Lama Ole Nydahl

Lama Ole Nydahl (* 19.03.1941) brought the Diamond Way Buddhism together with his wife, Hannah Nydahl, to the West and thus became one of the most important teachers of the Karma Kagyü lineage.

Born in 1941 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ole met Hannah already at an age of 10, when she was only five years old. Many years later, when both studied at the Copenhagen university they felt in love, married and 1968 traveled to Nepal during their honeymoon.

There Ole and Hannah met the 16th Karmapa for the first time and immediately felt great trust.
Later, when the first official meeting with the 16th Karmapa took place, Lopön Tsechu introduced Ole and Hannah to the 16th Karmapa as his students. Karmapa replied, “Now they are my students.”

Their time in the Himalayas was a spiritual adventure beyond example. Learning and receiving transmissions from the highest lamas, including the 14th Shamarpa, Kalu Rinpoche and many others, Ole and Hannah devoted their every moment to the benefit of all beings, following the Kagyü tradition. Their private lives completely dissolved.
After three years of study and practice, under his guidance, Karmapa sent them back to the West. They started to teach and to spread the precious Kagyü teachings, founding Buddhist centers for lay practitioners all over the free world.

Since that time, Lama Ole traveled constantly, giving lectures and leading meditation courses. In addition to his tireless work for his students (meeting them and giving personal teachings and advice), he wrote many books (primarily in German, with some early booklets in English) about the Diamond Way. The books were translated into 35 languages. Some of his most influential books are: “The Way Things Are“, “Entering the Diamond Way“, “Riding the Tiger“, “Buddha and Love“, “Fearless Death“, and “The Great Seal“.

Hannah supported Ole, using her wisdom in the best possible way, she closely collaborated with the high lamas, translated many teachings and meditations into English, and, one of her most important activities, introduced the Western cultures, values and education to the traditional Eastern lamas, who had grown up in an essentially medieval society. She made it possible for East and West to build a bridge and overcome potential obstacles.

Until 2020, Lama Ole traveled regularly – giving lectures almost every day for more than 40 years. He also taught Phowa, the secret method of Conscious Dying – to many people until 2013. Later he mainly emphasized teaching Mahamudra, the highest teachings that Buddha gave.

Lama Ole is a unique teacher (Lopön Tsechu Rinpoche, his first lama, once said enigmatically, “If you knew who Lama Ole really is... .”) Ole has combined the enlightened qualities of a Dharma protector (at a Kagyü Mönlam, he was honored to be an emanation of the Kagyü Protector Mahakala Bernagchen), a Mahamudra master, a perfect yogi and the holder of the Phowa transmission lineage in one person. And, unlike any previous practitioners, he spread the Diamond Way around the globe, installing a Diamond Way Buddhist practice into the daily life of well-educated western lay people. His fresh and humorous teaching style was welcomed by thousands who became his students. His basic request was that his students always remain independent, become and behave joyful and courageous, discover their minds, not take things seriously that happen in mind, and that
they treat everybody respectfully.

The 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje once praised him, saying, “Do you know why Lama Ole is probably the most successful teacher in our Buddhist history? Because he was closer to his students than any of the gurus before.” The 14th Shamarpa expressed Ole and Hannah’s achievements in a different way, “Lama Ole and Hannah did not only fulfill the wishes of the 16th Karmapa, they even overfulfilled them.”