The revered Tibetan Buddhist meditation master, His Holiness, the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, was known as a living embodiment of boundless compassion. After he left Tibet, he gave several meditation practices to his Western students. Simple yet powerful, these visualizations allow us to explore our own innate connection to the brilliant sanity and compassion of all the Buddhas -- and to begin manifesting that sanity and compassion in our everyday lives.

Instructions for beginning the practices are available on the Internet in most of the major European languages, and we provide links to them on this page. On a separate page you can find a brief introduction to Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the Sixteenth Karmapa, who joined together his deep insight into our Western minds and his profound understanding of the Dharma, and gave us these practices -- inviting us to join our minds with his. 

Simple Meditations for Western Students

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"Now out of space in front of us, condenses the golden, transparent form of the 16th Karmapa - a radiant field of energy and light. He wears the Black Crown, the shape of which can awaken mind's deepest awareness and his face is golden and mild. His eyes see us clearly, he knows us and wishes us everything good. Expressing the state of compassion and wisdom inseparable, of bliss and space, his crossed hands hold a dorje and bell at his heart. Seated in the Dorje position, he is surrounded by masses of light." -- Guru Yoga Meditation of the 16th Karmapa

Guru Yoga is known as the axle of the vehicle that takes us to enlightenment. Most Tibetan Buddhists do Guru Yoga practice every day at the beginning of their meditation. The practice fosters perception of one's own mind as indivisible from the nature of the Guru's mind. In this simplified form of the practice, the guru (lama) is His Holiness, the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. 

It is said that the benefits of doing this practice are immeasurable. Lama Ole Nydahl, who was entrusted by Karmapa with bringing this practice to Western people, sums it up like this: "I know of no more effective meditation." 

The Rainbow Light Meditation, the Meditation on Light and Breath, and the meditations for children are not normally done as group practices at Diamond Way centers, but instructions and practice texts are available at centers around the world.

Diamond Way Buddhist Centers
for instruction and practice texts