Teachers

Lama Ole Nydahl

Lama Ole Nydahl is one of the few people from the West who is fully qualified as a lama and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism.  In December 1969, together with his wife Hannah during their honeymoon to Nepal, he became the first western student of the 16^th Gyalwa Karmapa, one of the highest yogis of the last century. After many years of study and meditation, Karmapa asked Ole and Hannah to bring Diamond Way Tibetan Buddhism to the West.  For the last 35 years, Lama Ole has been travelling, teaching, and establishing meditation centers around the world without a break.  Today there are more than 650, and from that 50 within the Czech Republic.  He is also the author of several books, which are also available in Czech.

The Lineage

The Karma Kagyu lineage is one of the great schools of Diamond Way Buddhism.  This lineage of first-hand, orally-transmitted teachings places the main emphasis on meditation and direct transfer of experience of the nature of mind from teacher to student.  The origin of the Karma Kagyu lineage goes back to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.  The lineage developed in India and Tibet, as a practical way leading to Enlightenment, into its present form which you can now meet in the West.

In the West we practice the lay form of Buddhism, which does not exclude family or job, and incorporates meditation into our everyday lives.  This type of practice in our lineage was started by the Indian Mahasiddhas Naropa and Maitripa, and the renowned Marpa and Milarepa in Tibet.  Shortly after, Gampopa also developed the monastic tradition.  Since the 12^th century, the continuation of the lineage has been upheld by the successive reincarnations of Karmapa. At present, the heritage is transmitted by Buddhist teachers, in the West particularly the 17^th Karmapa Thaye Dorje, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, and Lama Ole Nydahl.