa (12)
gzhi kho na'i 'gros dang sbyar ba'i dam tshig (1)
sems khrid kyi skor tshan gsum (31)

Volume ja

rigs 'dus bla ma'i sgrub thabs byin rlabs dngos grub gter mdzod (5)
rigs 'dus bla ma'i sgrub thabs kyi dmigs rim (3)
rigs 'dzin bla ma'i sgrub thabs dngos grub gter mdzod byin rlabs sprin ster (1)
rigs 'dzin bla ma'i rnal 'byor byin rlabs char 'bebs (2)
rje nyid kyi gsol 'debs sogs tshun la (18)
gu ru'i mchod chog byin rlabs myur stsol (8)
thang rgyal sgrub thabs byin rlabs dngos grub gter mdzod (11)
zab sgrub 'phrul gyi lde mig (8)
rje btsun sgrol ma ljang sngon kyi sgrub thabs byin rlabs char 'bebs (2)
mkha' 'gro seng gdong ma'i bdag bskyed phrin las myur mgyogs (1)
ma yam bstan ma'i gsol mchod (1)
chu rgyud gsol mchod dregs pa dgyes pa'i sgra dbyangs (1)
g.yang 'gugs 'dod don 'gugs pa'i lcags kyu bsam 'phel dbang rgyal (1)
glu bsang 'dod rgu char 'bebs (2)
rab tu gnas byed kyi cho ga (1)
tshe thar byed thabs kyi bden tshig (1)
man skul phan yon dang bcas (6)
'pho ba (1)
gu ru mtshan brgyad kyi rnam bshad mdzad pa bcu gcig (14)
'jam dbyang bstod pa gang blo ma'i 'grel ba ma rig mun sel ye shes snang ba'i sgron ma (15)
sgrol ma'i rnam bshad shel dkar phreng mdzes (24)
ye shes mkha' 'gro mtsho rgyal ma'i dmigs rim (10)
mkha' 'gro dgongs 'dus las yum ka gsang ba ye shes kyi lha sngags lam byed kyi bsnyen yig rin chen me tog rgyan phreng (21)
mkha' 'gro gsang mdzod las rgyud rgyal rtogs pa ye shes lhun grub kyi dgongs don gsal byed zab lam gnad 'byed gsal ba'i sgron ma (26)
zab don mkha' 'gro gsang mdzod las rdo rje rnal 'byor ma'i sgrub thabs kyi bsnyen yig sbas don kun gsal (13)
tshogs kyi sgrub pa'i las rim (5)
bstan rgyas smon lam gyi Da'kki yig bzhin 'dod 'jo phan bde dga' ston (22)
phun tshogs lnga la (6)

Volume nya

tshig bdun rnam 'grel byin rlabs sprin ster (9)
gu ru'i gsol 'debs thugs dam gnad bskul gyi 'grel ba (4)
mdzad pa bcu gnyis kyi 'grel ba mkhas pa'i mgul rgyan mu tig phreng mdzes (53)
'phags pa gnas brtan rnams kyi rtogs brjod nyung gsal dad pa'i 'khri shing (11)
dngos grub myur stsol bkra shis mi rgan gyi 'bel gtam thos pas yid 'phrog dad pa'i 'khri shing (4)
bden bzhi'i rnam bzhag thar 'dod 'jug ngogs mkhas pa'i dga' ston (25)
bden gnyis kyi rnam bshad rin chen sgron me (13)
bden gnyis kyi rnam bzhag legs nyes 'byed pa'i snang ba (24)
skyabs rigs pas sgrub tshul bstan pa mun sel nges shes sgron ma (12)
dbu ma thal 'gyur ba'i lugs kyi tshad ma'i rnam bzhag (10)
dbu ma'i thal ba bzlog pa'i bshad pa kun gsal sgron me'i phreng ba (21)
bde chen zhing smon 'dun (4)
theg mchog lam gyi rim pa dran nyams gso ba'i bdud rtsi bE d'u ra dkar po'i 'od snang (14)
thun min lam gnad legs dbu'i dpal 'dzom yid bzhin dbang rgyal (2)
byang gter bka' dbang spyi la sbyor rung gi lo rgyus gsal ba'i me long (12)
lo rgyus dad pa'i 'khri shing yid dbang 'gugs byed (11)
bla ma rig 'dzin yongs rdzogs las rab 'byams bka' dbang gi lo rgyus gsal ba'i sgron ma (6)
byang gter 'gro ba kun grol gyi lo rgyus yid ches dang ba 'dren pa'i rab gsal me long (9)
bka' dbang spyi la sbyor rung gi mtshams sbyar (12)
'jam dpal gshin rje tshe bdag gi dbang gi lo rgyus mun sel sgron ma (6)
las gshin ki kaM gi dmigs khrid (6)
rab gnas rnam bshad nyung gsal sgron ma'i phreng ba (12)
bsregs blugs tshig zin gsal ba'i me long (7)
sbyang chog (15)
cha gsum (3)
gdangs dbyangs rol mo'i rnal 'byor log rtog sel ba'i rtsi sman byin rlabs dngos grub char rgyun (10)
mchod bzhengs (4)
gar 'cham (7)
byang gter bla ma brgyud pa'i rim pa (12)
dbyar gnas pa'i dge 'dun nang khrims (6)
thub bstan chos 'khor gling gi bca' khrims gsal byed shel gyi me long (10)
gsang sngags shugs 'byung dgon gyi 'dus sde yongs kyi bca' yig legs nyes gsal ba'i me long dran shes 'dren pa'i lcags kyu (7)
dge 'dun sgrigs lam rnam bzhag rnam dbye gsal ba'i me long (4)

Notes

↑ The birth year of 1884 is given in Tulku Thondup's Masters of Meditation and Miracles. According to the Khordong monastery website he died at the age of seventy-three. We know that he wrote the secret biography of Tertön Sogyal in 1942.

External Links

TBRC Profile

[1] The birth year of 1884 is given in Tulku Thondup's Masters of Meditation and Miracles. According to the Khordong monastery website he died at the age of seventy-three. We know that he wrote the secret biography of Tertön Sogyal in 1942.

[1]