Our Teachers

The Karma Kagyu Lineage

The Karma Kagyu lineage belongs to one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This lineage focuses on meditation and a direct transmission from teacher to student of the experience of the nature of mind. The Karma Kagyu lineage dates back to the historical Buddha, whose teachings were passed on to different meditation masters in India for 1500 years. This transmission came to Tibet around 1000 AD, and in the twelfth century, the Karma Kagyu lineage was formed under the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, the first consciously reborn lama of Tibet. The lineage has maintained an unbroken transmission of teachings and realization, and continues to thrive today under the guidance of Thaye Dorje, H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa.

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa

Thaye Dorje, H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, 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 resides in the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi. In 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 late wife Hannah were the first Western students of H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. For over 45 years, Lama Ole has taught Diamond Way Buddhism to tens of thousands of students and founded over 650 Buddhist centers worldwide. Lama Ole specializes in the practices of Mahamudra (the “Great Seal”) and Phowa—a rare, centuries-old method of conscious dying. He teaches his students to combine lay Buddhist practice with independent thinking and the maturity that comes through life experience. Please visit his website for more about Lama Ole’s life and work as well as links to books and videos of his teachings.

Nedo Kuchung Rinpoche

Nedo Kuchung Rinpoche was born in 1962 in India and recognized by H.H. the 16th Karmapa as the sixth reincarnation in the Nedo Kulha lineage. Until the age of 18, Rinpoche was educated under the guidance of H.H. the 16th Karmapa in Rumtek monastery. He then studied for three years in Ladakh before returning to Rumtek for a three-year retreat, where he practiced the tantras of Marpa, the Six Yogas of Naropa, and various Mahamudra transmissions. When he was 25, Rinpoche was appointed Vajramaster of Rumtek monastery, and he remains today the main Vajramaster of H.H. the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje. Nedo Rinpoche is currently responsible for Shamar Rinpoche’s monks as well as all activities of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Sikkim.

Traveling teachers

At Lama Ole’s request, many of his long-time students give teachings on basic dharma topics and explanations of Diamond Way meditations.