Manifestation and sound arise from the subtle mental imprints created from thoughts. As a picture in water disappears of its own accord, so false appearances automatically fade away when their lack of reality is understood. Beyond essential reality there is nothing – Such is the insight of the Mahamudra.
When the door of the mind, through which appearances are created, remains unobstructed, unwarped by concepts, then there is no solid reality, just bright light, and we let everything that appears just arrive naturally. Such a practice is the meditation of Mahamudra.
Illusory appearances are born of the belief in a reality. Relying on a constant understanding of their non-reality, we dwell at rest in original spontaneous nature and the space where there is nothing to accomplish is thus reached effortlessly.
Such is the practice of Mahamudra. These three points are the treasure of my heart. Since the yogis who go to the heart of everything are like my own heart, for them I have pronounced these heart-felt words, which cannot be communicated to others.
Here’s a blast from the past! When Lama Ole was due to visit London on 15 November 1999 – ten years ago today – he was interviewed by telephone by Richard Johnson of the Sunday Times. The interview appeared in the “Life in the Day” section of the Sunday Times Magazine. We have reproduced it here for your enjoyment:
London and Graz Sanghas together in the Graz Centre's beautiful meditation hall
On 6-8 November several members of the London Buddhist Centre had the amazing opportunity to discover the Diamond Way Buddhist Centre in Graz, Austria. During the weekend they were honoured to be guests of the Austrian sangha as well as being given the chance to present the New London Buddhist Centre project. These events are called “road shows” which mainly brings to mind fundraising activities. However, the most important meaning behind the trip to Graz was the exchange of experience, joint dharma activities and simply spending quality time together and having lots of fun.
Reality as we see it, is always influenced by what we think about reality. Everything we perceive is coloured by our culture, upbringing, experience, education and a lot more. However, what is behind our experiences and who or what is perceiving things? In this video, Lama Ole Nydahl explains ultimate reality: the truth beyond all personal matters, and how this truth can be realized through Buddhist methods.
A new Diamond Way Buddhist Group has been established in St. Albans. Several friends who live north of the M25 started to visit each other and meditate together. Lama Ole gave encouragement to the founder of the group on the Trans-Siberian Express in 2008, “Just meditate together and it will all come naturally”. After several months of regular meditations, it was decided to open to the public as an official group. Now there are several people popping in on Friday evenings for the 16th Karmapa meditation.
St Albans has a rich history as one of the three biggest trade sites in Roman Britain. Since it is one of the cradles of Christian martyrdom (Saint Alban was the first – at least official – martyr in the history of Christianity in England), it has its’ own cathedral. This makes it a city, even though only just over 60,000 people live there. Hundreds of years of being a pilgrimage site, its’ proximity to London on one hand, and the beautiful Hertfordshire landscape on the other, create a very nice and relaxed atmosphere. People are friendly and smiling and one does not feel the need to rush anywhere. Check it out for yourself and pop in for meditation some time.
When the group thanked Lama Ole Nydahl for his blessing for the new group during his visit to the UK in September he said, “Where there is a lake, the swans will come…”
Lama Ole Nydahl & Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche in London, September 2009
In September 2009 we were very fortunate to be able to welcome two of our precious teachers to London; Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl. This was a particularly auspicious occasion, as it was the first time Rinpoche had given teachings in the UK.
Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche (born 1950), a highly respected Karma Kagyu lama, holds the title “Maniwa”, given to masters of the Loving Eyes (Tib. Chenrezig) practice who have accomplished at least a billion OM MANI PEME HUNG mantras. Rinpoche was ordained in Rumtek Monastery by the 16th Karmapa. The official programme took place over the weekend of 18-20 September 2009, a course entitled “Meditation in Diamond Way Buddhism”.
On 17 September 2009, Lama Ole Nydahl gave a short interview on BBC Radio Newcastle before going on to give a lecture in Newcastle for the first time. The interview was broadcast on the Sunday Breakfast show with Jon Harle on 20 September.
On September 17, the Newcastle Diamond Way Buddhist Centre was delighted to be able to host the first visit of Lama Ole Nydahl. The event was the culmination of many months’ refurbishment work on the centre, which, with the help of many friends from the North, was completed just in time for Lama Ole’s arrival.
Lama Ole arrived by car from Dublin with ten minutes to spare before giving a radio interview at BBC Newcastle. After the interview and dinner at the centre he was whisked to the lecture venue. The venue for the lecture was the very aptly-named Great Hall at the Discovery Museum in the centre of the city. The lecture was entitled “Discover Your Mind”, and was followed by many questions and answers by the audience, as well as a guided meditation and the chance to receive Buddhist Refuge. On Sunday morning after breakfast with the sangha, Lama Ole inaugurated the gompa before departing for London in a flurry of suitcases and blessings.
Flyer for Lama Ole Nydahl in Newcastle September 2009
