The 2026 International Summer Course was the first course to take place following the passing of Lama Ole Nydahl.
Held annually at the Europe Center, this two-week gathering brings together Dharma friends from many countries to practice and share the Buddha Dharma, while strengthening their bonds of friendship.
It started after an intensely joyful building up phase.
During the week meditations and explanations into the practice by our travelling teachers were done in the big gompa tent
The fantastic kitchen team prepared food three times daily for up to 6000 people
At the end of the first week Ven. Jigme Rinpoche arrived, smiling as ever.
He gave teachings emphasizing on compassion and wisdom.
He also took time and visited the great exhibition in honor of the work of Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah.
On the next day he gave us the empowerment on Loving Eyes (Chenrezig).
At the End of the second week HH the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje arrived in a VW Bus similar to the one Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah used to drive the 16th Karmapa around during his first visit to Europe.
During his first session, Karmapa bestowed the reading transmission, or lung, for the Ngondro (Preliminary Practices), as well as for the Mahamudra Prayer by the Third Karmapa. He concluded the session with an extensive question-and-answer period reminding us intensely on the inevitability of change and impermanence emphasizing the need to be aware of everything and enjoy the uniqueness in every moment.
Over the following days, Karmapa granted the empowerments of the wisdom aspect Diamond Mind (Dorje Sempa) which took place until late night and of the Buddha of Limitless Life (Amitayus) to approximately 6,000 practitioners.
He also visited the great exhibition and enjoyed remembering the time with late Lama Ole and his late wife Hannah.
Though Karmapa was leaving (again in his VW Bus!) – the course ended joyfully anyway.
