Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, currently in retreat, is one of the foremost living teachers of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, a great scholar and master of meditation who traveled the world teaching in Buddhism centres everywhere.

In his late teens and early twenties he trained as a yogin in Tibet with a local yogin known as Zopa Tharchin, who was later killed by the Chinese. He spent his early youth in retreat in the mountains until his teacher told him to study for the benefit of others. A renowned scholar, he excels in philosophical debate and always aims to turn the minds of his opponents and students towards their own inner experience rather than getting lost in intellectual fabrications.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet Khenpo Rinpoche fled to India in 1960. He spent many years in Bhutan as a wandering yogin, meditating in caves and hermitages. In 1975 he was asked by the head of the Kagyu tradition to come and be Abbot of the main Kagyu centre in the West, in France. However he asked instead to be allowed to travel and help people everywhere.

He has done that ever since, leading a truly simple, homeless life; he is a master of non-attachment. He has many times refused to accept property to build Buddhist centres and he regularly gives away all of his money. Khenpo Rinpoche demonstrates the carefree life of a yogin, singing spontaneous songs of realisation wherever he goes, devoted only to the welfare of others.

Lama Rigdzin Shikpo met his main teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1965, and from him received extensive instruction in both the preliminary and main practices of Dzogchen, the innermost teachings of the Nyingma tradition. He has practised these teachings for 35 years in the midst of an ordinary life as a mathematician and physicist.

On Trungpa Rinpoche's instructions Lama Rigdzin Shikpo also began to teach, which he has now been doing for thirty-five years, making him one of the most experienced Western teachers of Buddhism. Trungpa Rinpoche also encouraged Lama Rigdzin Shikpo to receive teachings from other Tibetan teachers, and as a result he developed deep connections with H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Ngagkpa Yeshe Dorje and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.

Since Trungpa Rinpoche's death in 1987, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche has been Rigdzin Shikpo's main source of advice and inspiration. Khenpo Rinpoche is so well satisfied with his understanding and meditation experience that he has encouraged him, as lama, to teach and transmit Dzogchen. In 1993 he completed a 3 year retreat, and at that time Khenpo Rinpoche gave him the name Rigdzin Shikpo in recognition of his realisations.