Ani Dorje Lhamo (Dorlha)

Ani Dorje Lhamo (Dorlha)

Practice Leader

Dorlha was born in the UK and in 1985 immigrated to Australia with her two children. Her varied career began in the UK where her occupational pathway took her from being a professional dancer, a stallholder in Portobello Road, a homeopath, and a schoolteacher in London’s East End. Once in Australia, Dorlha continued for a time as a teacher before undertaking a Psychology major and eventually moving from Sydney to Wollongong to complete her PhD in 2002. Dorlha’s research explored people’s experiences of life-threatening illness, how they might make meaning of their experience and how they might best be supported. She subsequently worked clinically as a psycho-oncologist at Westmead Hospital before joining the Oncology team at Wollongong Hospital where she worked until retiring.

Her interest in eastern spirituality began in her 20s but it was not until her 40s that she found herself drawn to the humanity and joy she saw in Tibetan Buddhism as epitomised by the Dalai Lama, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. In time, she was drawn to Wangdrak Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Wangdrak Dorje, a disciple of the first Tsoknyi Rinpoche and she met the community of nuns in the high mountains of Tibet, the Gebchak nuns. Dorlha was ordained by Wangdrak Rinpoche in Singapore in 2020.

Since her retirement and ordination Dorlha facilitates meditation groups, sharing Buddhist teachings and practices with people from a wide range of cultural and spiritual backgrounds and across the age spectrum. She provides one on one end of life support to people facing terminal illness and the loved ones who care for them.

Dorlha has been a member of the Tergar International community since 2019. She loves the structure of the teachings, the clear pathway, the quality and depth of courses available and the immense support offered by Tergar. She is thrilled to be an active part of the growing Tergar Australia community.