Watch this high-speed coverage of the construction of the main tent where the teachings will take place during the Third International Summer Course will at the Europe Center. From 3-15 August, several thousand people will come to the Alps in southern Germany to learn the practice of Phowa and receive Buddhist teachings from Lama Ole Nydahl.
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.
For those of you who wish to keep up with where Lama Ole Nydahl is on his constant teaching schedule and what he’s been doing, you can now subscribe for updates through the social messaging utility twitter.com.
The account description states:
“Lama Ole Nydahl is probably the best known western Buddhist teacher. This account tweets for & about him, his travels & his teachings.”
We’ve included an RSS Feed of Lama Ole’s Twitter account in the right-hand column of this blog so you can always see the five latest “tweets”. Other related Twitter accounts include a general one for Diamond Way Buddhism and one for the Europe Center.
Lama Ole Nydahl points out how precious life is in a free society and how we can liberate ourselves from negative emotions. Instead of being prisoners of our thoughts and fears, we can use our potential to transform our lives.