Our centers are in the tradition of the Karma Kagyü lineage, one of the four major Buddhist schools in Tibet. It teaches the Diamond Way (sanskr. Vajrayana). As a lineage of direct oral transmission, she places particular emphasis on meditation and the direct transmission of the experience of the nature of mind from teacher to disciple.

The teachings of the Karma Kagyu Lineage originate from the historical Buddha and were passed on in India and later Tibet by enlightened meditation masters. 1000 years ago, important Mahasiddhas such as Naropa and Maitripa as well as the well-known yogis Marpa and Milarepa created the lineage as a particularly lifelike lay movement. Gampopa developed his monastic life shortly afterwards. Since the 12th century, the Karma Kagyu lineage has been led by the unbroken line of Gyalwa Karmapa rebirths; today, the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje is our spiritual head.

Buddhist teachers such as Jigme Rinpoche or Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche pass on the Eastern transmission. They support the work in the new western centers around the world.

Our most important Western teacher, Lama Ole Nydahl, has founded 750 centers around the world in the last 45 years on behalf of the 16th Karmapa, where Lamas (teachers) from Asia, authorized Diamond Way teachers and himself regularly teach.

Of particular interest to the Western world is that the Karma Kagyu Lineage also teaches a very lifelike path for lay people and practitioners that aims to develop clarity and independence in today’s world. It helps to discover and develop one’s own inner wealth for the benefit of all beings.