Meditation on the 16th Karmapa

The meditation on the teacher (skt. Guru Yoga; tib. Lami Naljor) is the heart of all meditations in Diamond Way Buddhism. This practice was written by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. The 16th Karmapa gave it to Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl especially for the West and combined this with the wish to keep the translation contemporary. The core of this practice lies in taking over the enlightened qualities of the teacher and bringing the experiences made in meditation into everyday life. This meditation is the main practice in the Diamond Way Buddhism Centres. It is especially suitable for new visitors to get to know meditation.

Preliminary excercises

The four basic exercises (tib.ngöndro) are also called preliminary exercises for the Great Seal (skt. Mahamudra) because they create the basis for the experience of space and joy. They have been tried and tested over centuries to develop timeless values such as compassion, super-personal thinking, responsibility, generosity and steadfastness in the middle of an active life. With one hour of practice everyday you need 1-2 years per exercise. The texts used are translations of a meditation text entitled «The vehicle for the path of the nobles» from the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje (1555-1603). The four exercises are: 1.) Refuge and development of the enlightened mind 2.) Diamond mind meditation (skt.Vajrasattva, tib. Dorje Sempa) 3.) Mandala offerings and 4.) Meditation on the teacher (Guru Yoga).

Meditation on 8th Karmapa

For most practitioners of the Diamond Way Buddhism, the advanced meditation after the basic exercises is the meditation on the 8th Karmapa. This meditation on the teacher or master is called «Guru Yoga in four sessions» (tib.: Tün shi lami naljor). It is one of the main meditations of the Karma Kagyu lineage and was given by the 8th Karmapa Mikyö Dorje (1507-1554). It is practiced in the Diamondway centres after completion of the Four Basic Exercises.

Meditation auf liebevolle Augen

Es gibt keinen edleren Charakterzug als das Mitgefühl. Diese Meditation ist ein effektives Mittel gegen Zorn. Liebevolle Augen (skt. Avalokiteshvara, tib.Chenresig) verkörpert die Liebe aller Buddhas. Seine vier Arme symbolisieren Liebe, Mitgefühl, Mitfreude und Gleichmut und sein sechs-silbiges Mantra OM MANI PEME HUNG reinigt die sechs störenden Gefühle. Der Meditationstext stammt von dem Siddha Thangtong Gyalpo, „König der tausend Täler“ (1361-1485). Er wird nach den Anweisungen verwendet, die Hannah und Lama Ole Nydahl 1970 in Sonada von Kalu Rinpoche erhalten haben.