The Karma Kagyu lineage is a living transmission lineage which emphasizes the Diamond Way teachings of the Buddha.

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni gave these teachings to his closest students. They were first practiced in India and since around 1,000 A.D. in Tibet.

The Diamond Way came to the West in the beginning of the 1970s. Especially the Danish lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah have been instrumental in spreading the Karma Kagyu teachings upon the request of the 16th Karmapa.

The spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu School is the Karmapa, now in his 17th rebirth. He is followed by the school’s other lineage holder, the Shamarpa. In addition the school prizes itself on a long list of accomplished teachers. Among these are today Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Shangpa Rinpoche and lama Ole Nydahl.