Diamond Way Buddhism (Diamond Way Buddhism - Karma Kagyu Lineage) is a lay organization within the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Diamond Way Buddhist center was founded in 1972 by Hannah Nydahl and Ole Nydahl in Copenhagen under the guidance of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa. Today there are approximately 650 centers worldwide, directed by Ole Nydahl under the guidance of Trinley Thaye Dorje, one of two claimants to the title of the 17th Karmapa (See Karmapa Controversy). Buddhist teachers such as Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and Lama Jigme Rinpoche visit Diamond Way Buddhist centers and large meditation courses. History and development Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage, The 16th Karmapa, left Tibet in 1959, and established Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, India, as his main seat in exile. The exodus of Tibetans made Tibetan Buddhism more accessible to the rest of the world. Many young Westerners on the hippie trail from Europe to India and Nepal came into contact with Tibetan teachers. Beginning with Freda Bedi, in 1960, Westerners began taking refuge in Tibetan Buddhist masters. When Hannah Nydahl and Ole Nydahl were on their honeymoon in the Himalayas in 1968, they became students of Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, and in 1969 took refuge with The 16th Karmapa and became his closest Western students. After meditating and studying Buddhism for three years, the 16th Karmapa asked Ole and Hannah to start meditation centers in his name in the West. The first Karma Kagyu center in the West was founded in 1972 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1974 the 16th Karmapa visited Europe with the help of Ole and Hannah Nydahl. Following this visit and at the 16th Karmapa's request, Ole Nydahl began traveling further across Europe in order to teach the basic doctrines of Karma Kagyu Buddhism. As more became interested more centers were founded and their number increased over time, particularly in Germany and Poland. The individual groups grew steadily. He later traveled to the United States and across South America and Russia, founding more centers. Following the Karmapa Controversy, Karma Kagyu Buddhist centers were obliged to decide whether to accept Orgyen Trinley Dorje, who was recognized by Tai Situ, the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government, or to support Shamar Rinpoche. In the course of the 1990s, while a majority of Kagyu monasteries elected to accept Orgyen Trinley Dorje, most Diamond