In celebration of Drup Tshe-Zhi, marking the Buddha’s first sermon, the Mahasandhi Centre in Perth is privileged to announce a milestone event for Buddhist practitioners worldwide. During His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche’s visit to Western Australia in April 2025, Mount Augustus (Burringurrah) was recognized as a sacred site linked to Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo (Samantabhadra).
Located approximately 1,000 kilometres northeast of Perth, Mount Augustus is celebrated as the largest rock in the world, stretching 8 kilometres in length, 3 kilometres in width, and rising over 700 metres above the surrounding plain nearly twice the size of Uluru. Estimated to be over 1.6 billion years old, this majestic monolith has long been revered by the Wajarri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land.
Following a 14‑day Dzogchen retreat at Kellerberrin, His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche, guided by a profound spiritual vision, affirmed Mount Augustus as a seat of blessing and realization linked to Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo, making it the first recognized sacred site of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere (west).
Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo
Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo, known in Sanskrit as Samantabhadra, is revered in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism as one of the two close attendants of Buddha Shakyamuni, standing alongside Manjushri Bodhisattva, and is also counted among the Eight Close Bodhisattvas (Nyewai Se-chen Gyed), often called the Buddha’s heart-sons. Samantabhadra is also the source of the renowned King of Aspiration Prayers (Zangchoe Moenlam) a powerful dedication prayer recited across all Tibetan lineages for the liberation and awakening of all beings.
Sacred places associated with Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo are found throughout Bhutan, India, and China. With this recognition by His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche, Mount Augustus now stands as a spiritual landmark for Buddhist practitioners in Australia.
A Place for Practice and Pilgrimage
Recognized as a sacred site by the spiritual vision of His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche, Mount Augustus has become more than a natural landmark for Buddhist practitioners. It now serves as a revered place for pilgrimage, meditation, prayer, and spiritual gatherings. Devotees may make aspirations and offerings, receiving the blessings of Phakpa Kuntu Zangpo (Samantabhadra).
Mount Augustus stands as a symbolic bridge between East and West, showing that the blessings of the Buddhas transcend geography and culture. Visitors are respectfully reminded to honor the customs of the Traditional Custodians and to observe all legal requirements and land regulations when visiting this sacred site.
About His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche
His Holiness Gangteng Truelku Rinpoche, the Ninth Throne Holder of Gangteng Monastery in Bhutan, is revered as the reincarnation of the great Tertoen (treasure revealer) Pema Lingpa. A highly respected master of the Nyingma tradition, Rinpoche is one of the foremost Dzogchen teachers in the world, guiding students across more than 64 centres and practice communities worldwide.
With his profound realization, compassionate guidance, and tireless dedication, Rinpoche has been instrumental in preserving sacred lineages and nurturing deep faith and practice among Buddhist communities across the globe. His recognition of Mount Augustus in Western Australia as a sacred seat of Phakpa Kuentu Zangpo (Samantabhadra) stands as a testament to his spiritual vision and establishes a significant milestone for Buddhist practice and pilgrimage in the Southern Hemisphere.
May this sacred recognition inspire all practitioners to realize the innate purity of their own minds and dedicate their practice for the benefit of all beings.
