In 1976, at the request of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa and Kalu Rinpoche, Norlha Rinpoche came to New York City where he taught Buddhist philosophy and meditation practices to a wide range of students. Two years later, to provide students with the means of studying and practicing at a more profound level of commitment, he founded Kagyu Thubten Ch�ling Monastery and Retreat Center in upstate New York.

Since 1984 Norlha Rinpoche has returned to his birthplace in Tibet several times. As part of his continuing initiative to re-establish the Dharma in Nangchen, he rebuilt the monastery at Korche, including its two retreat facilities. In order to improve opportunities for Tibetan women to study and practice the Dharma, he founded a monastery, retreat center and monastic college at Kala Rongo. As a result of his efforts, the Dharma is once again flourishing in Nangchen. To date five retreats have been completed at Kala Rongo, with the sixth to commence in Spring 2008.

In recent years, Lama Norlha has undertaken additional projects to improve the lives of Nangchen's inhabitants, mostly subsistence farmers and nomadic families. In early 1997, he founded NYEMA, the Nangchen Yushu Educational and Medical Association. NYEMA's mission is to establish facilities for basic medical care and create schools to teach fundamental language, literacy, and math skills to children. For more information, visit the NYEMA website.