Tulku Tsultrim Zangpo
Tsultrim Zangpo (tshul khrims bzang po 1884-c.1957*), also known as Tulku Tsullo, 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.
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 (shugs ‘byung) monastery in the Do Valley, which is located about 15 to 20 miles from Dodrupchen Monastery and which belongs to the Northern Treasures (byang gter) tradition. He also spent time at Khordong monastery, which was under the care of his younger brother, Gyurme Dorje.
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.
He was the root teacher of Khordong Tertrul Chime Rigdzin, popularly known as C.R. Lama (1922-2002).
*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.