Karmapa
The head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. The 16th Karmapa recognising and sending the Nydahls west in 1972, his tours and his death in 1981, and the disputed recognition of the 17th, Thaye Dorje's visits, teachings and public appearances.
Part of Lama Ole Nydahl
19 moments in this segment.
- - The young 16th Karmapa. Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage, whose first Western students Ole and Hannah became in 1969.
- - The first Western students of the 16th Karmapa. In 1969 they met and became the first Western students of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the highest Lama of the eleven-century-old Karma Kagyu school, which teaches Diamond Way Buddhism. He would later send them to bring the teachings to the West. (Photo: Hannah and Lama Ole with the 16th Karmapa.)
- - The 16th Karmapa in Copenhagen. The 16th Karmapa with Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl during his historic tours of the West in the 1970s, hosted at the centers the Nydahls had begun to build.
- - The Karmapa in the Gampopa hat. The 16th Karmapa wearing the Gampopa hat of the lineage, the teacher and driving force behind Diamond Way Buddhism coming to the West.
- - The Vajra Crown. The 16th Karmapa holding the Vajra Crown during the Black Crown ceremony, a defining image of the Karma Kagyu lineage in the 1970s.
- - The Black Crown Ceremony. The 16th Karmapa performs the Black Crown ceremony, the rare ritual, said to liberate on sight, at the heart of his tours through the Western centers.
- - The 16th Karmapa & the Black Crown. The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje performing the Black Crown ceremony, the rare ritual in which the Karmapa places the Vajra Crown upon his head, said to liberate on sight. It was at the heart of the historic tours of the West that Lama Ole helped organise.
- - The 16th Karmapa passes away. In 1981 the 16th Karmapa passed away in Chicago, his composure in dying deeply moving the doctors who attended him. Together with high Lamas of the lineage, Lama Ole Nydahl carried the body of the 16th Karmapa to his cremation in Rumtek. (Photo: the Kudung of the 16th Karmapa before the ceremony.)
- - Carrying the Karmapa to cremation. High lamas of the Karma Kagyu, with Lama Ole Nydahl, carry the kudung of the 16th Karmapa to his cremation at Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, 1981.
- - The work with the 17th Karmapa begins. From 1992 Lama Ole concentrated on the work given to him by his teachers, together with the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, who was appointed by the Shamarpa, and with Lopön Tsechu, Jigme Rinpoche, Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Gendün Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse and many others.
- - Shamar Rinpoche introduces the 17th Karmapa. In 1994 Shamar Rinpoche introduced the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje in New Delhi. Recognised by the Shamarpa as the official reincarnation, the young Karmapa had left Chinese-occupied Tibet at the age of eleven to complete his training in India. (Photo: Shamar Rinpoche introduces the 17th Karmapa, New Delhi 1994.)
- - 6,000 welcome the 17th Karmapa in Düsseldorf. In 2000 Lama Ole invited the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje to Europe. The then 17-year-old Karmapa was met by 6,000 students in Düsseldorf on his first time on European soil, giving many initiations and lectures. (Photo: 6,000 people welcome the 17th Karmapa.)
- - With Mipham Rinpoche, father of the Karmapa. Mipham Rinpoche, the father of the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, and Lama Ole Nydahl. (From the "East Meets West" gallery.)
- - Escorting the Karmapa across Russia. In 2009 Lama Ole escorted the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje on his first Russian tour, where he was received by the highest Buddhist dignitary in Russia, the Hambo Lama. (Photo: the Hambo Lama with Lama Ole Nydahl.)
- - H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. Trinley Thaye Dorje, recognised by Shamar Rinpoche as the 17th Karmapa, for the Diamond Way, the present holder of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
- - The 17th Karmapa and Lama Ole. H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje with Lama Ole Nydahl, the teacher to whom Lama Ole presented the more than 600 centers of the Diamond Way.
- - Thaye Dorje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. Born in 1983 and recognised by Shamar Rinpoche, Thaye Dorje left Chinese-occupied Tibet in 1994 and completed his training in India. For the Diamond Way he is the present holder of the lineage, the teacher to whom Lama Ole presented the more than 600 centers, and who presided over his farewell.
- - Film: Karmapa Is Here!. The 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje at the Europe Center, a film from the Diamond Way archive.
- - The Karmapa opens the farewell ceremonies. On 21 May 2026, following the completion of Lama Ole’s Thugdam, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje opened the farewell ceremonies at the Europe Center, in the presence of eminent Rinpoches and Lamas of the Karma Kagyu lineage and several thousand students. (Photo: the Karmapa ceremony for Lama Ole.)
