Buddhistisk Center København

06/06/2026

26/05/2026

Lama Ole Nydahl

(1941 - 2026)

We would like to express our condolences to all students and friends of Lama Ole. With heavy hearts, we acknowledge that one of the 16th Karmapa's foremost western disciples has passed away.

He brought the Dharma to countless people around the world; countless people looked to him as their only refuge, and he, with no regard for himself, was always ready to listen, to offer advice, or to help in any way possible.

He inspired many with his unbreakable devotion to the wishes of the 16th Karmapa, which he pursued with unwavering dedication throughout his entire life.

He set many people on the path of the Dharma and helped make Dharma practice an integral part of daily life wherever he went.

He never gave up on anyone —

he was able to turn the lives around of people whom everyone else had abandoned, and often even the person themselves had given up hope that their life could improve, yet Ole never gave up on them either.

With his deep faith in the Three Jewels, his captivating charisma, and his warm, compassionate heart, Lama Ole was able to guide even the most hardened wrongdoers onto the path of the Dharma.

When such a great person passes, we tend to become caught in grief and to abandon our aspirations — something only made worse by the current state of the world. We may think that this is already the dark age and that all our chances to master the Dharma are gone — unlike in the golden age of the Dharma, or when the 16th Karmapa was still alive...

In truth, mastering the Dharma has never been easy. There has never been an era in which a practitioner simply sat down and was done. In a sense, every Dharma practitioner has always been fighting in this muddy trench — there has never been an ideal age in which it was comfortable to transcend our limitations. Every generation has its own difficulties, and without them it would be very hard to develop such remarkable qualities as those Lama Ole demonstrated.

Let us seize this opportunity to find joy in the work of his life, draw courage from it, and make our own lives meaningful in this spirit of unbreakable devotion and compassion.

Let us see that if he succeeded in making his life meaningful through devotion, with the help of the Kagyu lineage, then why should we not be able to do the same?

May the end of his life always serve as a reminder of our own impermanence, and may we not postpone a single opportunity to develop devotion and compassion.

The Lama is independent of all conditions —

he can always be counted on and will never let us down. He is always in our hearts, and if we remember him, he will never forget us.

With friendly condolences,

His Eminence
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche

and

His Eminence
Beru Khyentse Rinpoche

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

21/05/2026

With gratitude beyond words, I offer this humble tribute to Lama Ole.

No one like Lama Ole.

A lion hearted yogi,
walking endlessly for the benefit of beings,
crossing countries, cultures, and countless hardships,
with nothing but devotion in his heart
and the blessings of the Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje above his head.

He did not live for comfort.
He lived to bring the Dharma where it had never reached before:
to awaken courage where there was fear,
meaning where there was emptiness,
and hope where there was darkness.

For countless people,
meeting Lama Ole was like seeing a door open
in a world that once felt closed.

He gave everything
his strength, his breath, his very life
so that others may find meaning, courage, and the path.

Now his voice is silent,
yet it still echoes in meditation halls,
in prayers whispered at dawn,
in the tears of students around the world,
and in every heart he awakened.

The sky feels emptier today.
A great light has gone beyond our sight.

But lights like his do not truly disappear.
They continue to shine in the minds of those he touched,
guiding beings long after the form is gone.

Some lives are ordinary.
Some become history.
And some become legend.

No one like Lama Ole.
And perhaps there never will be again.

19/05/2026

With profound sorrow, wishes and deep gratitude, we mourn the passing of the great Dharma teacher Lama Ole Nydahl, who entered parinirvana on this day, 18th May 2026.

Lama Ole Nydahl was among the closest disciples of H.H. The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and dedicated his entire life to carrying the precious teachings of the Karma Kagyu lineage across the world. With fearless devotion, unwavering faith and inexhaustible energy, he worked tirelessly to establish the Dharma in countless countries, benefiting beings beyond measure.

At a time when the Buddhadharma was still unfamiliar to many in the West, Lama Ole became a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern society. Through his courage, humor, directness and deep devotion to His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, he inspired thousands to enter the path of Dharma, meditation and compassion. Under the blessings of the Karmapas and lineage masters, he established numerous Dharma centers where countless beings encountered the teachings of Mahamudra and the profound lineage of Karma Kagyu.

Though the form body is impermanent, the impact of his Dharma activities and the merit generated through his efforts will continue to benefit sentient beings for a very long time. To all his students and disciples around the world who are grieving today, may you find solace in remembering that a true Dharma master never truly departs from the hearts of devoted students. The connection forged through Dharma, blessings and devotion transcends physical separation. In moments of sorrow, may you remember his teachings, his laughter, his fearless spirit and the immense compassion with which he guided beings toward the path of liberation. The greatest offering to one’s guru is to continue practicing sincerely and to keep the lamp of Dharma shining for the benefit of all beings. May his students remain united in Dharma and continue to uphold the teachings with wisdom, compassion and devotion.

 At this moment of loss, we also remember the words of the Buddha that all compounded phenomena are impermanent. Yet the enlightened activity born from bodhicitta never fades. May all who were connected with Lama Ole transform grief into deeper practice, stronger refuge and greater compassion for all sentient beings.



19/05/2026

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares a message on the passing of Lama Ole Nydahl.