Rinchen Tsultrim (rin chen tshul khrims) was born in Jangdzing (byang rdzing). He took novice ordination at Nenying Monastery (gnas rnying) when he was eight years old and began to study the monastic code, the vehicle of the perfections, epistemology, and abhidharma. Then he went to Zhalu Monastery (zhwa lu), where he studied many subjects under several masters, especially Buton Rinchen Drub (bu ston rin chen grub, 1290-1364), from whom he received teachings such as the Hevajra Tantra and the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra.
Rinchen Tsultrim next traveled to U and studied in many different places. In particular, at the great Karma Kagyu monastery of Tsurpu (mtshur phu) he received the Six Dharmas of Nāropa, the transmission of the Doha instructions, and other teachings and initiations from the yogin Tokden Drakseng (rtogs ldan grags seng, d.u.), later known as the First Zhamar.
He also received teachings such as the Hevajra Tantra and its commentaries and several major initiations from the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (karma pa 03 rang byung rdo rje, 1284-1339), who was very pleased with him, recognized him as an incarnation of the Indian master Asanga, and gave him a blessed image of Buddha Śākyamuni. The Karmapa then told Rinchen Tsultrim to go to Dolpopa Sherab Gyeltsen (dol po pa shes rab rgyal mtshan, 1292-1361) at Jonang Monastery (jo nang dgon), saying great benefit to the doctrine would result.
On the way to Jonang, Rinchen Tsultrim stopped at many places in the region of Tsang, especially Sakya Monastery (sa skya), where he received teachings from the master Jigme Drakpa (‘jigs med grags pa, d.u.) and others. There he studied many sutras and tantras, such as the Tantra Trilogy of Hevajra and Prajñāpāramitā, epistemology, and Abhidharma. Next he traveled to Dzum Cholung Monastery (‘dzum chos lung) and received various instructions from the adept Jarinpa (grub thob bya rin pa, d.u.).
Rinchen Tsultrim finally arrived at Jonang monastery while Dolpopa was teaching the Vimalaprabhā to about two hundred monks. He remained with Dolpopa from when he was thirty-eight years old until he was fifty-eight. During these years he received the vows of complete ordination, the great initiation of Kālacakra in both the Dro (‘bro) and Ra (rwa) traditions, the Bodhisattva Trilogy (sems ‘grel skor gsum), the ten sutras of definitive meaning, the Madhyamaka treatises of Nāgārjuna, the Five Treatises of Maitreya, the Tantra Trilogy of Hevajra, the treatises of Prajñāpāramitās, epistemology, Abhidharma, the treatises of the Vinaya, and many other transmissions of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism.
Rinchen Tsultrim also received many Kālacakra transmissions from Dolpopa’s other major disciples, such as the Vimalaprabhā from Kunpang Chodrak Pelzang (kun spangs chos grags dpal bzang, c.1283-c.1362), the Paramārthaseva (don dam bsnyen pa) and Sekoddeśa (dbang mdor bstan) from Jonang Lotsāwa Lodro Pel (jo nang lo tsA wa blo gros dpal, 1299-1354), the Vimalaprabhā and the six-branch yoga from Mati Paṇchen Lodro Gyeltsen (ma ti pan chen blo gros rgyal mtshan, 1294-1376), and the Vimalaprabhā and other teachings from Chokle Namgyel (phyogs las rnam rgyal, 1306-1386).
When Rinchen Tsultrim was fifty-eight years old, he was offered the monastery of Tolung Namgyel (stod lung rnam rgyal) in U, which he made his residence. He taught the Vimalaprabhā and other topics to many students and built a large gold image of the buddha Maitreya there. Mati Paṇchen was invited to perform the consecration of the image, and then Rinchen Tsultrim traveled to Gungtang Monastery (gung thang) and taught the six-branch yoga of Kālacakra. After returning to Tolung Namgyel, he taught the Vimalaprabhā for the next three years.
Rinchen Tsultrim passed away in 1368.