History

After many years of searching, increasingly in the Alpine foothills, the Gut Hochreute (Hochreute Manor) was found in 2007 as the location for the new Europe Center.

The location with its fantastic view over the Alpine lake to the high Alps is reminiscent of our Tibetan roots, where in the Himalayas the Diamond Way was able to develop its full power undisturbed for over 1000 years.

Deep roots in the history of Buddhism

The idea for creating a central, international location ultimately goes back to Guru Rinpoche himself, to whom the following quote from the year 750 is ascribed: “When the iron bird flies and the fire horse rides and the Tibetans are scattered like ants in the world, then Buddhism will come to the land of the red faces!”

When China took over Tibet at the beginning of the cultural revolution in the 1950s, and destroyed most of the Buddhist institutions and many Tibetans had to flee their country, the Diamond Way had to find a new home: the Western world. With this the old prophecy was fulfilled; what’s more, an internationality previously unknown in Buddhism was now to manifest. In the Karma Kagyü Lineage the answer was the Europe Center.

Arrival in the West!

With his immeasurable activity, Lama Ole Nydahl together with his wife Hannah and many high Tibetan Lamas, most importantly the 16th Karmapa and Lopön Tsuchu Rinpoche, has been able to complete the masterpiece of introducing a religion in a region in which other religions have been well established for centuries. They were able to do this with skillful means and wisdom supported by the cultural and societal conditions which had developed since the beginning of the 1970s.

Recognizing and using the qualities of the different cultures together with Buddha’s teachings, especially those of the Diamond Way, to create an international basis for people to be able to develop themselves for the benefit of all beings – this is what the Europe Center is all about.

More about Lama Ole Nydahl

S.H. der 16. Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje bat Lama Ole und Hannah Nydahl den Diamantweg-Buddhismus im Westen zugänglich zu machen – ein Lebenswerk.

Festive handover of Gut Hochreute to H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje during his first visit in 2007

Present & future

Since 2008 people from around the world have moved to Immenstadt. Following the first rough restoration measures and roofing the two main buildings, a new building became urgently necessary. The new L-shaped building with the traditional ensemble fulfills all the requirements of daily life: living area for over 30 people, guest rooms, public spaces for meetings, children and for offices. This building phase ended in 2015.

Along with restoration work on existing buildings which needs to be done on occasion, tasks for the coming years include maintenance of the new buildings and the forest and fields as well as environmental protection measures for the outlying areas.

More about Gut Hochreute

Hochreute Manor

The buildings at the over 100-year-old Gut Hochreute are nestled in the beautiful Allgäu mountains with a view of the “Großer Alpsee”.
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Events

The event calendar gives an overview of all events at the Europe Center for new people who are interested and for practitioners.
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Impressions

A whole lot of photos, videos and virtual tours from over 10 years at the Europe Center. Pure inspiration. Have fun browsing!
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