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The Diamond Way is the English
word for Vajrayana, the highest and most advanced teachings
of the Buddha. The name is derived from the perfect
purity of a diamond, its durability, namely forever,
and symbolizes enlightened mind. The Karma Kagyu School
is one of the four great Buddhist lineages of Tibet.
The lineage constitutes a living transmission that can
be traced back directly to the enlightened Indian yogis
Tilopa, Naropa, and Matripa. The teachings of the Karma
Kagyu Lineage all originate from the historical Buddha
Shakyamuni. His teachings were practiced in India during
the first 1,500 years after the death of the Buddha
and then in Tibet for the following 1,000 years.
The effective methods of this path
are exceedingly powerful and aim at giving the practitioner
a direct experience of the nature of mind. The actual
founder of the Kagyu tradition was the layman Marpa
(1012-1097), and the First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa (1110-1193),
continued to spread with the establishment of the Karma
Kagyu School. The school is known for its impressive
list of enlightened masters, among these Marpa, Milarepa,
Gampopa and of course the Karmapa, the spiritual head
of the school. He is one of the few great Tibetan Lamas
who have been instrumental in raising and developing
an interest in Buddhism in the West.
In the Diamond Way the relationship
between student and teacher is the heart of the practice.
The teacher is the one who passes on his insight to
the student. This transference of knowledge and methods
has been kept alive since the time of the Buddha. Without
a teacher there is no transmission and therefore the
Lama is thought of very highly. Since the Lama passes
the methods of the Buddha on to the student he is considered
as important as the Buddha himself. In actuality the
Lama provides three things that the student needs on
his way: Blessing, Development, and Protection. Blessing
is the feeling of openness and trust resulting in the
belief that the goal is achievable.
During the past 30 years
many of the school’s Lamas have inspired countless
people with their great wisdom and compassion. The 16th
Karmapa (1924-1981) was doubtless the most important
Lama of his time, and his activity continues today through
the work of the 17th Karmapa, Trinlay Thaye Dorje. More
recently, Lamas such as the 14th Shamarpa, Lopon Tsechu
Rinpoche, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, and the Danish Lama
Ole Nydahl have been some of the most revered and appreciated
Lamas in the West. |
