History & Foundation

Our Foundation

The foundation of Kharchu Centre Australia was laid in 1998 by Kyabje Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, the revered seat-holder of Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery, during his inaugural visit to Australia. Following subsequent visits in 2010 and 2013, devoted students, benefactors, and followers requested the establishment of a permanent centre dedicated to the study and practice of the Buddha Dharma.

Recognising the unique opportunity to cultivate the Buddha Dharma within Australia's harmonious and multicultural society, His Eminence graciously accepted the proposal. He appointed an initial eight-member task force and assumed full spiritual responsibility for the centre, which was formally registered with the Australian Government as a non-profit organisation in 2016.

Rather than pursuing commercial interests, Kharchu Centre Australia is guided by an altruistic mission to serve society by preserving, upholding, and sharing the teachings of the Buddha Dharma.

Our Lineage and Tradition

Kharchu Centre Australia operates under the direct spiritual guidance of Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery in Bumthang, Bhutan. Established by Kyabje Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche in 1982, the monastery is home to more than 700 monks and serves as the parent monastery of our Australian centres.

Our community follows the Rigdzin Gyupa, the practice lineage of the previous incarnations, and is dedicated to preserving the Jangter (Northern Treasure) tradition, as well as the Kama (Buddha-word) and Terma (Revealed Treasures) of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the spirit of genuine non-sectarianism, our teachings are also enriched by the profound instructions that His Eminence received from many of the great masters of both the Old and New schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

KCA Today: A Growing National Community

What began as a visionary aspiration has grown into a vibrant national community of practitioners, supporters, volunteers, and friends whose continued participation sustains the activities and growth of the organisation.

To support practitioners in Australia, His Eminence began appointing resident Khenpos (Buddhist teachers and preceptors) from the parent monastery in 2023. These teachers actively engage with local communities by providing Buddha Dharma teachings, spiritual guidance, and traditional Buddhist services.

Today, Kharchu Centre Australia serves practitioners through its centres and Dharma activities across Australia:

• Canberra Region - Centre located in Carwoola, New South Wales, serving practitioners from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, and neighbouring regions.
• Brisbane - Serving our growing community in Queensland.
• Perth - Serving practitioners and communities across Western Australia.