Our Centre
The literal meaning of "Padma" is Lotus. "Wodling" means pureland of Guru Rinpoche. Through Guru Rinpoche's vajrayana teachings, this centre hopes to propogate the Dharma to all corners of the Universe, and is dedicated to the Palyul tradition of Nyingma Tibetan Buddhism. The centre is set-up to fulfill the late Holiness Penor Norbu Rinpoche's wishes to spread the Dharma far and wide.
Our aspiration is to nurture and strengthen our community by studying, practicing, and living the Dharma, and helping the greater community through acts of service and by sharing the Dharma with all who are interested.
Profile of Omje Wangchen
Omje Wangchan Lama
Omje Wangchen started his monastic life at the age of 9, when he enrolled to study at the Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple) in Mysore, South India. He was ordained by the late HH Penor Rinpoche who gave him his name WANGCHEN. WANG means Power and CHEN means Greatness. During his training at the monastery, he mastered the rituals of making torma, lama dance and chanting. Omje Wangchen is the early batch of Sanghas who received extensive training from the late HH Penor Rinpoche and other high tantric masters at Namdroling Monastery.
In 1998, at age of 14, the young Wangchen was conferred the title of OMJE, (which means CHANT MASTER) by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche at Namdroling Monastery.
During the period 2002 to 2009, Omje Wangchen was commissioned and appointed by HH Penor Rinpoche to set up and manage the Palyul branches in Nepal and Macau.
Chronology of Omje Wangchen's monastic duties/ work
1998-2001:
Omje Wangchen received extensive training in rhythmic and vibrative chantings from high Tantric Masters, namely Sonam Gyaltsen (His Holiness' nephew), Tara Lama who is Senior Chant Master in Namdroling and also Tulku Thubsang Rinpoche who is now one of the Head of Palyul Monastery in Tibet.
Omje Wangchen was a talented student who mastered the skills of Nyingtig rituals in tantric chantings and at a young age of 14, was conferred the title OMJE, CHANT MASTER by the late HH Penor Rinpoche at Namdroling Monastery in 1998.
During this period, Omje Wangchen was appointed and commisssioned as Lead Chant Master for some of His Holiness' major pujas in India. He received numerous empowerments and along with many Rinpoches and lamas from all over the world, practised and performed tantric rituals and chantings at all His Holiness spiritual tours in India and also at Namdroling Monastery.
2001:
A very important spiritual tours appointed as Lead Chant Master by His Holiness was one held at Pharping, Nepal, where his Holiness visited the holy meditative cave of Guru Rinpoche to confer Nyingthig Yabshi Empowerment to over 10,000 local devotees and disciples worldwide. Nyingthig Yabshi Empowerment is one of the high Dzogchen tantric practice for sentient beings who aspire to swiftly gain enlightenment in this life time. This one month spiritual event held at Nyingma Palyul Retreat Centre at Yanglesho, Pharping, Nepal was specially requested by Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche of Namdroling Monastery. His Holiness was very pleased with Omje Wangchen's good performance and rewarded him with a stack of currency. It just shows just how appreciative His Holiness felt.
2002-2008:
Omje Wangchen was appointed by His Holiness to set up and manage Thektsog Wodsel Palyul Choeling Monastery at Kathmandu Boudha, Nepal. He was always the Lead Chant Master whenever HH Penor Rinpoche visited Nepal. One of his main task was to train the lamas on ritual chantings at the Kathmandu Boudha Centre.
2008-2009:
Omje Wangchen was commissioned and appointed by HH Penor Rinpoche to set up Palyul Chagchub Dargeyling Centre in Macau. He was responsible for the daily management and chanting performance of this Centre. He served the Centre for 3 years till 2011 when he decided to set out on his own.
2010:
He successfully organized and accomplished a charitable project at Namdroling Monastery. Donations of Sin$33,600 were collected from devotees from Singapore to offer to the monks at Namdroling Monastery. The funds were used to purchase daily meals of rice, flour, sugar, dhal, tea and salt. There were also meals and money offerings to Sanghas at Namdroling Monastery. Medical supplies were also offered to Tsepal Topkey Hospital, medical centre for the 4000 monks at the Namdroling Monastery. Additional Sin$10,000 cash was donated to this Hospital.
Chanting Omje Wangchan Lama
Study materials like pen, writing books were also distributed to the 1,500 young lamas who were studying at the Junior High Schools at Namdroling Monastery. It was a very enriching experience for Omje Wangchen and the Singapore devotees. Omje Wangchen realized that he should achieve something greater with the advice and encouragement of his late master, HH Penor Rinpoche. He began his plan to set sail for Singapore.
2011:
Singapore Centre:
In 2009, the late HH Penor Rinpoche visited the Macau Centre and his last words with Omje Wangchen were "You can do great with your life to propagate Dharma". This was the encouragement given by the HH Penor Rinpoche before his return to Namdroling Monastery in 2009 and few months later, Penor Rinpoche went into Parinirvana. With all the spiritual trainings and experiences gathered for the past 20 years serving His Holiness, Omje Wangchen decided to open a Centre in Singapore. With the help of Singapore devotees, he started the Padma Wodling Dharma Centre. He wants to share his experiences and vast spiritual trainings received to Singaporeans. Though Singapore is a very blessed country there is still a lot of people who lack formal training of good Dharma practice. Omje Wangchen hoped he would be able to contribute to those who are looking for pure Dharma teaching from Namdroling Monastery. He would dedicate all his efforts as an appreciation of gratitude to his Root Guru, the late HH Penor Rinpoche and pray for his swift rebirth to benefit all sentient beings.
VISION AND MISSION
One of Omje Wangchen's vision for the future is to set up a monastery at his village home town at West India. A monastery there would give an opportunity for those unfortunate people who do not have a chance to learn Dharma. He hoped that one day there would be some compassionate people who will come forward to help and support him fulfill his vision. According to Buddha's teaching, by supporting or sponsoring the building of dharma centre or monastery, he/she will gather tremendous merits and plant the seeds of their liberation in the future. Anyone who longs for peace and happiness, please come forward with your generous offerings to build a Monastery in West India.
