From the Himalayas to the Danube

30 years of Diamond Way Buddhism in Slovakia

The international exhibition about the development of Diamond Way Buddhism in the West and in Slovakia has reached us.

It will be hosted by the University Library in Bratislava from 5th of October to 24th of October. Subsequently, from 2nd of November to 20th of November in Stará Turá. Then from 23rd of November to 6th of December the exhibition will be available in Žilina.

Buddhist methods are timeless, and therefore they can be applied in different societies and eras. They're like a diamond, that reflects the colour of the surface upon which it is placed, but its essence remains unchanged.

How Diamond Way Buddhism made its way from Tibet to Europe

The lineage of the Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, comes directly from the historical Buddha Shakyamuni (6th century BCE). In the 1970s, the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Diamond Way Buddhism, met the newlywed Nydahls from Copenhagen, Denmark, in Kathmandu. Lama Ole and Hannah felt so inspired that they extended their honeymoon in Nepal to several years and became Karmapa's students. In 1972, Karmapa asked them to bring Diamond Way Buddhism to the West. They returned back home, started giving lectures and setting up meditation centres. Thanks to their efforts, after more than 50 years, there are now over 600 Diamond Way Buddhism centres operating worldwide.

“16th Karmapa sent us home with a task so great that it would fill several lifetimes – to make the profound wisdom of Tibet accessible to our part of the world and to open the minds of extroverted Westerners to things as unfamiliar as mantras and meditation.”

Diamond Way Buddhism in Slovakia

The story of Diamond Way Buddhism in Slovakia began with Lama Ole Nydahl's first lectures in Košice and Bratislava in 1996. His fresh style inspired many people who began to meet first in private flats, then in rented public spaces, and after several years also in their own centres; there are currently nine of them active. The largest of the urban centres, which is also visited by new people interested in Buddhism, is the Bratislava Buddhist Centre. It is a large and bright place and includes space for meditation and socialising. It also provides facilities for parents with children.

The Mangútovo retreat centre serves to enhance meditation practice. It is located in the distinctive Podpoľanie region, in the picturesque surroundings of the Hriňovské Lazy hamlets. The centre's activities also include weekend events with traveling teachers or international meditation courses. The location in the heart of Europe is easily accessible to people from Slovakia and those coming from abroad.

All Diamond Way Buddhism centres founded by Lama Ole Nydahl, under the spiritual patronage of the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage, H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, operate on the basis of friendship and volunteerism.

About us

Friends of different professions and ages. Many of us have families, partners, children; we are not monks or nuns. We share common values, such as freedom and tolerance, and an interest in developing for the benefit of all beings. That is why we meditate and help make the Buddha's teachings accessible to those who are interested in them. For example, by organising lectures, meditation weekends or this exhibition. We also publish books and the magazine Buddhism Today. The Way Things Are, The Great Seal, Riding the Tiger, Entering the Diamond Way, Fearless Death - Buddhist Wisdom on the Art of Dying, Buddha and Love – these are some of the titles we have published in Slovak.

For decades, Lama Ole Nydahl has been sharing methods that lead to experiencing lasting unconditional happiness and complete freedom, where we are no longer constrained by any life circumstances – not even old age, sickness or death. Through his own example, he consistently affirmed that fearlessness, joy and love express our true essence.

Lama Ole left his body on 18 May 2026 naturally and peacefully, accompanied by immense love and strength.