Gyalwa Karmapa is recognized as being the first Tibetan lama to have consciously reincarnated. The 16th Karmapa Rigpe Dorje, who had to escape from Tibet in 1959 because of the destruction of his country by the Chinese, guaranteed the survival of the Karma Kagyu lineage. With the help of his Occidental students, he transmitted the knowledge of the real nature of mind to the modern world.
The actual 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje also managed to leave the oppressed Tibet to go to India at 11 years old and win his freedom. He is our spiritual leader. www.karmapa.org
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Shamar Rinpoche was born in Tibet and was educated by the 16th Karmapa. He in the highest leader of the Karma Kagyu school. After the death of a Karmapa, he is responsible of the discovery of the next reincarnation. At the same time, he is one of the most important Buddhist masters. www.shamarpa.org
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First master of Ole and Hannah Nydahl, he belongs to the rare great masters of Buddhist meditation and received numerous transmissions from several schools. He is especially very much attached to our Occidental centres. He directs the building of stupas and inaugurates them in the whole world. Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche passed away in 2003.
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Lama Jigmela was recognized as the reincarnation of a Tibetan yogi and was born in the family of the 16th Karmapa. He is the brother of Sharmapa. He received many teachings from the 16th Karmapa who appointed him, during his first visit in Occident, as his representative in Europe. Since then, he leads Karmapa’s headquarters in Europe, Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in . Besides his fuction as an organizer, he is a very appreciated lama. www.jigmela.org
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The Danish Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah met during their honeymoon in the Himalayas in 1969, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and became his first western students. After years of studies of Buddhist teachings and the practice of meditation, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa trusted them with the mission of transmitting the teachings of the Diamond Way to the west. In his name and since 1972, lama Ole Nydahl founded more than 400 centers that he visits and supports regularly.
With his direct way and his Danish rather dry humor, he shows that the spontaneous freshness and capacity of staying calm in our own mind go perfectly well together. www.lama-ole-nydahl.org
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In December of 1969, Hannah Nydahl and her husband Ole became the first Western students of H.H. the 16th Karmapa. For over 30 years, Hannah has interpreted for the highest Karma Kagyu teachers and translated texts of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. Hannah passed away in april 2007.
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