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THE KARMA KAGYU LINEAGE


The Kagyu lineage is one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This lineage focuses on view, meditation, and a direct transmission of the experience of the nature of mind from teacher to student. Its origins date back to the historical Buddha, whose teachings were passed on to different meditation masters in India for 1500 years. About 1000 AD this transmission came to Tibet and in the twelfth century the Karma Kagyu lineage was formed, which has been kept alive and powerful in an unending succession by the Gyalwa Karmapas until today. The Gyalwa Karmapa, whose name means “Master of Activity”, was the first consciously reborn lama of Tibet.

H.H. 17th KARMAPA TRINLEY THAYE DORJE

17th Karmapa

The 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje was born in Tibet in 1983 and recognized in 1994 as the authentic incarnation, as per tradition, by Shamar Rinpoche, the second-highest teacher of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

In 1994, Karmapa was taken from Chinese-occupied Tibet to India. In December 2003, after completing his formal education, the 17th Karmapa was declared a “Great Tantric Master” (Skt. Vajracharya). Karmapa currently resides in New Delhi, India. In the year 2000 his first international teaching tour brought him to Asia and Europe where he was received by thousands of his students. Since then he has continued to visit Karma Kagyu centers around the world giving teachings, empowerments, and inspiration to his students.

 

LAMA OLE NYDAHL

Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah were the first Western students of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. In continuous exchange with his students, Lama Ole teaches the way and goal of Diamond Way Buddhism. His unique synthesis of modern style and ancient wisdom has helped create the largest body of students practicing Diamond Way Buddhist methods in the West. Through his example of unshakable joy and constant activity for the benefit of others, he shows what can be achieved through working with mind. Today, at his request, over one hundred of his students teach Buddhism around the world.