Karmapa gives Dharma talks and empowerments, presides over consecration of Enlightenment Stupa

August 14, 2023

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, arrived in the Europe Center, an international meeting place for Diamond Way Buddhists from around the world, in the late evening of the 1st of August. Despite the late hour, immediately after his arrival he paid a private visit to Lama Ole Nydahl, whom he hadn’t seen in four years.

Karmapa’s programme in the Europe Center was part of the International Summer Course 2023. The two-week International Summer Course is held at the Europe Center every year, as an opportunity for Dharma friends from all over the world to come together and celebrate their devotion to the Buddha Dharma, their dedication to their teacher, and their friendship.

This year’s course also marked the end of the year-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Diamond Way Buddhist network, created by Lama Ole Nydahl and his late wife Hannah and comprising 640 centres around the globe. Diamond Way Buddhism’s journey started all the way back in 1972, when His Holiness the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje asked Lama Ole and Hannah to establish Buddhist centres of the Karma Kagyu lineage in the Western world. They really took the instruction of their beloved teacher to heart and worked tirelessly to make the Buddha Dharma accessible to countless individuals.

During his visit to the Europe Center, Karmapa gave several Dharma talks, followed by extensive sessions of questions and answers covering a wide range of subjects.

He also granted the empowerments of the great yogi Milarepa and the wisdom protector Mahakala to a gathering of about 7,500 practitioners.

A special highlight was the inauguration and consecration of the new Enlightenment Stupa, over which Karmapa presided. To have an Enlightenment Stupa, which symbolises our historical Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, at the Europe Center had been one of the wishes of Lama Ole for some time, and a large team under the expert guidance of Ven. Nedo Kuchung Rinpoche had been working tirelessly in order to finish the Stupa just in time for the consecration.

During his stay at the Europe Center, Karmapa had several more heart-warming encounters with Lama Ole. He also took ample time for meetings with various teams and groups, as well as the residents and volunteers of the Europe Center. During these meetings he expressed his deep appreciation for the sincere devotion of all the Diamond Way practitioners, and for the dedication and the tireless efforts of Lama Ole and his late wife Hannah.

Karmapa and his entourage left the Europe Center on the 10th of August 2023. The next stop on Karmapa’s European tour is Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in France, Karmapa’s main seat in Europe.