A Brief History of Jamchen Buddhist Centre, Melbourne, Australia
The year 2000 marked the third year of Lama Choedak’s visits to Melbourne to give Buddhist teachings. During this time Lama had also encouraged Moira Brown to host the visit of Venerable Khenpo Migmar Tsering (the abbot of Sakya College), which was a great success. A growing number of people were attending a weekly study program (Rongton) and White Tara, Green Tara, and Chenrezig practices hosted in students homes. With the increasing interest there was a need to create a more formal centre for Melbourne.
A core group of Lama’s Melbourne students helped establish the new centre as an incorporated association. Lama requested a name from his own teacher, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, and the home of Venerable Ani Tsedron and Venerable Thupten Lekshe in Austin Street, Balwyn became the base for practice. The newly created centre was called Chogye Jamchen Choe Dzong (‘Fortress of the Great Loving Kindness of Chogye’) or Jamchen Buddhist Centre, with His Eminence as chief patron, Lama Choedak as Spiritual Director, and Moira Brown as the founding president. A year later in mid 2001, Jamchen Buddhist Centre hosted the Melbourne visit of His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. His Eminence and entourage stayed at Austin Street giving many special teachings and initiations, and imparting many blessings for the success of Jamchen’s activities. During this important visit to Australia, His Eminence also bestowed the honorary title of Rinpoche on Lama Choedak in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to the dharma.
In 2002, Lama Choedak Rinpoche began regularly visiting Melbourne four times per year. The weekly practice and meditation program was attracting more students and a move was made to a rented room at the Kew Community Centre. Soon after, in 2003, Jamchen had grown to a size where it was necessary to rent a self contained premises. During this important year His Holiness Sakya Trizin visited Jamchen at the new location in Balwyn and blessed the centre’s shrine as well as giving his blessings for the success of Jamchen’s activities.
In 2004 Jamchen hosted the visit of His Eminence Ludhig Khenchen Rinpoche to Melbourne. His Eminence and entourage stayed at Jamchen and gave many teachings and blessings. Later that year Jamchen also hosted the visit of Acharya Lama Lekshey, the Abbot of the Sakya Centre in India. In 2007 Jamchen provided much needed financial support for the tour of Australia by His Holiness the Dalia Lama by jointly underwriting the visit. That same year Jamchen hosted various teachings in Melbourne by Her Eminence Jestsun Kushola, who stayed at the Balwyn premises and imparted many blessings. Finally in December 2008, His Eminence Zimwock Rinpoche arrived in Australia to take up the position of Jamchen’s new resident teacher. This was the culmination of several years of intensive work initiated by Lama Choedak Rinpoche to further the blessings and inspiration of his teacher, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, who had passed away in early 2007.
With the support and guidance of His Eminence Zimwock Rinpoche, Jamchen Buddhist Centre now offers a diverse weekly program that includes regular teachings and a schedule of meditation practices every weekend. The centre celebrates Buddhist holy days throughout the year including: full moon rituals, the Tibetan New Year (Losar) and commemoration of key events of the Buddha’s life, such as his birth and enlightenment. Guidance is also available regarding individual spiritual practice and retreat. The centre is active in its support of pan–Buddhist programs, as well as in collaborating on important inter–faith activities with other spiritual traditions.
