bingentrancement

1. Karmapa Controversy
2. Gyalwang Karmapa

Karmapa begins by describing the proper posture for meditation, with a straight back and a balanced gaze cast slightly downward. In the beginning, he explains, it’s better to close the eyes to reduce distraction while meditating.

The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924. Meditation; Laity; Vajrayana; Tantra techniques. The Karmapa (honorific title His. Karmapa's Gift Tibetan Buddhism for Western Students: introduction meditations resources. The Guru Yoga Meditation on the 16th Karmapa in a small booklet.

Diamond Way Buddhism (Diamond Way Buddhism - Karma Kagyu Lineage) is a lay organization within the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Diamond Way Buddhist centre was founded in 1972 by Hannah and Ole Nydahl. It is led by Ole Nydahl under the spiritual guidance of Trinley Thaye Dorje, one of two claimants to the title of the 17th Karmapa (See Karmapa Controversy). There are approximately 650 Diamond Way Buddhist centres worldwide.

• 4Teachers

History and development[edit]

Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, and the subsequent self-exile of the Dalai Lama to India in 1959, thousands of Tibetans fled Chinese-occupied Tibet as refugees, creating the Tibetan diaspora. The head of Karma Kagyu school, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Karmapa, also left Tibet in 1959 and established Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, India, as his main seat in exile. The exodus of Tibetans ultimately made Tibetan Buddhism more accessible to the rest of the world. Many young Westerners on the hippie trail from Europe to India and Nepal came in contact with the Tibetans and some became interested in their religion. This started already in 1960 with Freda Bedi. Nine years later, among the Westerners to came into contact with the Tibetans in exile were Hannah and Ole Nydahl, who went on their honeymoon to the Himalayas in 1968. They first became students of Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche. In 1969 they met the 16th Karmapa and became his closest Western students.^{[according to whom?]} After meditating and studying Buddhism for three years, the 16th Karmapa asked Ole and Hannah to start meditation centres in his name in the West.^[1][2] The first Karma Kagyu center in the West was founded in 1972 in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[1]

In 1973 the 16th Karmapa visited Europe at the invitation of Ole and Hannah Nydahl.^[3][4] Following this visit and at the 16th Karmapa's request, Ole Nydahl began travelling further across Europe in order to teach the basic doctrines of Karma KagyuBuddhism. As more became interested more centers were founded and their number increased over time, particularly in Germany and Poland. The individual groups grew steadily.^[3] He later travelled to the United States and across South America and Russia, founding more centres.

Following the Karmapa Controversy, Karma Kagyu Buddhist centres were obliged to decide whether to accept Orgyen Trinley Dorje, who was recognised by Tai Situ, the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government, or to support Shamar Rinpoche. In the course of the 1990s, while a majority of Kagyu monasteries elected to accept Orgyen Trinley Dorje, most Diamond Way centres under Ole Nydahl accepted Thaye Dorje.^[5][6]

Diamond Way Buddhism was founded as a legally distinct organization within the Karma Kagyu umbrella in 1993. Until then, the Nydahls had transferred all ownership of the centers they founded to the Karma Kagyu administration.^[2] However, it is common for Karma Kagyu lamas to each have their own organization for their students, as each teacher has a different style and approach. For example, Shamarpa has the Bodhipath organization, Chogyam Trungpa had the Vajradhatu, etc. The goals of the Diamond Way organization remain 'the creation and maintenance of a permanent basis from which to enable both laypeople and achievers to maintain, cultivate and practice Buddhist religion, philosophy and culture in countries that are not originally Buddhist, within the traditional manner of the Diamond Way transmission of the Karma Kagyu lineage', Buddhist art, supporting translations of authentic Buddhist text, and funding retreats etc. The 'spiritual counsel' of the organisation is provided by the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje (India), Kunzing Shamar Rinpoche (India) andJigme Rinpoche (France).^[7]

Ideals[edit]

Diamond Way describes itself as an adaptation of the Karma Kagyu tradition to Western culture without Tibetan customs and organisational structures.^[8]

Ole Nydahl describes Diamond Way as a lay tradition offering methods for people who have jobs, partners, families and responsibilities. He states '..our work is grown on the basis of friendship and trust.. since the Diamond Way teachings aim to bring freedom and independence, it is people who already have those qualities who are generally attracted to our centers.'^[6] He also says he is keen to avoid what were perceived to be the more exotic or ritualistic aspects of Tibetan Buddhism such as pujas sung in Tibetan with Tibetan musical accompaniment. In 1998 Ole Nydahl stated 'I simply don’t want gifted and critical people who discover us to step right into the middle of a puja as has happened so often in the past. They then think they have landed with Catholics or some other sect and we won’t get a second chance to benefit them or their like-minded friends.' ^[6] Instead, most meditation texts (except mantras) are translated and used in European languages.^[9]

Practices[edit]

The most important practice in Diamond Way Buddhism is considered to be identification with the teacher and following that to try to sustain the Mahamudra view and bring what is learned in meditation into daily life.^[10][11][12]

Diamond Way Buddhism uses a variety of standard Vajrayana meditation methods found within the Karma Kagyu tradition. When the practitioners meet at lectures or for meditation they will typically do the 'Guru Yoga meditation', (Skt. Guru yoga, Tib. Lame Naljor) where the practitioner identifies with the enlightened qualities of the teacher in order to develop these qualities. This is then followed by the 'Invocation of Black Coat', sung in Tibetan.^[9]

Like other Karma Kagyu practitioners, individuals then usually do a preliminary practice called the ngöndro, consisting of 111,111 repetitions each of 4 different meditations, as given by the 9th Karmapa.^[13] The ngöndro must be completed before practitioners can move on to other practices. In most cases, following completion of ngöndro, students practice a meditation on the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyö Dorje, called 'The Guru Yoga in Four Sessions' (Tibetan Tun Shi Lame Naljor).^[9]

Other practices include a variant of the meditation on Chenrezig (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara) composed by the 12th Century siddhaTang Tong Gyalpo and the phowa (transference of consciousness at the time of death).^[9]

They receive an explanation of the meditations from more experienced members who are authorized to teach in the Diamond Way Buddhist Centers.^[9]

Teachers[edit]

The 16th Karmapa[edit]

The 16th Karmapa Ranjung Rigpe Dorje (1924–1981) was born in Derge in eastern Tibet. Karmapa left the People's Republic of China in 1959, deciding that the Dharma would be served better outside Communist China. The Karmapas were the first incarnations to start the tulku-system and they are the heads of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

Karmapa Controversy

He was the Lama who told the Nydahls to start Karma Kagyu centres in the West and later visited many Karma Kagyu centres, mainly staying in centres founded by the Nydahls or Kalu Rinpoche.^[14] His first visit in the West was in 1974^[4] and he gave numerous teachings and empowerments in the centres.^[2][3]

The 17th Karmapa[edit]

Trinley Thaye Dorje (born 1983) is the current head of the Karma Kagyu School and one of the candidates to the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa. He is considered the true incarnation of the Karmapa by the Diamond Way Buddhist Centers, as well as by Shamarpa, Shangpa Rinpoche, the Second Beru Khyentse, Gyatrul Rinpoche and Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche.^[15]

Trinley Thaye Dorje was born in Tibet but managed to escape in 1994 and was enthroned by Shamarpa at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI).^[2] He has since visited the West several times in order to teach. The first time he visited Europe was in 2000 and the first time he visited the United States was in 2003.^[15]

Ole Nydahl[edit]

Ole Nydahl (born 1941 near Copenhagen, Denmark), is a Buddhist Lama and one of the main figures in the spreading of Karma Kagyu Buddhism in the West.^[14][16] Since the early 1970s he has toured the world, giving lectures and meditation courses, and together with his wife Hannah Nydahl (1946–2007) founded Diamond Way Buddhism. He is often referred to as Lama Ole Nydahl or Lama Ole.

Hannah Nydahl[edit]

Hannah Nydahl (1946–2007), wife of Ole Nydahl, was an important Danish teacher and translator in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.^[3] She was born and died in Copenhagen, Denmark. Hannah and her husband Ole Nydahl, who assisted her work, were childhood friends, meeting for the first time when Hannah was 5 and Ole 10.^[1]

Hannah and Ole Nydahl were introduced to Buddhism on their honeymoon in Nepal in 1968. Nine years after the British woman Freda Bedi had become the first Western student of the 16th Karmapa (1960), the Nydahls also became Western students of the Karmapa^[17] in 1969. After a three-year period of study they were sent back to Europe by the 16th Karmapa to found centers in his name.^[1][2][16]

She was a Buddhist teacher like her husband (sometimes referred to as Lamini or female Lama^[18]), but the main role of Hannah Nydahl was as a translator for Lamas like the 16th Karmapa,^[14]Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche etc.^[3] In an interview she explained, 'I do not mind teaching but when I am together with Ole it is more natural that he teaches. When I am not with him I mainly translate and organize for the Tibetan lamas.'^[19]

In the magazine Kagyu Life International she was described in this way: 'Hannah Nydahl is a much sought after translator and interpreter of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. She divides her time between translating for the lamas at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India, participating in various Buddhist text translation projects, organizing schedules and visits of high Rinpoches in the lineage, and traveling around the world with Lama Ole.'^[19]

She spoke Danish, German, English, and Tibetan fluently. As few Tibetan teachers spoke English, she learned Tibetan, from Tarab Tulku at Copenhagen University. Since all texts were in Tibetan, her work included translating texts,^[19] and spoken translation for the teaching Lamas at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi, India, participation in various Buddhist text translation projects, as well as organizing and translating lectures for Tibetan Lamas.^[15][20]

She was widely respected for her work, devotion and accomplishments as a Buddhist practitioner.^[21][22][23] A Danish newspaper even referred to her as the 'Mother of Buddhism'.^[24] Jørn Borup, Department of Study of Religion at University of Aarhus said: 'The most lasting influence on the Buddhist practice scene in Denmark was triggered by Ole and Hannah Nydahl backpacking in the spiritual East during their honeymoon in Nepal in 1968.'^[16]

In 2006 she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and died three months later.^[25]

A documentary about Hannah Nydahl, titled Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Story, was screened for the first time at the ARPA International Film Festival (held at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles) on 15 September 2014 where it won the audience award for Best Documentary. The film was later screened around the world, including at various festivals where it won further awards, and has received positive reviews from film critics.^[26] It is now available on Netflix and Amazon in North America.

Shamarpa[edit]

Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, born 1952 in Derge, Tibet, is second to the Gyalwa Karmapa in the spiritual hierarchy of the Karma Kagyu School. He fled Tibet at the age of 9 with the 16th Karmapa. Shamarpa is also known as Red Hat Karmapa, and is, together with the 17th Karmapa, the current holder of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Shamarpa completed the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India, after the death of the 16th Karmapa. He has officially recognized Trinlay Thaye Dorje as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. Shamarpa spends most of his time teaching, travelling around the world.^[15]

He is the founder of Bodhi Path, another Karma Kagyu Buddhist group.^[27]

Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche[edit]

Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche (1918–2003) was the first teacher of Hannah and Ole Nydahl. He was born in Bhutan, but left the country when he was 13 in order to study and practice Buddhism in Nepal. He met the 16th Karmapa in 1944 and the Karmapa became his most important teacher. He visited Europe for the first time in 1987 at the invitation of the Nydahls, who were his first Western students. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Americas, and Australia giving teachings and initiations. He completed 17 stupas (Buddhist monuments) in Europe and Asia, including two important stupas in Spain: A Kalachakra stupa and the Benalmádena Stupa,^[15] the biggest stupa outside Asia.^[28]

Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche[edit]

Gyalwang Karmapa

Maniwa Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche (born 1950), in Nepal. He was ordained in Rumtek by the 16th Karmapa. The title 'Maniwa' is a title given to a master of the Chenrezig practice, who have accomplished a billion Om mani peme hungmantras.^{[citation needed]}

Other lamas[edit]

Other teachers mentioned as teachers by DiamondWay-Buddhism.org:^[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdNydahl, Ole 'Entering The Diamond Way, Tibetan Buddhism Meets the West', Blue Dolphin Publishing (1999). ISBN978-0-931892-03-5
2. ^ ^abcdeCurren, Erik D. (2008) Buddha's Not Smiling, Uncovering the Corruption at the Heart of Tibetan Buddhism Today Alaya Press ISBN0-9772253-0-5
3. ^ ^abcdeNydahl, Ole (1992) Riding The Tiger, Twenty Years on the Road - The Risks and Joys of Bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, Blue Dolphin Publishing. ISBN978-0-931892-67-7
4. ^ ^abKarmapa.org websiteArchived 6 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2009-02-12
5. ^Lehnert, Tomek (2000). Rogues in Robes: An Inside Chronicle of a Chinese-Tibetan Intrigue in the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Diamond Way Buddhism. Blue Dolphin Publishing. ISBN1-57733-026-9.
6. ^ ^abc1998 Interview with Ole NydahlArchived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
7. ^Buddhism Foundation Diamond Way Charter Retrieved on 2009-30-01
8. ^No Need for Too Much Tradition, lecture by Shamar Rinpoche, Vienna, September 1993Archived 21 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
9. ^ ^abcdeDWB in UK about meditationsArchived 24 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
10. ^Nydahl. Ole. The Great Seal - Limitless Space & Joy'.The Mahamudra View of Diamond Way Buddhism” Fire Wheel Publishing, 2004 ISBN0-9752954-0-3
11. ^Video: Nydahl, Ole: Meditation 1997 ThreeBearsMedia. Available onlineArchived 22 January 2009 at the Wayback Machineand on Youtube
12. ^Nydahl, Ole (2008) The Way Things are - A living Approach to Buddhism for today's world. O Books. ISBN978-1-84694-042-2
13. ^Karmapa IX, The Mahamudra, Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance LTWA. ISBN978-81-85102-13-9
14. ^ ^abcOfficial statement from Lama Karma Wangchuk, International Karma Kagyu Buddhist Organization. 01.07.2004 Retrieved on 2009-02-02
15. ^ ^abcdefDiamondWay-Buddhism.org - TeachersArchived 20 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-02
16. ^ ^abcJournal of Global Buddhism, Article by Jørn Borup, Department of Study of Religion at University of Aarhus, Denmark. 2008, based on research from 2005Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-02
17. ^Mackenzie, Vicki 1998. Cave in the Snow: Tenzin Palmo's Quest for Enlightenment. Bloomsbury: New York, p. 96
18. ^Movie: Buddhism in the Modern World (2008), Soulproduction
19. ^ ^abcInterview with Hannah Nydahl, Kagyu Life International, vol. 4, Virginia, July 1995 Available online
20. ^Open letter regarding Karmapa Controversy by karmapa-issue.org, 26.07.2004 Retrieved on 2009-30-01
21. ^Official letter from the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, 2007Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
22. ^Official letter from Ole Nydahl, 2007Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
23. ^Official letter from Jigme Rinpoche, 2007Archived 30 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-30-01
24. ^Nanna Schelde, Farvel til buddhisternes mor (Farewell to the Mother of Buddhism), Kristeligt Dagblad, Denmark, 03. apr 2007 Available online ('In danish')
25. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
26. ^http://www.hannahthefilm.com/
27. ^Bodhi Path homepage Retrieved on 2009-02-02
28. ^StupaBenalmadena.orgArchived 2 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-02

External links[edit]

• Neo-orthodox Tradition and Transition: Lama Ole Nydahl and the Diamond Way by Bee Scherer

Over time, meditation leads to an ever-better understanding of ourselves and the world of phenomena. Observing everything coming and going in our mind gives us the space to finally recognize the observer of everything — the true nature of mind.

You can learn Diamond Way meditations in all of our 644 Buddhist centers around the world. Beginners must get the oral explanations in order to be able to practice properly. Meditating with a group is very helpful to learn the rhythm and sequences of the meditation. It’s also a great way to stay motivated to continue the meditation practice!

The following meditations, together with the view of the Great Seal (Mahamudra) can lead in one lifetime to liberation and enlightenment. They are traditional meditation practices of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. They were transmitted to Lama Ole Nydahl by various masters of the lineage, and translated to Western languages to give direct access and understanding to Buddhist students in the West.

16th Karmapa Meditation

The bread-and-butter practice of Diamond Way Buddhism. All our centers offer it as the main meditation practice, and most Diamond Way Buddhists do it daily. Here, one imagines the 16th Karmapa — the realized teacher — and receives his blessing for body, speech and mind. One melts with his qualities, and continues with a fresh, wider, and less personal view on the world. The 16th Karmapa composed this meditation himself and asked Hannah and Lama Ole to teach it as the main practice in the West. It’s a very condensed and very effective meditation.

Refuge Meditation

The Refuge Meditation builds the beginning of a long meditation series. Here one checks if one really wishes to engage in a serious Buddhist path. One will get familiar with, and take refuge in, lasting values. The Buddha represents the ultimate goal of enlightenment, the teachings bring one to this state of mind, the realized Bodhisattvas are friends on the Buddhist path, and the lama represents blessing, methods, and protection at the same time, and is necessary to reach enlightenment. Repeating a refuge formula, one opens up to these four sources of refuge. After completing 11,111 repetitions, one can decide if one is ready to start the Four Foundational practices, which take longer.

Foundational Practices

The Foundational Practices, or Extraordinary Preliminary Practices (Ngöndro in Tibetan) consist of four meditations done one after another. Each of them are repeated 111,111 times. They prepare one’s mind for more advanced meditation.

Taking Refuge and Developing the Enlightened attitude

This is a well known physical practice from Tibet. One prostrates while visualizing all the aspects of the Refuge and repeating a refuge formula. This practice mainly cleans hindrances of the body so that it becomes a useful tool on the way to enlightenment. The openness and devotion which will appear are used for the next meditation, on Diamond Mind.

Diamond Mind

In this meditation one cleans difficult subconscious impressions (the causes of disturbing feelings) before they can manifest as difficult results in one’s daily life. One uses the mantra of the Buddha Diamond Mind, who has the ability to dissolve all impressions of whatever we have said or done in this or former lives.

Mandala Offerings

After having cleaned body, speech and mind, one gets the space to receive new impressions. That’s why this practice can enrich our now open mind with everything good imaginable. One focuses on everything beautiful, precious, good and pure which one offers to the refuge. The surplus and joy that appear from this practice are used to benefit others.

Guru Yoga

The Guru Yoga meditation follows the same principle as the 16th Karmapa meditation. It is a more elaborate practice, where one repeats certain wishes to the whole transmission lineage, and increases one’s devotion and openness to the source for development. The identification with the lama will help us to experience the world as ever more blissful.

Mahakala Invocation

The daily 5-minute invocation of the protector of the Karma Kagyu lineage, which helps to diminish hindrances on the way to enlightenment. This sung meditation is one of the few practices that is guided in the Tibetan language.

8th Karmapa Meditation

The Guru Yoga on the 8th Karmapa is an advanced meditation for which one can ask for authorization to practice after having completed the Foundational practices.

Additional meditation practices

Phowa

The Phowa meditation is one of the Six Yogas of Naropa. In retreat, one learns about and prepares for the dying process at the end of one’s life. One learns upfront what meditation to use while dying to finish the cycle of rebirths and liberate one’s mind.

Loving Eyes Meditation

The meditation on the Buddha of Compassion increases one’s love, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity towards all sentient beings.

Medicine Buddha Meditation

This meditation focuses on the health of all beings.

Nyungne

A 3-day intensive meditation retreat involving commitments of not talking, eating, wearing jewelery etc. The practice increases one’s compassion for all beings.

Clear Light Meditation

This Clear Light meditation on the 15th Karmapa connects one to the blessing of the lineage.

Meditation on the Buddha of Limitless Light

One must complete 111,111 repetitions of this meditation before doing one’s first Phowa Course.

Meditation on the Buddha of Limitless Life

The meditation on the Buddha of Limitless Life improves one’s karma for a long life.

Meditation on Liberatrice (Tara)

This meditation is used to get in contact with female wisdom in its active form.