In 1979, His Eminence Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche visited Singapore and with his encouragement and advice, a protem committee headed by Mr. David Chee Kim Swee was formed in preparation for the founding of Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre in Singapore. A detached house at 17, Jalan Lateh was rented for the Centre's administration.

On 17th April 1981, the Registrar of Societies approved the registration of our Centre. The first management committee was formed on 11th March, 1982.

In 1990, Rinpoche initiated the search for a new premises to cater for the expansion of the Centre's activities. With the encouragement from His Eminence Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche and strong support from the members and devotees, the present Centre was acquired.

On 29th December, 1991, the Centre was relocated to its present premises. The premise was renovated in 1993 and has since been used as the venue for most of the Centre's activities to serve the spiritual and welfare needs of its members and devotees.

In celebrating the opening ceremony cum 12th Anniversary of the Centre on 14th November, 1993, a commemorative magazine was published and a thousand people vegetarian dinner, attended by guests of honour, Venerable Shi Ming Yi, Venerable B. Dhammaratana and Mr. Peh Chin Hwa, MP for Jalan Besar GRC, was held at the Mandarin Hotel.