Kalu Rinpoche and students in Samye Ling 1975 (photo: Peter Mannox)
This historical picture was taken during Kalu Rinpoche’s visit to the West in 1975 at Samye Ling Tibetan Centre, Scotland by Peter Mannox. It was during the life of the 16th Karmapa, in the early years of the encounter between Tibetan Buddhism and the West, and the times when the Karma Kagyu school was united. Can you spot a young Hannah and Ole Nydahl on the far right of the shot? (click on photo to enlarge)
Hannah Nydahl (17 April 1946 – 1 April 2007)
Three years ago today Hannah Nydahl left for the pure lands. Deeply respected for her work, devotion and accomplishments as a Buddhist practitioner, her life was dedicated to establishing Diamond Way Buddhism in the West and protecting the Karma Kagyu Lineage. Her wisdom, kindness and compassion is timeless, beyond coming and going and continuously blesses our work and practice.
In our second retrospective post, we would like to share some inspiring impressions of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje’s second visit to the UK at the invitation of Diamond Way Buddhism UK, in June 2007.
Reports of other visits of the 17th Karmapa to London can be found here (2005) and here (2009).
Poster for 17th Karmapa in London August 2007
In this post we recollect Lama Ole Nydahl’s first visit to Edinburgh. Martin Dahms, who comments later in the post, was one of the founders of the original Edinburgh Diamond Way Buddhist Group which was active between 2000 and 2003.
Edinburgh Skyline
On Tuesday 28 March 2000, Lama Ole Nydahl gave a talk at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens lecture theatre, entitled “Basis, Way and Goal in Diamond Way Buddhism”. The talk was an introduction to Diamond Way Buddhism, in which Lama Ole pointed to the Buddha nature as the basis for our development, gave an overview of the methods the Buddha taught to remove the veils which prevent us from experiencing this potential, and explained how the goal – enlightenment – is the full development of mind’s inherent qualities. The lecture was attended by several friends who travelled from London, elsewhere in the UK and abroad, as well as many locals, including inquisitive members of what Lama Ole wryly described in his lecture as a nearby “Presbyterian Buddhist Centre”!
We would like to share some inspiring impressions of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje‘s first two visits to the UK, which happened before this blog was established. Gyalwa Karmapa’s first historic visit was in August 2005, when he stayed for four days in London at the invitation of Diamond Way Buddhism UK. He was joined by Lama Jigme Rinpoche, Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl and other distinguished lamas who were part of the travelling entourage of the 16th Karmapa in the UK during the 1970s.
Reports of other visits of the 17th Karmapa to London can be found here (2007) and here (2009).
Flyer 1 for 2005 course (front)
This interview with Lama Ole Nydahl is from the very early days of Diamond Way Buddhism in the UK. It appeared in Varsitiy, the independent student weekly newspaper of the University of Cambridge. Lama Ole Nydahl taught in Cambridge at the invitation of Stephen James, who was a student in Cambridge University at the time.
Rock n’ Roll Buddha
Matthew Arlidge communicates with Ole Nydahl about Spirituality and Motorbikes. Varsity, 28 October 1994
Lama Ole Nydahl in Varsity Magazine 1994
Cast a critical eye over the picture above and what do you see? A debonair-yet-macho top Hollywood actor? A ruthless mercenary hot-foot from a bazooka battle with the forces of SPECTRE? Or perhaps even a well ‘ardbouncer from Fifth Avenue? Well you’re wrong matey, so no nubile young banana for you. (more…)
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:
Lama Ole Nydahl in the Sunday Times Magazine 1999
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