The Rime Movement (ri – one-sided, sectarian; me – not) was initiated in the 19th century by great masters from three of the older schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Kagyu, Sakya, and Nyingma. Among its founders were Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, one of the most distinguished Tibetan Buddhist masters—a yogi, scholar, and visionary—and the Great Kongtrul, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thayé. Another key figure was Chokgyur Lingpa, known as “the Great Tertön” (treasure revealer).

At that time, many Tibetan Buddhist schools and lineages practiced in relatively isolated environments. The goal of the Rime Movement was to preserve Buddhist teachings from all transmission lineages for future generations—some, such as the Shangpa Kagyu, were at risk of disappearing. Additionally, the movement sought to foster closer relationships among practitioners of different schools and promote the teachings of Dzogchen (Great Perfection) and Mahamudra (Great Seal) in a way that transcended sectarian biases.

Contrary to some misconceptions, the Rime Movement was not intended to merge all Tibetan Buddhist schools into a single unified tradition, nor was it an attempt to create a synthesis of different teachings and meditation practices. Instead, its representatives aimed to establish and cultivate a spirit of unbiased dialogue between various traditions, acknowledging not only their similarities but also their differences. The movement emphasized an attitude of respect for all schools, free from prejudice.

The Rime perspective holds that although different Tibetan Buddhist schools have developed unique practices and emphasize different aspects of the teachings, they ultimately lead to the same fundamental point of realization. Therefore, there is no reason to view the perspectives of different schools as contradictory. Thanks to the efforts of Rime masters, there is now a greater appreciation of the shared and profound meaning of the Buddha’s teachings across various Tibetan Buddhist traditions.