Dharma Wheel

I once saw on another forum a warning to stay away from this teacher and these centers. Is this grounded in fact, or is it mere speculation on things? It seems most of the teachers I am finding in NY are linked to inappropriate relationships with students. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

FWIW -Here is a list of some "teachers" and centers to be avoided.

NY has a lot of great authentic Dharma centers. Are you particularly interested in Tibetan Buddhism? Off the top of my head I'd say Lama Pema Wangdak at http://vikramasila.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Or H.H. Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche at http://www.tersar.org/YesheNyingpoNYC.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . And of course you know of the Dzogchen Community of ChNN in NYC

I had my "start" in Buddhism by first attending a Diamond Way center. I was an absolute neophyte and totally naive to Buddhism.

You can check for yourself that Diamond Way is inauthentic. They taught, among other weird things, that ngondro can be practiced with minimal instruction and without initiation of any kind, and that it should always precede shamatha practice. They have a lot of other strange and misguided ideas, and they positively revere Ole Nydahl, who has high charisma and teaches a very watered down, Dharma-lite version of Tibetan Buddhism.. also, they're very much about partying and sexual license, and they get down on you if, say, you're a quiet, introspective type who would rather read or meditate than drink..

So, yeah. Find an authentic teacher.

EDIT: Another of Ole's gems: "If you commit suicide, you will probably be reborn in Africa..."

I wonder why these oblique anti-Lama Ole posts keep popping up on this site? Is there some agenda at play shared among a few discreet parties? Not long after a huge thread about Lama Ole and Diamond Way just ended, another pops up. Curiousier and curiouser. Its becoming quite clear that there are several on this site, and on the internet, with some kind of vested interest in smearing Lama Ole and his work.

To anyone who does not know Lama Ole is recognized as a fully qualified Buddhist Lama by the 16th Karmapa (Previous head of the Kagyu lineage) and The 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje (Current head of the Kagyu lineage).

At present there is a disagreement between Kagyus as to who the 17th Karmapa actually is and much of this anti-Lama Ole rhetoric is fueled by this disagreement. Also many Shambala people don't like him because he thwarted an attempt by their organization to co-op the seat of the Karmapas after the 16th died in the early 80s.

I advise anyone curious or even concerned about Lama Ole and Diamond Way to make up their own minds and not pay too much attention to internet slander.

You can read the unbiased Wikipedia article for the straight dope:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Nydahl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and you can look at Lama Ole's site to see a catalog of his legitimate Buddhist credentials:

http://www.lama-ole-nydahl.org/about/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, for some historical perspective on yogi (non-monastic) lamas check out Keith Dowman's book "Masters of Mahamudra".

Best of course is to visit a Diamond Way Center. There you will find some really great people who do sincere vajrayana practice much more so than many dharma study groups do today. To be sure Lama Ole is not the teacher for everyone, but before this thread gets off the ground, its important to point out that he's not the man people here are making him out to be.

FT108

Oh and one more thing about the Karma Kagyu Diamond Way. It is recognized as a legitimate charitable non-profit in the US and Canada as well as an official religion in Denmark, Greece, Austira, Poland, Hungary, and Russia.

One of the posts above, by justsit, is wise and perceptive. Best strategy for NY is when you're in town check who's passing through as some great lamas suddenly do. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche visits few times a year for teachings and empowerments at Bowery, call them up as not always listed http://www.padmasambhava.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and Palyul's got lots of good lamas passing through too http://newyork.palyul.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;