Diamond Way Buddhist Group – Cape Town
Ever wondered about that feeling of what sees behind our eyes and hears between our ears?
It is the awareness that leads us to the only lasting joy, mind. Knowing mind, releases us from suffering caused by ourselves through cause and effect or the law of Karma.
Everything around us is impermanent, nothing lasts and one day we all have to depart this world. The good news is that there is a way out of this unavoidable situation, this cycle of suffering. It is not through ignorance (main obstacle). It is through knowing, understanding and living the way things are that ultimately result into enlightenment.
Most people are aware of Buddhism through sources such as word of mouth, media, etc. Some of them do not convey the right message. Some say Buddhism is a religion of faith, with Buddha being a god and lamas seen as holy worshippers as well as nirvana a state of heaven, etc.
Buddhism is not a faith religion, nor is there a judging god, no outside entity where we bow down and worship. Then some might ask: ‘Who is Buddha?’ if he is not a god, then who was he then?
The word Buddha is not someone’s name or a particular person. It is an adjective that describes a state of mind which any being is capable of achieving that of Buddhahood.
The essence of the meaning of Buddhism is captured in a single term that means the practicing and teachings of a 2500 year old living transmission and describes the goal that every Buddhist is striving for. This is term is called enlightenment where mind naturally manifests fearlessness, joy and active compassion while remaining effortless and spontaneous in whatever happens.
Buddha gave instructions for three different types of people. Those who wanted to avoid suffering received the instructions about cause and effect called the Small Way (skt. Hinayana). Those who wanted to do more for others were given the teachings on wisdom and compassion called the Great Way (skt. Mahayana).
Where people had strong confidence in their own and others' Buddha nature, Buddha taught the Diamond Way (skt. Vajrayana). Here, he manifested as forms of energy and light or directly transmitted his enlightened view as a flow of awareness. On this highest level, the aim is the complete development of mind, the spontaneous effortlessness of the Great Seal (skt. Mahamudra).
The Diamond Way offers the modern world effective methods that lead to a direct experience of mind. One learns to experience the world from a rich and self-liberating viewpoint. The meditations develop a deep inner richness and lead to a non-artificial and unwavering mind where every enlightened activity can unfold.
Our group is part of more than 530 lay western Diamond Way Buddhist centres of the Karma Kagyu School founded and directed by Lama Ole Nydahl. They are under the spiritual guidance of H.H. the 17th Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje.
Diamond Way Buddhist centres have a democratic structure and function through unpaid, voluntary work on the basis of friendship and idealism. The members share the responsibility for guiding meditations, answering questions, and giving teachings. Lama Ole has also empowered more than 100 of his students to travel and teach Buddhism.
diamondway-buddhism.org