About Us

H.E. Khejok Rinpoche at the centre

H.E. Khejok Rinpoche at the centre

Australian Institute of Tibetan Healing Practices – Sydney

In 1992 H.E. Khejok Rinpoche founded the Institute as a Traditional Tibetan Medical Institute; Rinpoche asked Ven. Chris Ngawang Yangchen Roberts to teach in the Institute. He directed Ven. Chris to develop courses for the general public for people with problems and illness and this eventually became the Overcoming Problems Classes and Programs.

Given that many people were benefiting from Ven. Chris’s teachings and given the obstacles to bringing the medicine into Australia, Rinpoche decided to change the direction and name of the Institute. Rinpoche asked Ven. Chris to keep the Overcoming Problems Classes and Programs going and cancelled the medical side of the Institute.

Why Overcoming Problems classes & programs are unique

Ven. Chris’s teaching position required a user-friendly program, encouraging people to experience positive changes within themselves to promote healing.

Using the traditional tibetan medical understanding of mind, she began to develop the Overcoming Problems programs and courses. After many years of compiling OP she and the centre received high acclaim and recognition.

All OP programs are run by donation and solely by volunteers.

Shambhala Pool

The pool located in front of Karuna Cottage

Townsville Centre

In 1998, H.E. Khejok Rinpoche founded the Townsville centre in Queensland and they began to run the Overcoming Problems Programs in Townsville.

They also run Shambhala Retreat, founded by Ven. Chris. The property provides three separate cottages offering discounted accommodation for the disabled, ill, elderly and the whole family. Shambhala also has a bus available with wheelchair access for the use of guests.

The aim is to increase the discount for accommodation as finances improve, making the cottages a place for respite and healing.

2006 - Gen Chris Ngawang Yangchen founded Karuna Cottage part of Shambhala Retreat, in North Queensland. Karuna is run and owned by the North Queensland centre. It is a self-contained cottage on Magnetic Island, available for the physically disabled, ill and elderly to use for convalescence at discounted rates.

Karuna Cottage

All OP programs are run by donation and solely by volunteers.