bio courtesy of the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick MD.

Khenpo Rinpoché is known and loved for his engaging teaching style and his complete lack of pretensions.

Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin took his monk's vows at the age of 14 and a few years later was selected from his home monastery to began his study Buddhist philosophy at Samyé Monastery, the first monastery ever built in Tibet.

He studied the Thirteen Major Texts with Khenchen Nawang Gyalpo Rinpoché and other Khenpos. The strong Sakya and Nyingma influence at Samyé allowed him the opportunity to eceive the entire Lamdré-cycle of empowerments of the Ngor-Sakya lineage from Khensur Khenchen Rinpoché and from Amdo Lama Togden Rinpoché and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoché. He received many Nyingma empowerments and teachings.

In 1987, Khenpo Rinpoché arrived at Drikung Kagyu Institute at Jangchub Ling in Dehra Dun and there met His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché. The spontaneous devotion he felt for His Holiness resulted in his request to His Holiness to join the monastery continue his education.

With four years of his studies at Samyé Monastery, Khenpo Rinpoché quickly completed his education at Jangchub Ling. He then taught lower classes for three years in the Monastic College. Khenpo Rinpoché also completed the Ngondro, Cakrasamvara and other practices while in retreat.

Enthroned by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché as a "Khenpo" in 1998 he then spent three years teaching Buddhist philosophy at the Institute.

In April 2001, Khenpo Rinpoché arrived at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, Maryland to assist Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche. He worked to improve his mastery of the English language to be of more benefit in the spread of Dharma. He began teaching at TMC in August of that year and was subsequently appointed as co spiritual director of TMC by Khenchen Rinpoché.