Lama Ole first stopped in New Mexico because of car trouble. In the winter of 1984 he was driving cross country with a group of students when the crankshaft of one of the cars broke. While the car was towed to Albuquerque for repairs, Lama Ole looked up Lama Dorje in Santa Fe, who invited him to give some teachings there. He also visited Taos to see Norbert, a very good friend of his from Germany, and then headed to Albuquerque to retrieve the car.

He was back again in December 1985 when he actually bought a parcel of land near Norbert's in Taos. He has returned to New Mexico, usually once or twice a year, ever since.

The first New Mexico Phowa was held at a private home in Albuquerque in 1990. The home and a small stupa were built beside a dramatic box canyon filled with basalt boulders inscribed with petroglyphs.The canyon penetrates a geologic uplift to the west of the city at the edge of a row of ancient volcanoes. The indigenous people and their present day descendants consider it an excellent place to access other worlds and many of the petroglyphs there have been made in conjunction with prayers for the dead. The canyon has since been designated a National Monument and the home was acquired by the United States Parks Services. Though the Park Service recently demolished the house, the stupa still stands.

Upon returning from the 10 Day Course in San Francisco in 1995, several of Ole's Albuquerque students formed the Albuquerque Diamond Way Center.

In the spring of 1998 the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Centers jointly hosted a Phowa course at a retreat on the shoulders of the Manzano Mountain range, southeast of the city. We hope to host another Phowa at the same location in the near future. Those who attended may remember it as a beautiful but chilly experience. Since then all of the buildings have been winterized for year round comfort and a large gymnasium has been added (See www.manzanoretreat.com).

In addition to the courses, Lama Ole continues to give public talks in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, usually at least once a year.

In the fall of 1998, two of Ole's Albuquerque students bought a small house in order to accommodate the weekly meditations. The house is located within a mile from the University of New Mexico just off of the historic Route 66. Ole blessed the new "house center" in May of 1999. The center continues to grow, slowly but surely, and soon we will need more space.

We meet every Tuesday night for the Meditation on the 16th Karmapa. After the meditation, we read aloud and discuss different Diamond Way teachings, usually over pizza. Occasionally we listen to or watch a taped teaching.

Several times a year we host fellow students whom Ole has authorized to give introductory talks. And we usually throw a couple of pot luck parties each year. Stay posted!

Newcomers are always welcome on Tuesday nights and for the introductory talks and parties.

Those who have begun the Ngondro practice are welcome to join us on the first Sunday of every month for Diamond Mind meditation. And those who have done the Phowa course with Lama Ole, may join us four times a year, in March, June, September, and December, for Phowa meditation.

We would also like to extend an open invitation to Lama Ole's students around the world. Please visit us, our center and our wild and beautiful state. To paraphrase Lama Ole, "There are definitely energies to work with in this place."