Karmapa’s message for Lama Ole’s 81st birthday

March 18, 2022

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message regarding the birthday of Lama Ole Nydahl.

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, with Lama Ole Nydahl. Photos / Tokpa Korlo

A transcript of the letter follows:

New Delhi, 18 March 2022

Dear Dharma friends,

Tomorrow is the birthday of Lama Ole – an auspicious day that we should all celebrate by generating gratitude and appreciation for his tireless dedication to the Buddha Dharma. Moreover, this year also marks the the fiftieth anniversary of the Diamond Way Buddhism organisation, which was established by Lama Ole and his late wife Hannah at the instigation of my predecessor, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, and which today comprises well over 600 Buddhist meditation centres across the world. I rejoice in Lama Ole’s unfaltering courage and determination, which has accumulated tremendous merit, inspiration, and joy over the past fifty years.

As I have said on previous occasions, teachers like Lama Ole are extremely rare and hard to find, and we should remind ourselves that if we have found such a teacher in this lifetime, we should cherish him the best way we can.

How do we do that? Buddha himself has taught that in order to properly cherish our teacher we must not focus on the person or the form of the teacher but on the person’s practice, on his or her essence. So therefore, that’s something all of you need to focus on, and if you do that, no matter where you are the teacher will always be there with you.

Though it has been a while since we last met in person, and it will most likely be some time yet until our next meeting, I would like to assure you that my thoughts and prayers are always there with all of you.

On this auspicious day, I ask all of my students to join me in reciting the mantra and sadhana of White Tara to pray for Lama Ole’s good health and longevity. May his activity continue to bring great benefit to all sentient beings.

With prayers

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa