Lama Gendun Rinpoche: “death, as much as life, is an illusion”

March 25th, 2012
Gendun Rinpoche

Gendun Rinpoche

“From the perspective of Dharma, our death is merely a change in the content of what we perceive. The appearences of our present world cease, and they make room for other perceptions. There is no real break: our mind continues to be what it is in its true nature and to perceive with the same tendencies. The frame of reference of our perceptions changes but fundamentally the same process continues – the reactions of our mind remain the same as before. In truth, death, as much as life, is an illusion, a transient in-between state, a bardo. Contrary to what we may perhaps assume, with our death everything does not simply come to an end.”

Gendun Rinpoche (1918–1997), “Heart Advice from a Mahamudra Master

The New London Buddhist Centre and words of support from Lama Jigme Rinpoche

March 10th, 2012
Artist’s impression of the new front view of the Beaufoy Institute

Artist’s impression of the new front view of the Beaufoy Institute

We are inspired each year by Diamond Way Buddhist centres in cities worldwide – where the full benefits of Buddhism have been brought to communities and old factories or derelict buildings rebuilt, transformed and rejuvenated. Now, we now have the opportunity to do the same for London. A new Buddhist centre for London will benefit the lives of many people into the future. We plan for it to be a meeting point for people from all over the world and – like London itself – a vibrant place for ideas to be exchanged, and for people to learn and develop. The old Beaufoy Institute in Lambeth has now presented an opportunity for us to bring these dreams to life. Currently, in March 2012, we are in the the planning process and engaging the local community with our plans. More details can be found on our website www.buddhism-london.org.

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Today is Chotrul Düchen, a “Ten Million Multiplier”

March 8th, 2012
Buddha displaying Miracles

"The miracle at Sravasti" - Buddha multiplying his body, watercolour feature of a Perfection of Wisdom Sutra manuscript from Nalanda, circa 700-1100 CE

The picture above is a painted detail from an 8th-12th Century palm leaf manuscript of the “Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in 8,000 Lines”, produced by the Nalanda Buddhist University. It survived the destruction of Nalanda University, was preserved in Tibet for hundreds of years and now forms part of the collection of the Asia Society Museum. It depicts Buddha Shakyamuni supernaturally multiplying his body, referred to as the miracle at Sravasti.

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Spotlight on the Warsaw Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

February 23rd, 2012
Stupa House - Warsaw Diamond Way Buddhist Centre, 2011

Stupa House – Warsaw Diamond Way Buddhist Centre, 2011

The Warsaw Diamond Way Buddhist centre, known as “Stupa House” (due to its similarity in shape to certain Buddhist monuments) is one of the biggest urban centres of the network of 600+ Diamond Way centres and groups founded by Lama Ole Nydahl worldwide. It also fulfils the role of a national centre for Poland. Here we highlight a little of the Centre’s history, accomplishments and current activities.

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Quotation of Nagarjuna

February 1st, 2012
Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna

When you understand mind,
You understand everything.

– Nagarjuna

A Brief History of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibet

January 15th, 2012
Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree

Karma Kagyu Refuge Tree

This article, by Topga Yulgyal Rinpoche, was taken from “Knowledge in Action,” a Newsletter of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI), New Delhi.

The Kagyu lineage, sometimes referred to as the “oral lineage” of Tibet, originated with the great yogi Tilopa, who lived in Northern India around the 10th century A.D. He is considered the founder of the lineage and, in addition, he received four special transmissions (Tib: bka-babs-bzhi) for which he became the lineage holder.

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Unconventional lama sings praises of Buddhist meditation – Interview with Lama Ole Nydahl in the Calgary Herald

January 2nd, 2012
Lama Ole Nydahl Skydiving

Lama Ole Nydahl Skydiving

We just came across this recent interview from the Canadian newspaper, the Calgary Herald.

Unconventional lama sings praises of Buddhist meditation

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Lama Ole Nydahl is a contemporary lama who enjoys skydiving, fast motorcycles and bungee jumping.

For almost 40 years he’s been busy setting up meditation centres around the world….

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Happy New Year!

December 31st, 2011
Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu, Bhutan (Photo: Michael Foley)

Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu, Bhutan (Photo: Michael Foley)

The Diamond Way Buddhism UK Blog would like to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year.

2011 was the second full year of the blog, with the number of subscribers increasing to over 770. During the year the blog was viewed over 31,000 individuals in 137 different countries, with most viewers coming from the UK, the USA, Poland, Germany and Russia.

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