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vdesign
Alchi,
Reports of "miracles" are actually quite common in Vajrayana. You will find many texts referring to the super-natural deeds performed by Sakyamuni, Padmasmbhava, Karma Pakshi, Drukpa Kunley and other great realised beings. There are also many reports of quite recent "miracles" performed by various teachers. I seem to remember that Namkhai Norbu in "Crystal and the way of light" wrote about historical cases of Illusory Body in 1950s in China. And then we have numerous recollection of people who met 16th Karmapa - his drivers, attendants, students, passers-by - all telling a similar story.
Ole's recollections of 16th Karmapa are not that unusual. I cannot comment on whether what allegedly happened to Ole later (near-accidents on bike, climbing fall in the Table Mountains, parachute mishap) is factual. I was not there and will not speculate. My gut feel is that Ole is incapable of deliberate lying so this is really not an issue with me. If my connection with Buddhism depended on whether Ole Nydahl really saw Lopon Tsechu dissolve into space then I would drill deeper but it does not.
Re: 16th Karmapa "promoting" Ole there apparently was a letter he wrote to the Danish Queen when he sent Ole and Hannah to teach Buddhism in Europe. I understand that Ole and Hannah, upon returning to Denmark in 1970s, were granted audience with the Queen and handed the letter in. I also understand that 16th Karmapa paid two visits to Europe where he was hosted and driven around by Nydahls. This goes some way to answering your question whether 16th Karmapa supported Ole's work in Europe.
Cheers
Thanks for your post Vdesign
It is interesting to note that this letter hasn’t been published by the DWB. Just the sharmapa letter regarding Ole’s lama status. Even if the karmapa endosed Nydalh at one point this doesn’t excuse his today’s behaviour. It is one thing to have organised the karmapa’s visit in the 70s and another to claim all sort of miraculous things.
Miracles are common in Tibetan Buddhism; they are also common in the Islamic and catholic world. They are even more common in Hinduism and the guru movements.
Basically the more you encourage blind devotion is encouraged the more miracle claims you will get.
DW teachings are light on the intellectual and fascinating aspect of Buddhism and heavy on the guru devotion.
I haven’t heard someone like Robert Thurman claiming all sorts of things. He’s a close friend and collaborator of the Dalai Lama as well as a respected university scholar, he was also the first US citizen to be ordained monk in the 60’s. No dodgy claims about himself or the Dalai Lama, no hard to back up support or allegations about sexual misconduct or racist views. He just teaches the dharma and the cannons of the Sanskrit, Pali and Tibetan Buddhist literature. Period. Nobody calls him lama either. Do you see the difference?
The shamarpa issued a letter about Ole’s lack of qualification and his self appointed title of “lama” This was not much to start with but now it seems in the view of the recent exchange of letters it seems that the relationship has soured. The karmapa controversy has cool down somehow and I guess the shamarpa doesn’t want to be associated anymore with Ole in the view of the recent allegations against DWB.
Regarding the racist claims I think these go beyond standard islamophobia, just read “Entering the Diamond Way” and the ludicrous comments about “hopeless” Africa where foreign help are being wasted and “the regions surrounding the Equator” (sic) where people with bad karma are being reborn, the over population of Asia and the lack of natural selection caused by the use of penicillin and the automatic rifles… And the Buddha with blue eyes and fair hair whose Aryan ancestors where coming from Ukraine…Why not Denmark? :) Are all of these simplistic and unproven facts really essential in a book about an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism?