Gyalsé Tokmé Zangpo

Gyalsé Ngulchu Tokmé or Tokmé Zangpo (1297-1371), was born in Puljung, south west of the great Sakya monastery. He was born in the Wood Sheep year of the fifth sexagenary cycle. An extremely learned scholar, he studied an infinite number of teachings from all traditions. His every instant was devoted to the Dharma which he spread through composition, teaching and debate. Particularly he is the author of the famed Thirty seven practices of all bodhisattvas and a commentary on the Bodhicharyavatara which Patrul Rinpoche would often take as a basis for teaching the text. He could teach with total confidence on any subject or text. Also, he was able fully to take upon himself the suffering of others and to give them his wellbeing, and without any expectation as to the result, he was extremely generous to all, particularly the poor, the destitute and the suffering. He met buddhas and deities such as Avalokiteshvara and Tara face to face. He taught many of the greatest teachers of his time in Central Tibet, such as Khenchen Lochen Changchup Tsemo (1303-1380), Butön Rinchen Drup (1290-1364), great Sakya masters and so on. He passed away at the age of 74 amidst wondrous signs of realization.

• For a more extensive biography see The Heart of Compassion, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications, 2007, pp.11-26, and see p.232 for a list of his works.