Lobzang Tsultrim (blo bzang tshul khrims) was born in Grambu (gram bu), Nyangtod (nyang stod). His father was named Paten Sicho (dpa' brtan srid chod, d.u.) and his mother was named Chokyid (mchog skyid). The year of his birth was 1745, the wood-ox year of the eleventh sexagenary cycle. When he turned ten he matriculated at Drongtse Chode ('brong rtse chos sde) and was given the name of Lobzang Tsultrim. He soon moved to Tashilhunpo and enrolled in Tusam Ling (thus bsam gling). There he received novice vows from the abbot, Lobzang Tashi (slob bzang bkra shis, d.u.).
At Tashilhunpo he received teachings from the Fifth Paṇchen Lama, Pelden Yeshe (paN chen 05 dpal ldan ye shes, 1663-1737) and some other tutors. At the age of thirty he received full ordination from the Fifth Paṇchen Lama, and soon earned his Kachen (bka' chen) and later Rabjam (rab 'byams) degrees.
After three years of studying at the tantric college, he went to Bhutan for meditation, residing in solitary meditation in various places. After his return to Tashilhunpo, the Paṇchen Lama assigned him as the leader of ritual practice at the tantric college, and he started giving teachings. He took responsibility for the funeral services of the Paṇchen Lama and for the identification and enthronement of the Seventh Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Tenpai Nyima Chokle Namgyel (paN chen bla ma 07 blo bzang bstan pa'i nyi ma phyogs las rnam rgyal, 1781-1854), later giving him teachings at the request of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China.
As his health declined Lobzang Tsultrim retired to Lekshe Ling (legs bshad gling) for meditation. He was forced to move to a lower altitude, where he worked on developing a method of drawing animals and the natural environment for traditional paintings. He also wrote a story called "The History of Mice" (rdza tsug gtam rgyud). He again gave teachings to the Seventh Paṇchen Lama and empowerments to his other disciples.
Lobzang Tsultrim passed away in 1800 at the age of fifty-five. His writings were collected and edited into one volume.
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