New Year's Letter 2001

Lama Ole Nydahl



Dear friends everywhere,

After East Asia, Karmapa visited Central Europe in January 2000. Without extensive promotion in the press, 15,000 of our friends came to see him. After initiations in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Poland, he received teachings from a reknowned Lama from Nepal, Chobje Tri Rinpoche, in the monastery in France. Luckily he survived an appendix operation in Switzerland, which would have been very dangerous in the East. Karmapa is now studying and meditating in Delhi and Kalimpong, and is digesting the diverse impressions from his trip.

The year with many zeroes was in every way actually very good for our work. The worldwide centre-count climbed over 300, and due to very generous friends our actualisers are more and more sitting between walls which belong to our organisation. As long as everything in the East doesn't act up, we have a clear path to more effectively bring the Diamond Way of lay practicitioners and actualisers to the bright minds of our countries.

Outwardly this means to further dismantle the exotic, to become more visible and understandable, and also to westernise important practices in the future.

For example, it was inspiring for many to take Refuge in their own language and hopefully the simpler selection of words will quickly feel "right." Democratic communities simply express themselves in less flowery language. It will be fun to see how many people in the future will want to discuss their inner processes in Tibetan.

Since Situ Rinpoche and Urgyen Trinle's side got thoroughly stuck in Indian politics - often the worst adversary in the East - it will be very important to keep a healthy distance from the sacndal of Sai Baba and his young men. Many can't distinguish between non-Western religions, and they should know that he is Hindu, not Buddhist. We already have enough of our own stuff to drag around.

But what do I most want to share with you? Whether a millenium begins with a zero or a one: under the above circumstances we will be better able to follow our noble Kagyu roots than we were during the last eight years full of China - Kagyu - Gelugpa politics. It will be that we will be able to meditate much more, also for the responsible people in the first row of our work. I would like the good karmafrom so much persistence, courage and independence to give you a huge push forward. I think we have earned it.

Also the outer basis for retreat stands or is arising. It has already been 28 years in preparation. The surplus from our work flows into a network of Eurasian centres between the Baikal Lake in Siberia and Langenhorn in Germany, between Rödby, Korinth and Malaga. The most luxurious offerings of bueaucracy - free land and undisturbed nature, are as you'd expect in Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece and the Ukraine, where we have often paid less than 500 German Marks per hectare. The best buildings, often with caretakers, stand in Central Europe, such as Schwarzenberg and Langenhorn. And the Europe-Centre could raise everything to a previously unimaginable level. North America already offers opportunities in Texas, Idaho, and space for tents in New Mexico. Mexico is also developing a beautiful place near the capital, with the help of Casa Tibet. Other than these, our groups in Middle and South America, Australia and New Zealand offer places for Kagyus to take an undisturbed look inside themselves.

And why do I mention such remote places? Half of the practice is getting away from the everyday world. This effectively cuts the roots of disturbing emotions and makes it possible to hunt for the experiencer with effective methods. This brings experience of the only true and timeless value. The Joy of Space, which promises the Buddha's highest teachings as lasting experience, blooms seldom, not until expectations and fears are eliminated, but the limitation of outer impressions can be felt and give one the desire to go deeper.

Used in combination with the Diamond Way methods, as they were given, rich human development is inevitable.

So, this should be a New Year's letter, not a New Year's book. Countless wonderful years for us and our work from South America, where we are surrounded by mature Groups. If only the year was many times longer than it is.So – dies soll ein Neujahrsbrief sein, kein Neujahrsbuch. Zahllose besten Jahre für uns und unsere edle Arbeit aus Südamerika, wo wir inzwischen in reifen Gruppen baden. Hätten die Jahre bloß die vielfache Länge.


Your Tomek, Caty, Hannah and Lama Ole