On March 20th 1999, the late Geshe Lama Konchog (now reincarnated as His Eminence Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche), instructed Singha Rinpoche to start a dharma centre. Geshe-la’s vision was to overcome the prevailing belief that one could only practise the Buddhadharma as an ordained Sangha.

Rinpoche rented a house on Thong Soon Road to conduct his Buddhist teachings and activities.

Housed in a double-storey premise at the foot of Bukit Timah Hill, our place of worship relocated here to accommodate a growing student body.

In its first two years of inception, Thekchen Choling transformed
the lives of many followers.

With the blessings of the late Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup (now reincarnated as His Eminence Thubten Rigsel Rinpoche) during his visit, the temple made plans to secure a permanent premise within the next five years. Meanwhile, we moved into a commercial space in Pasir Panjang to house our ever-expanding crowd of followers.

After a long period of searching and negotiating, Thekchen Choling acquires its own temple building in 2006. Having grown from a cosy apartment into a dharma centre in the city, Thekchen Choling is proud to have become the most active Vajrayana Buddhist temple in Singapore.

For years, followers from Malaysia wanted to help their fellow countrymen dharma teachings and community outreach programmes.

 On 15 October 2012, Thekchen Choling (Melaka) — a society officially approved by the Malaysian Federal Government to operate as a Buddhist temple — invited Singha Rinpoche and some disciples from Singapore to participate in its opening activities.

In late 2013, a generous benefactor in Kota Tinggi requested Rinpoche to give his plot of land a blessing. Members of Thekchen Choling were invited for the land blessing. This land would later became home to Thekchen Choling Kota Tinggi Meditation Centre—a two-acre complex that houses dormitories, retreat rooms and a hall that sits 500. The centre is ideal for individual and group retreats.

In the year of the Wooden Horse, the 29th day of the eighth lunar month, Singha Rinpoche was invited for the opening of Thekchen Choling USA (Syracuse). Accompanied by a small entourage of Singaporean disciples, Rinpoche gave a series of teachings and empowerments in Syracuse. The new temple offered the Americans a sanctuary for the cultivation and practice of the Buddhadharma.

Specially commissioned by Singha Rinpoche, this magnificent statue of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig stands at 11.5m tall (largest in Southeast Asia). It is beautifully adorned with pearls, corals, turquoise and dzi-beads. Within the statue are Dharma texts, precious relics and holy objects granted by His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, H.E the 102nd Ganden Tri Rinpoche, H.E. the 5th Dagri Rinpoche, H.E. the 6th Kyabje Jhado Rinpoche, H.E Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, H.E Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and many other precious lineage gurus. The construction and consecration of this most holy statue was auspiciously completed on May 2016.

In conjunction with the Guru Rinpoche Retreat, Singha Rinpoche and participants of the retreat were invited to participate in the opening of the Kota Tinggi Meditation Centre.

The event was graced by the Guest of Honour YB Datuk Tee Siew Kiong and our precious guru, Singha Rinpoche.

Thekchen Choling USA (Syracuse) relocated to 109 East Avenue Minoa, New York 13116 in early 2017. Kyabje Jhado Rinpoche and Singha Rinpoche were both invited to give advice regarding the setting up of the new centre's prayer rooms. With heartfelt efforts from the US disciples and the invited visitors from Singapore and Mongolia, the new temple was consecrated on 18th September 2017 by Jhado Rinpoche and Singha Rinpoche.

Thekchen Choling (Melaka) requested Singha Rinpoche for his advice on the relocation of their centre. Thekchen Choling (Melaka) later moved to its new premises at 40 Jalan Pandan Indah 1, Taman Pandan Indah Melaka, Malaysia. Singha Rinpoche and his Singaporean disciples graced the event in 2018.