Guy receiving the keys of Dorje Ling on behalf of Tashi Choling Dharma Foundation in 2003
Dorje Ling is the second oldest retreat centre in Australia. It hosted its first meditation retreat in 1977, led by Phra Khantipalo. In 1978, Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden taught the first Lam Rim (Graduated Path to Enlightenment) course, with Zasep Tulku Rinpoche translating. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche was subsequently invited and agreed to become spiritual director.
From the beginning, the list of retreats and teachers who have taught there reflects the richness and depth of all traditions of Buddhism. As well as Phra Khantipalo, Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden and Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, teachers have included Traleg Rinpoche, Ayya Khema, Hogen San, Gala Tulku Rinpoche, Jampa Gendun, Tarchin Hearn and Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey.
The Gompa (meditation hall) was built using bullocks. Huge logs were cut in the bush in the 1977, and dragged onto the site by a bullock team led by Harold Riley and Henry Steers. See our gallery of photos of the building of the gompa. The strength and solidity of the resulting building have been an unique feature of this Centre which has been enjoyed by retreatants ever since.
Below are some of the events that have happened over the past 40 or so years (work in progress, more entries coming). We also have a special page reporting on the 2016 bushfire and floods which the Centre underwent.