Welcome to Odiyana Buddhist Centre
The Odiyana Centre was founded in 1998 by Lama David Christensen (Urgyen Yeshe Ozer), an Australian Lama trained in the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Odiyana was the birthplace of Padmasambhava, the Indian Master who established Buddhism in Tibet. His teachings became what is now known as the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The present Dalai Lama has said that the teachings of Padmasambhava are particularly important in this present age of turmoil and conflict.
David completed the traditional training in a four-year retreat in Dordogne, France, during the 1980s. He completed the retreat under the guidance of his main teachers, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khenpo and Tulku Pema Wangyal.
David has spent over forty years studying and practising Buddhism. He is highly regarded for his work as a Tibetan translator, particularly for his translation of Dzogchen texts.
These days, David teaches regular classes at the Odiyana Buddhist Centre in Hawthorn. He is also available for spiritual healing sessions, advice and house blessings.
Odiyana Retreat Centre (Longchen Osel Ling)
The Odiyana Retreat Centre is in South Gippsland, Victoria. It is on sixty acres of spectacular hills, surrounded by native bush and rainforest with panoramic ocean views.
The centre provides an inspiring location for meditation and yoga. Retreats are led by Lama David and other visiting Buddhist teachers.
Lama David's Teachers
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the greatest teachers in the Nyingma tradition. He was also a teacher to the current Dalai Lama.
In 1978 Zasep Tulku encouraged David to travel to India to meet Nyingma teachers, as there were none in Australia then. David had seen a photo of Khyentse Rinpoche in a book, and Zasep Tulku had joked that he would be a good Lama for Australians since his name was similar to dingo, like the Australian native wild dogs.
In 1980 David travelled to India on a mission to meet Dilgo Khyentse and Chatral Rinpoche. He first met Dilgo Khyentse in Darjeeling after being taken to a Vajrakilaya empowerment by Golok Tulku, another of David's teachers.
The following year, Khyentse Rinpoche returned to Boudhanath, Kathmandu, and David began to receive teachings and empowerments from him.
Then, following the divination of Dudjom Rinpoche, David went to Dordogne, France, to enter the four-year retreat program that was run by Tulku Pema Wangyal, and where Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the main visiting teachers.
Photo: David and other retreatants with Khyentse Rinpoche and his wife, Tulku Pema Wangyal and others at the conclusion of Khyentse Rinpoche's visit to Dordogne.
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche was a highly realised master of the Nyingma/Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
David met Nyoshul Khenpo in 1982 when he came to enter the traditional four-year retreat in Dordogne, France, where Khenpo was one of the resident teachers. In the following years, David travelled with Khenpo, acting as his translator at Dzogchen retreats in the USA.
David collected and translated all the teachings and instructions given by Nyoshul Khenpo during the four-year retreat. These have been published by Snow Lion as 'The Fearless Lion's Roar'.
Photo: David with Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche giving some teachings before meditating together at the retreat centre in Dordogne.
Dudjom Rinpoche was the head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is regarded as an emanation of Padmasambhava and an incarnation of the great master Dudjom Lingpa.
At Christmas 1981, David accompanied Golok Tulu, who had an audience with Dudjom Rinpoche in Kathmandu. Golok Tulku advised David to ask Rinpoche for divination regarding David's plans.
As a result of the divination, Dudjom Rinpoche advised David to go to France and enter the four-year retreat program there, led by Tulku Pema Wangyal.
Then, during the retreat, David and his fellow retreatants were fortunate to receive many instructions, empowerments and personal advice from Dudjom Rinpoche.
Dudjom Rinpoche's son, Shenpen Dawa, commented on how strange it was that a small group of Western students in the retreat were receiving so many teachings and empowerments from Rinpoche while there were thousands of people in India and Bhutan wishing to meet him. Shenpen Dawa said, 'I don't know if you people have good karma or if it is a sign of the end of the world.'
Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche was the eldest son of Dudjom Rinpoche and the father of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. He is the author of many great books, such as White Sail, Gypsy Gossip and Magic Dance.
David first met TN Rinpoche, as he was known, in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, in 1981, where he was fortunate to share a house with TN Rinpoche and his family for four months. During that time, he was privileged to have such a close connection with Rinpoche.
This photo of David and Rinpoche was taken in the garden of the Broken Yantra House in Kathmandu, where they stayed together. It is taken shortly after Rinpoche insisted that David cut off his long hair.
Chatral Rinpoche was a Tibetan Dzogchen master and reclusive yogi known for his great realisation and strict discipline.
When David first travelled to India, he intended to meet with Chatral Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse. He had heard Chatral was one of only a few vegetarian lamas at that time.
David first met Chatral Rinpoche in Kathmandu in 1980, where Rinpoche advised him to learn colloquial Tibetan for six months before receiving teaching.
Chatral Rinpoche was known for his reluctance to teach people, especially Westerners, so David spent a lot of time sitting in his presence without receiving many teachings.
David regarded Chatral Rinpoche as being like a Zen Master who taught with his presence rather than many words.
