Statues of Naropa and Marpa carved from rhinocerous horn by the 10th Karmapa
Marpa: “Please be so kind as to prophecy for me the way our dharma lineage will expand and flourish. Since ultimately there is no difference between the sutras and tantras in their view and realisation, one can hold the teachings – what has been told and what has been realised – of both. Is it necessary that in external appearance one adopt the robes of a sravaka and practice the pratimoksha? It isn’t, is it?…”
Naropa: “In the future of your dharma lineage, there will be many who assume the external appearance of a sravaka. Inwardly, they will realise the meaning of mahayana, dwell on the bhumis; and be surrounded by bodhisattvas. Some others of varied appearance will make the teachings of the practice lineage flourish and expand.”
From “The Rain of Wisdom” by the Nalanda Translation Committee (Shambhala, 1980)
Pictures are from the book “Karmapa: The Black Hat Lama of Tibet” Nik Douglas & Meryl White. The statues of the early Kagyu lineage holders carved by the 10th Karmapa are among the relics hopefully (see here and here) still housed in Rumtek Monastery.
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899) was one of the most prominent Buddhist masters in the 19th century and lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu.
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899)
“In the Mantra approach, with its many methods and few austerities, a person of sharp faculties and high intelligence may gather the two accumulations during all activities and never do even a trace of anything meaningless.”
Lama Ole Nydahl gave this talk at a Seminar on Psychology in Basel, Switzerland. It was originally printed in the magazine Buddhism Today in 1998 and can also be read here.
Lama Ole Nydahl
Happiness, by Lama Ole Nydahl
What do Buddhist teachings say concerning happiness?.. Basically, in Buddhism one makes a separation between conditioned and unconditioned happiness, between a relative and an absolute kind. Relative happiness has to do with experiences, absolute happiness has to do with experiencer itself. When one watches the outer world, the factories, streets, houses and cars, it is evident that they were made because beings wanted to experience something pleasant. Hospitals and prisons, on the other hand, were built in order to avoid certain kinds of suffering. Actually, beings constantly try to change outer conditions with the aim of (more…)
From 1-21 March 2010 travelling teacher Karol Sleczek made an epic teaching tour of our UK Diamond Way groups and centres. Karol has been practicing Buddhism for over 30 years. He was one of the first students of Lama Ole Nydahl in his home country of Poland and has been instrumental in the establishment of Diamond Way Buddhism there – today Poland has over 60 Diamond Way Buddhist centres including six retreat centres. Karol, who is also trained in classical philosophy, has been travelling internationally for many years giving lectures and courses on Buddhism at Lama Ole Nydahl’s request. He is highly respected for (more…)
This video is from H.H. 17th Karmapa’s visit to London on 30 June 2009, when he gave the empowerment of Marpa in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall of the Southbank Centre. In his speech before the empowerment, Gyalwa Karmapa explained the significance of Marpa to the Kagyu Lineage.
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.
This quote is from the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (1954-1992)
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche
“What is free from birth, dwelling and cessation? It is the nature of mind. However, as long as one doesn’t recognise the nature of mind, one experiences samsara; if one does recognise it, one experiences nirvana. In other words, the way phenomena manifest depends on awareness. Nirvana is not obtained by overcoming samsara or putting an end to disturbing emotions in order to develop something else. On the contrary, one should look at the actual nature of the disturbing emotion and thus ‘self-liberate’ it and recognise its true nature. By holding this supreme view, one can understand reality, the suchness of all phenomena. If one achieves this realisation and fully recognises the basic nature of all phenomena, without struggling to give up samsara or attain nirvana, then everything becomes ultimate reality. Conceptual mind dissolves, along with (more…)
Brighton Buddhist centre: On Saturday 20th March 2010 our new centre opened its doors to the public. A converted shop in Baker Street is now home to the new Buddhist centre. It is located in an up-and-coming area of Brighton. In order to celebrate the move to the new premises the members of our Brighton Buddhist centre organised an open day for the locals to meet their new neighbours.
On the day, many interested local people came along for a chat and a cup of tea. Some also took part in guided (more…)
Lama Ole Nydahl will next visit the UK in September, teaching in Brighton and London.
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OM MANI PEME HUNG Mantra Accumulation
Folowing the request from H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje this May for each Karma Kagyu centre to accumulate one million repetitions of the mantra of Loving Eyes OM MANI PEME HUNG, our UK Diamond Way Buddhist Centres have been busy meditating to accomplish this wish.
