In 2007, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche started the centre in Singapore with the wish to bring benefits to the Drikung Kagyu disciples here and to the nation in general. H.E Garchen Rinpoche named the newly founded centre Dri Thubten Dargye Ling.
On the 5th of November 2012, Venerable Dorzin Dhondrup Rinpoche added ‘Gar’ to the name to honor H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, the founder and root guru of the centre, and as an emblem of his uninterrupted stream of blessings he bestows on the centre.
To explain the meaning of the centre’s name briefly - ‘Dri’ refers to the Drikung Kagyu lineage; ‘Gar’ refers to H.E. Garchen Rinpoche; ‘Thub’ refers to the Buddha Shakyamuni; ‘Ten’ refers to the teachings of the Buddha; ‘Dargye’ means ‘flourishing and expanding’; ‘Ling’ is a ‘central place’. Altogether, Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling means ‘The Central Place where the Buddha’s Teachings Flourish and Expand’.
H.E Garchen Rinpoche appointed Ven. Lama Dhondrup as the centre’s resident Lama and has encouraged his disciples to be harmonious with each other and to attend the practices conducted by him. In May 2007, a pro-tem committee of eleven members was officially formed. After a Guru Yoga Tsok Offering, Ven. Lama Dhondrup concluded this auspicious event by presenting ceremonial scarves to the pro-tem committee members.
In August 2007, Dri(gar) Thubten Dargye Ling was officially registered with the Singapore Registrar of Society whereby H.E Garchen Rinpoche was specified as the centre’s founder and spiritual director and Ven. Lama Dhondrup as the centre’s resident Lama.
On the 18th of February 2008, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche appointed Ven. Lama Dhondrup with the title Dorzin (Vajra Master). Thereafter, on the 8th of June 2008, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche performed the enthronement ceremony to recognize him as Dorzin. In September 2008, Dri(gar) Thubten Dargye Ling moved to King George’s Ave.
During the month of March in 2009, statues and Kangyur Buddhist scriptures were consecrated and arranged on the centre’s shrine. This was followed by a blessing ceremony conducted by Ven. Dorzin Dhondrup Rinpoche with the help of members of the centre. H.E Garchen Rinpoche officially inaugurated the centre on the 5th of April 2009. Rinpoche has offered a generous contribution to establish the basis of the centre’s building fund, and reiterated his prior instructions by encouraging his disciples to be harmonious with each other as well as to attend the practices conducted at the centre. In April 2011, the centre moved to its current location at Geylang Lorong 29.
Since 2007 until the present day, the centre conducts the following group practices on a regular weekly basis within a typical month:
The following activities are conducted annually:
The centre also frequently invites visiting Lamas to grant teachings, empowerments and oral transmissions. Our visiting teachers include:
Ven. Lho Kunzang Rinpoche,
H.E. Tritsab Rinpoche,
Ven. Ontrul Rinpoche,
Ven. Khenchen Rinpoche,
Ven. Nupa Rinpoche,
Ven. Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche,
Ven. Yudra Rinpoche,
Ven. Chime Dorjee Rinpoche,
Ven. Choze Kuchen Rinpoche,
Ven. Rigyal Rinpoche,
Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tsegyal,
Ven. Khenpo Rangdrol,
Ven Khenpo Tenzin Nyima.
