The world we live in is getting smaller and people’s actions have tremendous impact. In the era in which we live people cannot get away with clinging to their beliefs. I don’t have any personal attachment or clinging to being a Buddhist. We need to step outside the boundaries of Buddhism and really go out and share the benefits of our Buddhist practice with the rest of the world.

Our Vision for the 21st century

Kamalashila Institute for Buddhist Studies and Meditation is the European seat of H.H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The Karmapa is the head of the 900-year old Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Kamalashila is the heart of the European activities of H.H. the 17th Karmapa and is committed to his vision for the 21st century.

As a part of the Karma Kagyü Gemeinschaft Deutschland e.V., our work focuses mainly on the transmission of Buddhism in Europe, on authentically preserving and transmitting the “oral transmission lineage” of the Karma Kagyu tradition, and on the teachings, meditation practices, and empowerments of sutra, tantra, and mahamudra.

Kamalashila Institute is a versatile place that welcomes widely different aspects of Buddhist teachings and practices. We host a large number of programmes with male and female teachers from many Buddhist traditions. We regard ourselves as a platform where different traditions can exchange their ideas.

Our focus is on Buddhism in modern Europe in the 21st century. This includes the translation and transmission of Buddhist teachings in our modern world, the new wave of mindfulness practices, Buddhist and western psychology, and the holistic approach to a healthy human life and a healthy environment.

This is primarily accomplished through our extensive and diverse array of seminars, courses, retreats, and lectures.