17th Karmapa and Shamar Rinpoche in Bodh Gaya, 2007 (photo: Thule Jug)
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.
Light Stupa
The beautiful picture (click to enlarge) was sent to us from a friend in the London Sangha. It was taken by her friend who was in Great Carrs in the British Lake District at a sunrise at, while searching for a ridge known as Broad Slack, the crash site of a Halifax Bomber which crashed in 1944 on a night exercise from Topcliff in Yorkshire while descending through thick cloud.
We rather fancy it looks like a stupa…
Lama Ole Nydahl
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.
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.
H.H. 16th Gyalwa Karmapa laughing
Since everything is but an illusion,
Perfect in being what it is,
Having nothing to do with good or bad,
Acceptance or rejection,
One might as well burst out laughing!
– Longchen Rabjam (1308-1363)
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.
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