Lama Ole Nydahl

Lama Ole Nydahl, born in Denmark in 1941, is one of the few fully qualified Western Buddhist lamas in the Karma Kagyu lineage. In 1972 he and his late wife, Hannah Nydahl were asked by their main teacher the 16th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage, to teach Buddhism to those who were interested in the West. Since then, Lama Ole has been doing so constantly, starting Buddhist groups and centres all around the world.

Lama Ole stresses combining lay Buddhist practice with independent thinking and the maturity that comes from life experience, as well as the importance of taking care of society, especially freedom of speech and women’s rights.

Lama Ole is the author of several books including The Way Things Are; The Great Seal; Fearless Death, Buddha and Love, Entering the Diamond Way, and Riding the Tiger.

Since 1994, Lama Ole has visited the United Kingdom on numerous occasions to give teachings and establish new groups.