Lama Ole Nydahl
Lama Ole Nydahl is one of the few Westerners in the world as a fully qualified Lama and meditation master in the Karma Kagyu Buddhist tradition. After completing three years of intensive meditation in 1972, Lama Ole started teaching Buddhism in Europe at the request of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. He has transmitted the blessing of the lineage, traveling as an authorized Lama and tirelessly teaching around the world in a different city nearly every day for the last thirty-two years. With no main seat or center and tirelessly teaching in North and South America, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Asia, his activity probably carries more students than any Buddhist teacher in the world. The 16th Karmapa recognized him as a reincarnated protector, continuing the needed work of protecting the lineage in difficult times. Additionally, his magnetizing energy inspires beings to connect with their enlightened nature.
Lama Ole challenges people's concepts of life and Buddhism in an unorthodox manner. He is well known to discard politically correct talk. He has been a major driving force in bringing Buddhism to the West, and to date has established over five hundred Buddhist centers worldwide. Hannah Nydahl, his wife, travels part of the time with Lama Ole, and spends the rest of her time translating for the highest Rinpoches in the lineage. Lama Ole also travels with Caty Hartung from Germany, who is a leading conductor ensuring that the world-wide Diamond Way Buddhist organization works efficiently, and as a family.
It all began in 1968 when Ole and Hannah Nydahl went to Nepal on their honeymoon. There they met their first Buddhist teacher, Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche. It was Rinpoche who sent them to meet the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Hannah and Ole Nydahl became his first Western students. Gyalwa Karmapa had a profound influence on their lives, and later recognized Lama Ole as a protector of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Between 1969 and 1972 Ole and Hannah studied under the direct guidance of the 16th Karmapa. At that time they received empowerments and instructions in Buddhist meditation practice and philosophy.
Lama Ole holds the transmission for a unique Diamond Way practice called Phowa, in which one learns to transfer one's consciousness at the moment of death to a state of highest bliss. Since 1987, he has taught this practice to over 60,000 people around the world.
Lama Ole Nydahl has given numerous print, television and radio interviews, and is the author of numerous books translated into many languages: 'Entering the Diamond Way' (1985); 'Ngondro' (1990); 'Mahamudra: Boundless Joy and Freedom'(1990); 'Riding the Tiger' (1992); 'The Nature of Mind' (1993); 'The Way Things Are' (1996); 'The Great Seal: Limitless Space and Joy' (2004).
"...’Behave like a Buddha until you have become one.' It means lifting the level of perception and it is actually only necessary to remove the dust from one's eyes to recognize everything as an expression of love and self-arisen perfect wisdom. To see that mind's limitless potential is playing here and now as well as everywhere and always. Only this insight will secure a true, absolute and lasting happiness, and Buddhist meditations aim directly for that experience... Much happiness for you and your surroundings! "
-Lama Ole Nydahl
http://www.lama-ole-nydahl.org website of Lama Ole Nydahl
Diamond
Way Buddhist Center of Austin (512) 371-9803
e-mail: austin@diamondway.org