Who is Buddha?

Buddha Shakyamuni

Buddha Shakiamuni was born around 2560 years ago in Lumbini in today’s Nepal. After a long search, he recognized the nature of mind while in deep meditation and reached enlightenment. Buddha taught for 45 years in the highly developed North Indian culture.


What does Buddha teach?


The goal of Buddha’s teachings is the full development of the innate potential of body, speech and mind.

The Karma Kagyu lineage

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The Karma Kagyu methods were taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni to his closest students. These methods were later passed on through the Indian Buddhist masters (Mahasiddhas) like Naropa and Maitripa, and the famous Tibetan accomplishers (yogis) Marpa and Milarepa who formed the lineage as a naturalistic lay-movement. Since the 12th century the successive conscious rebirths of the Karmapas have kept the teachings alive and powerful to the present day.

Today, Buddhist teachers (tib. Lamas) such as H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and Jigme Rinpoche transmit this unbroken wisdom. They support the work in the Diamond Way centers around the world.

Diamond Way Buddhism in the Western World

Our Buddhist centers and meditation groups offer the modern world easy access to the meditations and teachings of Diamond Way Buddhism. The roof of Diamond Way Buddhism is supported by three pillars: verifiable non-dogmatic teachings, meditation, and the means to solidify the levels of awareness which have been attained. This way, the Diamond Way offers the modern world the most skillful methods of the Buddha. It helps to discover and develop inner richness, for the benefit of all beings.

How do the Buddhist schools and teachings differ?

Buddha gave instructions for three different types of people. Those who wanted to avoid suffering received the instructions about cause and effect („ Small Way“, skt. Hinayana, also: Theravada, „School of the Eldest“). Those who wanted to do more for others were given the teachings on wisdom and compassion called the Great Way (skt. Mahayana). Where people had strong confidence in their own and others’ Buddha nature, Buddha taught the Diamond Way (skt. Vajrayana). Here, he manifested as forms of energy and light or directly transmitted his enlightened view as a flow of awareness, the “Great Seal” (skt. Mahamudra).

In Diamond Way one learns to experience the world from a rich and self-liberating viewpoint. Diamond Way meditations develop a deep inner richness and lead to a non-artificial and unwavering mind where every enlightened activity can unfold.

What is Karma?

Karma means cause and effect. It does not mean fate. The understanding that each of us is responsible for our own lives makes it possible to generate positive impressions with words, thoughts and actions consciously. This brings happiness and helps us to avoid the causes of future suffering.

What does “Liberation and Enlightenment” mean?

Liberation means the awareness of body, thoughts, and feelings being in a constant state of change. Therefore, there is no basis for a real existing ego or “self.” Realizing this, one no longer feels like a target and stops taking suffering personally.

Enlightenment is the second and ultimate step. Here, the clear light of mind radiates through every experience. One realizes that seer, what is seen and the act of seeing are interdependent parts of the same totality. In every moment, mind enjoys its self-arisen abilities and everything becomes spontaneous and effortless.

17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje karmapa.org

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje is the head of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Diamond Way Buddhism. He was born in Tibet in 1983 and was able to escape from suppressed Tibet to freedom in India during spring 1994. He teaches frequently in our centers.

Shamar Rimpoche shamarpa.org

His stream of incarnations has always been directly linked with that of the Gyalwa Karmapa. The Karmapa bestowed on him the name of “Shamarpa – The One with the Red Crown.” He left Tibet at the age of 9 together with the 16th Karmapa for Sikkim, India where he lived and studied  under Karmapa´s guidence. Mainly thanks to his activity, the 17th incarnation of the Gyalwa Karmapa, Thaye Dorje, was found and brought to freedom in India. In March 1994, Shamar Rimpoche officially recognized  Thaye Dorje as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. He spends most of his time giving Dharma teachings around the world.

Lama Ole & Hannah Nydahl lama-ole-nydahl.org

Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah were the first western students of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. Lama Ole has been a major driving force in bringing Buddhism to the West, and to date has established more than 600 Diamond Way Buddhist Centers in 44 countries around the world.