His work

Lama Ole Nydahl teaches the basic principles of Buddhism and the traditional meditations of the Karma Kagyu line in lectures and courses.

• Introductory lectures and courses
• Meditation on Conscious Dying (Tib. Phowa)
• The Great Seal (Tib. Mahamudra)
• The Four Foundational Practices
• 16th Karmapa Meditation (Tib. Lami Naljor)

Introductory lectures and courses

Lecture with Lama Ole Nydahl and local translator in Bratislava, Slovakia

For those that wish to learn more about Buddhism, in particular Diamond Way Buddhism, attending an introductory lecture is the best choice. Here you will learn how we can apply Buddhism to everyday life. At all lectures Lama Ole Nydahl leads a meditation and gives Buddhist Refuge upon request. At courses different aspects of Buddhism are covered in-depth. A lecture normally costs the equivalent of a cinema ticket and lasts around 4 hours.

Meditation on Conscious Dying (tib. Phowa)

Phowa Course close to Velez-Malaga, Spain.

Through the meditation on “conscious dying” you get the opportunity to work intensively with the process of your own death. Buddhist teachings contain very precise descriptions on the process of dying, death and the stages between death and rebirth. Many teachers and meditation masters have also had a lot of experience with the process of dying. In the meditation practice one learns to transfer consciousness at the moment of death into a state of highest bliss.

Over 27 years, Lama Ole has taught around 120,000 people Phowa, which includes an explanation about death and rebirth. Those that have learnt the Phowa practice also learn how to actively help others and themselves at the moment of death.

Lama Ole Nydahl received the transmission of the Phowa teachings from highest Tibetan masters and is today the most significant teacher of this practice in the Western world.

Tibetan name: Phowa
Tibetan source: Kunzang Lame Shelung
Translation: "The Words of my Perfect Teacher"
Commentary: Composed by Dza Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887), Lineage of Longchen Nyingthig.

The Great Seal (tib. Mahamudra)

During courses one can get a blessing from Lama Ole

Lama Ole Nydahl explains the important text from the 3rd Karmapa on the subject of the nature of mind in a contemporary way. The Great Seal (Skt. Mahamudra) allows a deeper view into the world’s ultimate reality. The course normally takes around 2 days.

The Four Foundational Practices (tib. Ngöndro)

Ngondro Course in Lolland, Denmark

The four foundational practices (Tib. Ngondro) are the beginning of our development in Diamond Way Buddhism. They are powerful methods for removing hindrances and negative impressions from the mind, and to develop new positive impressions for inner wealth.

The Four Foundation practices include taking refuge with the so-called “prostrations”, the “Diamond Mind Meditation”, the “Mandala Offerings” and the “Meditation on the Teacher” (Guru Yoga). Practicing the Ngondro purifies disturbing impressions in body, speech and mind through the repetition of mantras and negative habits disappear. It is the basis for further meditations and points the way to liberation and enlightenment.

Tibetan name: Ngöndro
Tibetan source: Phyag chen nges don rgya mtsho
Translation: “Ocean of the Definitive Meaning of the Great Seal”, 9thKarmapa Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)
Commentary: "Torch of Certainty" by the First Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813-1899), Kalu Rinpoche Sonada India 1970-71, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Becske Hungary 2008

16th Karmapa Meditation (Tib. Lami Naljor)

16th Karmapa Meditation

The 16th Karmapa composed this meditation himself and asked Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl to teach it as the main practice in the West. It’s a very condensed and very effective meditation.

Tibetan name: Ku shi nyu gu kye je du tsi char gyun
Tibetan source: 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)
Translation: The Rain of Nectar Ripening the Seedlings of the Four Buddha States
Commentary: Explanations given by the 16th Karmapa originally in Tsurphu, Tibet, 1957, and USA 1980.