Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim

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Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso(1935 - 2024)

Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso is a noted scholar and teacher who was born in Eastern Tibet in 1935. After completing this early training, he spent five years wandering throughout Eastern and Central Tibet undertaking extensive solitary retreats in caves. When he reached Tsurphu Monastery, he received instruction from the head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the 16th Karmapa, who later named him a khenpo, which is a title of scholastic mastery. In 1977 he came to the West to teach Tibetan language and Buddhism. Known for his highly engaging teaching style, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso has been traveling and teaching in the West ever since, placing an emphasis on the careful training of Westerners. Some of his students include Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Lama Shenpen Hookham, Karl Brunnhölzl, and Elizabeth Callahan. (Source Accessed July, 21 2020)

Visit his official site at ktgrinpoche.org

Library Items

Audio
Buddha Nature: A Collection of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamsto's Teachings on Buddha Nature
This is a collection of audio and video recordings of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso's teachings on the topic of buddha-nature. The years in which these teachings were given currently span from 1979 to 2001. Represented are translations of his teachings (given in Tibetan) into several languages. Some talks are translated into English and French, some are translated into German, while in others the teachings are translated into English only. While not all of the translators are named, those that are include Shenpen Hookham, Jerome Edou, Ari Goldfield, and Acharya Tenpa Gyaltsen Negi.


Buddha Nature, Karma Chodrub Gyamtso Ling, 1979
Buddha Nature, Munich 1987
Buddha Nature, Karma Theksum Choling, Albany 1998
Buddha Nature, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra 1999
Buddha Nature and Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, Hawaii 1999
Buddha Nature, Karmê Chöling 2000
Buddha Nature, Dechen Chöling, 2000
Buddha Nature, Melbourne 2000
Buddha Nature, New York 2001
Buddha Nature, Hartford 2001
Buddha Nature, Florida 2001

Visit the Marpa Foundation's Digital Library of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso.
Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim. "Buddha Nature: A Collection of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamsto's Teachings on Buddha Nature. The Marpa Foundation's Digital Library of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. http://ktgr.dscloud.me/moodle/course/index.php?categoryid=25.
Book
Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra
All sentient beings, without exception, have buddha nature, the inherent purity and perfection of the mind, untouched by changing mental states. The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra, one of the "Five Treatises" said to have been dictated to Asanga by the Bodhisattva Maitreya, presents the Buddha's definitive teachings on how we should understand this ground of enlightenment and clarifies the nature and qualities of buddhahood. This seminal text details with great clarity the view which forms the basis for Vajrayana, and especially Mahamudra, practice. Thus it builds a bridge between the Sutrayana and the Vajrayana levels of the Buddha's teaching, elaborated here in Jamgön Kongtrül's commentary. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
Fuchs, Rosemarie, trans. Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra. By Arya Maitreya. Written down by Arya Asanga. With a commentary by Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé ('jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas) "The Unassailable Lion's Roar," and explanations by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamsto Rinpoche. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 2000.
Book
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness (2016)
The text presents a series of meditation practices on a particular aspect of the Buddha's teachings. They begin with one's rather coarse understanding and progresses through increasingly subtle stages until one arrives at complete and perfect understanding. (Source: back cover)
Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim. Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness. Translated by Shenpen Hookham. San Bernardino, CA: Shrimala Trust, 2016.
Article
Shentong – An Introduction
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche gives a brief explanation of the way relative appearances and experiences are empty of self, rang-stong, and the way true reality is empty of other, gzhan-stong.
Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim. "Shentong – An Introduction." Instructions presented at Vajra Vidya Thrangu House in Oxford. Translated by Ari Goldfield and transcribed and edited by Gaby Hollmann, 2000. http://www.dharmadownload.net/pages/english/Natsok/0010_Teaching_English/Teaching_English_0010.htm.
Book
The Changeless Nature
Lord Buddha taught the dharma in three main phases of teaching called the three dharmachakras or the three 'turnings of the wheel of dharma'. The first dharmachakra expounded the 'Four Truths of the Realised', the 'Eightfold Path of the Realised' and other fundamental principles, thereby making clear what suffering is, what causes such suffering, what really constitutes a definitive end (cessation) to suffering and what the means are for achieving this definitive end. The teachings given in this first phase are the easiest to understand.

      The second dharmachakra, also referred to as the 'middle turning' or the 'dharmachakra of no-characteristics', demonstrated the illusory nature of everything and placed the teachings of the first dharmachakra in a much less concrete perspective; suffering was no longer something to be doted with existential reality and the fundamental statements of voidness (śūnyatā) - 'form not existing', 'sound not existing' etc. - were postulated to show the void nature of everything. In the third dharmachakra the 'true nature' of everything was explained - not just voidness, in the sense of complete absence or negation, but a void nature, resplendent with all qualities, naturally present, which is the essence of all beings; their buddha-nature. Since this is the very nature of all beings then by working on it anyone of them can reveal the enlightened wisdom that is inherent to that nature.
      The subject matter of these three dharmachakras was commented upon and cross-referenced in the many treatises (śāstra) composed by buddhist scholars after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa. Maitreya composed five encyclopaedic śāstra of which this Mahāyāna Uttara Tantra Śāstra is one. Its teachings are those of the third dharmachakra. Many commentaries have been written for Maitreya's text, transmitted into

this world by Aćarya Asaṅga. and the one chosen for this translation's standpoint is that of Jamgön Kongtrül the Great, whose commentary is in two main parts: an introduction to Maitreya's work and a commentary on the actual text of the original. (Kenneth and Katia Holmes, translator's introduction, 3–4)
Holmes, Ken, and Katia Holmes, trans. The Changeless Nature: The Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra. 2nd ed. By Arya Maitreya and Acarya Asanga. Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire, Scotland: Karma Kagyu Trust, 1985. https://archive.org/details/mahayanottaratantrasastrathechangelessnaturebykenandkatiaholmes_202003_994_R/page/n1/mode/2up.
Book
The Other Emptiness: Entering Wisdom Beyond Emptiness of Self
Other Emptiness is the view of emptiness that goes with wisdom. It has long been thought amongst Westerners that the view of emptiness championed by the Gelug tradition following the views of Tsongkhapa is the one and only view of emptiness in the Buddhist teachings. However, that is not the case. The majority of Tibetan Buddhists accept two approaches to emptiness, a logical approach called empty of self and a non-conceptual approach called empty of other. This book clearly presents all of these views and shows how the empty of other type of emptiness is actually the ultimate teaching of the Buddha, the teaching on how to enter non-dual wisdom.

Other emptiness has usually been thought of amongst Westerners who have heard of it as a very complicated and difficult philosophy. It is subtle, that is true, because it describes what it is like to be in wisdom. However, it was not taught as a difficult philosophy. Rather, it was taught as a practical teaching on how to enter non-dual wisdom. The book explores this point at length.

The book was written to be useful for all levels of reader. It starts simply, giving a clear explanation of the Buddha’s non-dual teaching and how the other emptiness teaching is part of that. Then it goes into details about the history and teaching of other emptiness. Finally, it goes in to great technical detail concerning the other emptiness teaching, and supports that with extensive materials from various Tibetan teachers. Unlike many of the books on other emptiness that have appeared, this book does not only present the theory of other emptiness but keeps a proper balance between showing the theory of other emptiness and presenting the practice-based reality of the teaching.

The book is divided into four parts, each one a set of presentations from someone knowledgeable of the subject. The first part is several chapters written by the author in plain English in order to get the reader under way. Following that, there are sections embodying the explanations of Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso, and Jamgon Kongtrul the great. Ample introductions, glossaries and so on are provided.

Aside from many oral explanations, the book contains translations of the following texts:

  1. A Brief Discussion of The Rise of the Other Emptiness Middle Way Called "The Music of Talk on the Definitive Meaning" by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso (previously not seen in English)
  2. Introductory Section from A Complete Commentary to the Great Vehicle Treatise The Highest Continuum which Connects to Heart Meaning using the Explanation System of the Path of Direct Perception, Called "The Lion’s Roar of the Non-Regressing" by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great
  3. The Treasury which is an Encyclopædia of Knowledge on Thorough Ascertainments of Provisional and Definitive Within the Three Wheels, and of the Two Truths by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great
  4. Instructions for Practising the View of the Other Emptiness Great Middle Way, "Light Rays of Stainless Vajra Moon" by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great (Source: Padma Karpo Translation Committee)
Duff, Tony. The Other Emptiness: Entering Wisdom Beyond Emptiness of Self. Kathmandu: Padma Karpo Translation Committee, 2014
Article
The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar
This teaching on “The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar,” by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche was generously given in response to a special request for teachings by the Nalandabodhi Sangha on October 10, 1999, on the campus of Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Ari Goldfield served as Rinpoche’s translator. Edited by Cindy Shelton and Amita Gupta, with assistance by Meg Miller.
Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim. "The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar." Teaching given on October 10, 1999 at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado. Translated by Ari Goldfield. Edited by Cindy Shelton and Amita Gupta, with assistance by Meg Miller. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamsto: Teachings and Activities (website). Accessed Sept. 24, 2020. http://www.ktgrinpoche.org/teachings/selected-teachings.

On the topic of this person

Article
See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That
An interview with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche that turned into a Mahamudra teaching on the spot.
McLeod, Melvin. "See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That." Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly, March 1, 2004.
Article
Shentong – An Introduction
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche gives a brief explanation of the way relative appearances and experiences are empty of self, rang-stong, and the way true reality is empty of other, gzhan-stong.
Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim. "Shentong – An Introduction." Instructions presented at Vajra Vidya Thrangu House in Oxford. Translated by Ari Goldfield and transcribed and edited by Gaby Hollmann, 2000. http://www.dharmadownload.net/pages/english/Natsok/0010_Teaching_English/Teaching_English_0010.htm.

Other names

  • Gyamtso, Tsultrim · other names
  • Tsultrim Gyamtsho · other names
  • Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso · other names
  • Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche · other names
  • Kenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso · other names
  • Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso · other names

Affiliations & relations

  • Kagyu - Nyingma · religious affiliation
  • Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche · student
  • Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen · student
  • Karl Brunnhölzl · student
  • Elizabeth Callahan · student
  • Hookham, S. · student
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