T’hondup Ling was established in Los Angeles as a Chagdud Gonpa center in 1987 by His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. At that time, His Eminence voiced his aspiration that Venerable Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa relocate from India to serve as the resident Lama of Chagdud Gonpa Foundation, T’hondup Ling.  In 1996, Lama Gyatso was able to move to Los Angeles on a full-time basis to begin his selfless service to T’hondup Ling and the southern California Dharma community.  Lama Gyatso faithfully served His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in this capacity until Lama Gyato's last breath on October 13, 2009 (Dakini Day, Gangtok, Sikkim).

Since then, the small but dedicated group of students of Lama Chödak Gyatso Rinpoche have continued to maintain the T’hondup Ling center by upholding the practice commitments and activities set forth by Lama Gyatso, and diligently trying our best to preserve Lama Gyatso’s commitments to His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in this and every way.
Now in this time of great change and opportunity for all of us as Dharma practitioners, and after much heartfelt considerations and consultations, Linnea, the late Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa’s wife and T’hondup Ling’s resident center coordinator, has made the decision to move to Pema Drawa/Ari Bhöd Tehachapi, in order to work full time for the fulfillment of Venerable Lama Gyatso Rinpoche’s enlightened aspirations.  specifically the building of Zangdok Palri USA.
The final schedule of public events was offered the weekend of June 18th & 19th 2011, at the Chagdud Gonpa T’hondup Ling, Center in Los Feliz. aka: The Center, Lama Gyatso’s House, Rowena or the Big Red House.

At this time, we would like to thank everyone for the many years of love and support you have shown during the era of Rowena Avenue T’hondup Ling with Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa Rinpoche, our Lama in Residence, who faithfully held the seat here in service to his precious Guru, His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, Padma Gargyi Wangchuk, Lord of the Dance. This has been a time of unparalleled blessings and Dharma activity for Los Angeles, with many of the greatest senior masters of the vanishing generation of pre-1959 Tibet accepting the invitation of Lama Chödak Gyatso to visit T’hondup Ling and turn the wheel of the vast and profound Dharma for the benefit of all mother sentient beings.  In addition to His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, we name, with profound gratitude, some of the senior masters who visited and blessed this center and its ongoing activities with teachings, transmissions and empowerments. These masters include: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche, His Holiness Trulshik Ripoche, His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, His Holiness Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, His Holiness Orgyan Kusum Lingpa, Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche, His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, Venerable Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, and other intrinsic awareness-holding masters.

As now is indeed a time of great change and opportunity for all Dharma practitioners together in this mandala of Chagdud Rinpoche and Lama Gyatso. May we remain diligent on the true path, dedicate the merit and aspire that from now until the end of cyclic existence, may we never be separate from the true Lama!