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Preparing yourself for dying
August 4th, 2009

Allgäuer Anzeigeblatt – Oberallgäu, 4 August 2009

Questioned
Lama Ole Nydahl 

German original

Lama Ole Nydahl comes from Denmark and is the most important Western teacher of Diamond Way Buddhism.

 From today until August 16, the largest Buddhist meeting in Germany takes place with participants from 40 countries. What does it have in store for the participants?
Lama Ole Nydahl: An initiation into the Buddha of Limitless Light, given by the highest Lineage Holder of the buddhist Karma Kagyu School from Tibet. Next, I will give a five-day long “Phowa”-Course where you learn about conscious dying, just as last summer. About 70.000 people have learned this practice successfully since 1987. After that, we will meditate for 72 hours in order to awaken compassion.

Why does the two-week event take place in the Oberallgäu?
Lama Ole Nydahl: Because we like Gut Hochreute so much. With the friendly help of the citizens and authorities from Immenstadt it has become the main seat of 600 Buddhist centers. All in all, there are 120 centers in Germany.

What is the purpose of the event?
Lama Ole Nydahl: We want to keep the philosophical-psychological knowledge of the old meditation lineages of Tibet alive and transmit it further on.

Where will the participants stay and how do they get to the location of the meeting?
Lama Ole Nydahl: The participants stay in pensions, hotels and on camping grounds in the area. There will be a shuttle service to Gut Hochreute operating from several public parking lots.

The Karma Kagyu Lineage is one of the great buddhist schools of the Diamond Way which is one of three kinds of Buddhism. What does this tradition contain?
Lama Ole Nydahl: Buddhism came to Tibet twice, first around the year 750 with the “old” school which was annihilated by Shamans around 800. And then again around 1050 when the teachings were brought in from India and rescued from their extinction by Muslims. The Karma Kagyu Lineage uses both sources and lets people experience mind as timeless clear light, using many methods.

Meditation plays a large role?
Lama Ole Nydahl: Yes, the participants are guided on one hand, but are also independent in order to solidify experiences of surplus for others and joy in themselves. The aim of every meditation is to develop as a human so that you can be useful for the highest possible number of people. (kep)

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