The Journey

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre was established in 1981 by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa to realise the precious teachings of Buddha in Singapore. Since then, through various programmes such like classes, meditation, teachings, practices and many more, the Centre has benefited many people

How it started

In 1979, His Eminence Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche visited Singapore and with his encouragement and advice, a protem committee headed by Mr. David Chee Kim Swee was formed in preparation for the founding of Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre in Singapore. A detached house at 17, Jalan Lateh was rented for the Centre's administration.

On 17th April 1981, the Registrar of Societies approved the registration of our Centre. The first management committee was formed on 11th March, 1982.

In 1990, Rinpoche initiated the search for a new premises to cater for the expansion of the Centre's activities. With the encouragement from His Eminence Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche and strong support from the members and devotees, the present Centre was acquired.

On 29th December, 1991, the Centre was relocated to its present premises. The premise was renovated in 1993 and has since been used as the venue for most of the Centre's activities to serve the spiritual and welfare needs of its members and devotees.

In celebrating the opening ceremony cum 12th Anniversary of the Centre on 14th November, 1993, a commemorative magazine was published and a thousand people vegetarian dinner, attended by guests of honour, Venerable Shi Ming Yi, Venerable B. Dhammaratana and Mr. Peh Chin Hwa, MP for Jalan Besar GRC, was held at the Mandarin Hotel.

Five Core Activities of KKBC

Over the years, KKBC has developed five core activities that provide the condition to support devotees to learn, practice, serve, share and progress on the path of enlightenment. By participating in the five core activities, individuals will walk on the path to enlightenment. This will assist them to perfect all the Paramitas and realise true compassion and wisdom. The five core activities are: 

  • Teachings, transmissions and retreats, which help to overcome lust, hatred and delusion, and develop compassion and wisdom. Teachings help to formulate the enlightenment attitude. Transmissions and retreats develop experience and realizations.

  • When we visit holy places, we recollect the great deeds of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and pray to receive their blessings. We also make the aspiration to follow in their footsteps and walk on the path to enlightenment.

  • Group practices with emphasis on the practice of meditation are held weekly.

  • Events such as anniversary celebrations, Mani Dandrub, Kagyud Monlam and His Holiness Karmapa's visit, teachings and transmission given by invited teachers, pujas that bestow great blessings. These events encourage participants and volunteers to perform good deeds and accumulate merits.

  • Charity which is also the practice of generosity, the first Paramita. Charity work benefit others in skills development, material or spiritual ways. Serving with pure devotion is part of practice.

Milestones of
Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre (KKBC)

  • Venerable Saljay Rinpoche, His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche and His Holiness the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche were invited by the late Venerable Da Xiong to give teachings. The teachings were conducted at the former Lien Foh Lin temple, located at 34H Lorong Zaitun. This heralded the dawn of Karma Kagyud Buddhist teachings in Singapore.

    During His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche's visit, he advised Mr David Chee Kim Swee and a group of devotees to set up a Buddhist Centre named Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre (KKBC). A bungalow at No. 17 Jalan Lateh was rented for this purpose.

  • His Holiness, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje visited Singapore from 27th December to 5th January 1981. He gave his blessings for the successful Dharma propagation of the Centre and assured Mr David Chee that he would send a qualified teacher as an advisor to the Centre. He conducted the Black Hat ceremony and left a pair of his shoes at KKBC, signifying his return in future.

  • KKBC was approved by the Registrar of Societies on 17th March.

    • The first management committee of KKBC was formed on 11th March.

    • Upon His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche's request, Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche accepted the offer to become the religious advisor of KKBC.

  • KKBC was approved as a charitable organization by the Commissioner of Charities on 2nd May.

    • Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche initiated the search for new premises to cater for the expansion of the Centre’s activities. A bungalow with freehold land located at No. 38 Lorong 22 Geylang was shortlisted for the purchase.

    • His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche visited KKBC to advise members on the purchase of the new premises and launched the “One Man One Hundred” fundraising campaign.

    • His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche visited KKBC on 18th June to give blessings and encouragement to members on the purchase of the new premises.

    • With the concerted effort of Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche, Mr and Mrs Loh Seck Fah, as well as members and devotees, the new premises was purchased.

  • KKBC relocated from No. 17 Jalan Lateh to the new premises on 29th December.

    • KKBC was granted the permanent change of use of premises as a Buddhist Institution by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on 7th October.

    • KKBC completed refurbishment works and celebrated its opening on 14th November with a thousand people vegetarian dinner. His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche inaugurated the opening ceremony.

  • Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche became a Permanent Resident of Singapore on 23nd May.

    • On 14th September, during his 38th birthday celebration, Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche initiated a new building project to cater for the expanding centre activities, with a personal contribution of SGD 21,000 and donated several pieces of priceless Buddhist artefacts for fundraising.

    • The Registry of Societies granted the amendment to KKBC's constitution to include an Abbot for the centre on 10th November.

    • KKBC's website was launched on 1st February.

    • Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche was enthroned as the Abbot of KKBC on 4th September, following the traditional Vajrayana procedure.

    • His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje visited Singapore from 29th October to 6th November during his first trip overseas. He blessed the new building project and made a donation.

    • KKBC invited Maniwa Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and organised the first Mani Project for devotees to collectively recite 100 Million times of the six syllable mantra, Om Mani Padme Hung, from 28th November to 31st December.

  • KKBC renovated its premises and inaugurated its new shrine Hall on 10th September.

  • His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche visited KKBC from 20th to 25th January during the Lunar New Year celebration and gave teachings to members and devotees.

    The Children Dharma Class was launched by His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche on 25th June.

  • His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche visited KKBC from 13th to 15th February. A welcome dinner was held at Katong Community Club.

  • His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje graced the celebration of KKBC's 25th anniversary during his visit from 7th to 15th October.

  • His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche visited KKBC from 3rd to 6th March for the last time. He was briefed on the new building plan.

    • His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje visited KKBC from 25th to 31st May to lend support to the fundraising activities for the KKBC new building project.

    • URA granted written permission on 9th October for KKBC to build a new building.

    • Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche launched fundraising project during a grand dinner on 18 January.

    • KKBC was relocated to temporary premises at No. 31 Lor 24A Geylang on 1 May.

    • KKBC awarded the contract for the construction of the new building on 20 Aug.

    • The KKBC new building project commenced on 1st September with the demolition of the old building.

    • His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje visited KKBC from 26th September to 3rd October to grace the auspicious ground breaking ceremony for the new building. He also conducted the 1st Kagyud Monlam with prominent Kagyud Rinpoches and lamas.

  • KKBC organized the 2nd Kagyud Monlam on 20th September.

    • URA granted the temporary occupation license (TOP) to KKBC on 15th April.

    • KKBC relocated to its new building on 31st May.