About - Background

Our history

At the repeated request of students, Lama Choedak Rinpoche moved to Canberra in 1986.

With money left over from the 1987 Ngondro retreat, he purchased from India the three main shrine images - Shakyamuni Buddha, Chenrezig and Green Tara.

Our name

The centre was given the name Sakya Losal Choe Dzong, meaning "The Clear Mind Sakya Dharma Centre". It is named after Tsarchen Losal Gyatsho (1494-1566), the founder of Tsharpa sub-tradition.

In 1988, His Holiness Sakya Trizin visited Australia and gave a month-long precious Lamdre teaching at Vajradhara Gompa in Kyogle. His Holiness endorsed and blessed the name of the centre in a June ceremony in Canberra dedicated for its establishment.

Doors open

The centre was opened in May 1989 with the help of Peter Reuter and Kunga Chozin, who both received the Lamdre teachings from His Holiness Sakya Trizin.

Since its early beginnings, the centre has maintained its weekly Chenrezig and Samatha meditation practices.

Lama Choedak has conducted numerous courses on important works in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Occasional Samatha meditation courses have attracted hundreds of Canberrans into the Dharma and many have become active members of the centre.

Her Eminence and White Tara

In October 1989, the centre hosted the visit of Her Eminence Jetsun Kusho, who gave the initiation and teachings on White Tara practice.

Since then, the centre has maintained the monthly White Tara Sadhana practice as well as annual retreats on White Tara each January.

Since the Venerable Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Choedak jointly conducted the first Rejuvenation of Life retreat on Ngondro, the centre organises annual retreats in June in association with Sakya Tharpa Ling in Sydney.

His Eminence

In June 1996, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche visited Australia. In July, His Eminence gave the initiation and teachings on Vajrapani Bhutadamara at the joint annual Sakya retreat. Since then, the centre has maintained the monthly Shri Vajrapani Bhutadamara Sadhana practice.

Our purpose

The centre was established to help devoted and sincere students develop a better understanding of the Buddhist way of life and to provide a suitable place for the study, practice and preservation of Buddhist culture, its philosophy and practices.

The centre also helps the wider multicultural community of Australia by sharing the wonderful teachings of the Buddha and effective Buddhist meditation techniques to relieve the suffering of all living beings.

Our logo

We adopted a new logo (top left of page) in 2003 to mark the Tibetan New Year (CE 2000) and in honour of His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche.

His Eminence originally designed the logo for his monastery, Jamchen Lhakhang in Bodh Nath, on its completion in 1989. At his 80th birthday celebrations, and at Lama Choedak's request, His Eminence authorised the use of this logo for a number of our sister centres across Australia.

All centres around the world affiliated with His Eminence are adopting this logo with appropriate names.

The new logo has two dragons with their tongues touching. It is said that His Eminence's ancestors belonged to the Clear Light ('od gsal) gods of the celestial realm.

It is believed that when the gods descended to the earth, a roaring thunder was heard coinciding with two dragons kissing in the sky - hence the staircase on the top of the logo.

Tibetans believe that thunder is a sound made by dragons soaring in the sky after a long sleep in the sea, desert or big lakes. This pure vision became the legendary beginning of the "Che" clan of Zhalu Kushang.

This is why we have the Tibetan word "Che" (tongue) in the centre of the eight-spoked wheel of Dharma.

The words "Sakya Losal Choe Dzong" and "Canberra" are written in Tibetan in the scroll at the bottom of the logo.

It was especially auspicious that we adopted this logo in the New Iron Dragon year. Thanks to Owen Tinnion for his help in preparing this logo.

Learn about our lineage.