Formation
Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya (TDSPJ) was established and registered with the Malaysian Registrar of Societies in February, 1989 at the instructions of the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. At that time no one understood why the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche wanted to start another Karma Kagyu centre, when there was already in existence a Karma Kagyu centre in Kuala Lumpur which is not far from Petaling Jaya.
There were many questions raised by the pro tem committee until the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche told the committee that this was in fact the prediction by the 16th Karmapa that Rinpoche will have a centre in Kuala Lumpur. The early days of TDSPJ was not an easy one, it faced many objections from other Karma Kagyu centres mainly from the Kuala Lumpur centre.
The relevance of the existence of TDSPJ came not long after its formation when the recognition of the 17th Karmapa became an International issue. Malaysia was not spared from this conflict and confusion was abound among the disciples. This issue was openly discussed in an Extra Ordinary General Meeting where views from all members were debated and considered. A vote was subsequently taken whereby it was unanimously passed that TDSPJ will only recognise His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the one and only 17th Karmapa. This view is consonant with the view of the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.
A Brief History
Under the advice of their spiritual master, the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a group of Buddhists got together to form a Vajrayana centre in Petaling Jaya. That was more than twenty years ago. The group was confronted with some difficulties initially. Despite all the obstacles, they went ahead and succeeded in registering the Thrangu Dharma Society Petaling Jaya on 17th February 1989.
The Society was registered to encourage learning, researching and practising of Buddhism, to foster friendship among members, and to render charitable and welfare services to communities irrespective of religion and creed. The day-to-day affairs of the Society were to be managed by a Committee comprised of office bearers elected by members biennially.
At the Inaugural General Meeting, David Tong was unanimously elected the Founding President. The hard work of David and his committee members resulted in a rapid growth of membership. Soon, the Society had to move to a larger premise to accommodate the increasing numbers of active practitioners who gathered regularly for Pujas and other group practices.
The Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche visited the centre frequently. Other spiritual masters who had visited and taught at the Society included H. E. Tai Situ Rinpoche, H. E. Gyaltsap Rinpoche, His Venerable Tenga Rinpoche, His Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Ven. Traleg Rinpoche, Lodro Nyima Rinpoche, Bagyod Rinpoche, Tulku Damchoe Rinpoche and many other high Lamas. His Holiness Sakya Trizin had also visited our centre.
Seeing the needs for proper guidance in Vajrayana practices, the Committee requested the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche to send a qualified Lama to the Society. This Lama would be given the responsibility to teach and guide members who wanted to follow the Vajrayana path. The Venerable Lama Lodro Thaye (Tashila) (known to all members and friends here as Lama Lodro) was sent over in 1989. His presence has greatly enhanced the image of the Society.
For the first five years, the Society operated in rented premises. As the Society became more and more active, the Committee began to look into the possibility of the Society acquiring its own premises. With the support of its members and well-wishers, the Committee decided to raise funds for the purchase of a building. In 1993, a Grand Medicine Buddha Puja was organised and held at Wisma Buddhist Kuala Lumpur. The Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche conducted the Puja with the assistance of more than ten of Rinpoche’s Lamas. The Puja was a great success and sufficient funds were raised to enable the Society to take over ownership of the building it now occupies at Section 12, Petaling Jaya.
Two more big Pujas were held to raise money for the purpose of renovating and upgrading the facilities in the premises. They were the Mani Rilbu Puja in 1994 and the Magnificent Amitabha Buddha Puja in 1996. Another fund-raising activity, known as The Image of Devotion held in 1995, succeeded in raising enough funds for the construction of a new shrine in the main hall of the Society premises. Other major pujas conducted by the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche were The White Jambhala, Tsitigarbha, Thousand Arms Thousand Eyes Chenrezig, Thousand Buddhas and Guan Gong.
The building of the Society, commonly referred to as Thrangu Centre, is a comfortable place for religious ceremonies, discourses, and group practices. Improvement is still required and it will be done one at a time whenever funds permit.
The Society is an active Dharma centre. Members of the Society are confident that with the blessing of His Holiness The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa and the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche as well as the guidance of the Venerable Lama Lodro Thaye (Tashila), the Society will be able to reach greater heights in its Dharma work in this part of the world.
Office Bearers for 2023-2025
| President | Lau Lay Kiong (Raymond) |
| Vice President | Lee Heng Khen (Andy) |
| Secretary | Lee Lye Yee (Jamie) |
| Assistant Secretary | Low Chee Kin (Derek) |
| Treasurer | Kho Mei Li (Zoe) |
| Assistant Treasurer | Lee Geok Poh (Jennifer) |
| Committee Member | Leong Khai Yan (John) |
| Committee Member | Chuah Sook Yean (Jennifer) |
| Committee Member | Chin Yook Fong (Evonne) |
| Committee Member | Ng Ai Khoon (Agnes) |
| Committee Member | Chin Bee Yin (Janet) |
| Committee Member | Lim Kian Chong |
| Committee Member | Teh Kong Meng |
