Established in 1995, Namgyalgar is the Australia and Pacific practice and retreat centre of the International Dzogchen Community (IDC). Founded by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018) IDC is a global network of centres in the Dzogchen tradition associated with the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.¹ 

At just over twenty years of age, in 1959 Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018) was invited by renowned Tibetologist Professor Giuseppe Tucci (1894-1984) to study and teach in Italy. He later became a Professor at the University of Naples and a leading scholar and teacher of Dzogchen, Tibetan medicine and Tibetan language throughout the world.² In 1981 he established Merigar in Tuscany, the first of nine gars in the IDC. (Gar is a Tibetan term referring to a dwelling or camp used by the IDC for a major retreat/practice centre in their network/global mandala).³ 

Namkhai Norbu first visited Australia in 1985 and returned numerous times throughout his life leading retreats and giving teachings. This included leading the inauguration of Namgyalgar in 1995, when it was located near Tilba Tilba in New South Wales.⁴ The original retreat centre was built on a used farm, purchased in 1994. It is now the site of the Drogmi Buddhist Institute.⁵ 

In 2010, land was purchased near the Glasshouse mountains to develop a retreat centre. In 2012, Namkhai led the first retreat there, where he was welcomed to the land by local Indigenous leader Alan Parson.⁶ Namgyalgar hosts Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance workshops alongside Dzogchen retreats and teachings.⁷ Namkhai Yeshi, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu’s son is currently the spiritual director of Namgyalgar and the IDC.⁸ 

By: Ruth Fitzpatrick and Anna Halafoff 

References: 

¹ “Home,” Namgyalgar, accessed September 1, 2026, https://dzogchen.org.au/; “About us,” Dzamling Gar, accessed September 1, 2026, https://dzamlinggar.org/en/about-us/; Shang Shung Publications, NAMKHAI NORBU AND THE DZOGCHEN COMMUNITY, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5MwlEpv9VY. 

² “Timeline,” Dzamling Gar, accessed September 1, 2026, https://dzamlinggar.org/en/chnn/timeline/; “Chögyal Namkhai Norbu,” Merigar West, accessed September 1, 2026, https://www.merigar.it/en/our-masters/chogyal-namkhai-norbu/. 

³ “Timeline,” Dzamling Gar; “Gar and Lings,” Merigar West, accessed September 1, 2026, https://www.merigar.it/en/dzogchen-community/gar-and-lings/. 

⁴ “Timeline,” Dzamling Gar. 

⁵ Stan Gorton, “Hundreds at Buddhist retreat,” Narooma News, February 25, 2009, https://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=0,7825,0,0,1,0; Marion Williams, “Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Dzogchen teachings at Namgyalgar retreat,” YouTube, September 1, 2010, 10 min., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehv3JSMMxrU. 

⁶ namdzogcom, “Namgyalgar Nth 3 5min history,” YouTube, December 7, 2013, 3 min., 32 sec., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrHCcXvIhI4. 

⁷ International Dzogchen Community of Namgyalgar, Facebook page, accessed September 1, 2026, https://www.facebook.com/namgyalgar/. 

⁸ “Namkhai Yeshi,” Namgyalgar, accessed September 1, 2026, https://dzogchen.org.au/namkhai-yeshi/.