The Karma Kagyu lineage is a Buddhist school in Tibet that is about 900 years old. It is a sub-school of the Kagyu tradition and the primary sources of the Karma Kagyu lineage are the “words of the Buddha”. Diamond Way Buddhism is a network of lay Buddhist centers and groups affiliated with the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The organization was founded in the 1970s by Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife, Hannah Nydahl, who were among the first Western students of the 16th Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu tradition.

Lama Ole Nydahl was born in Denmark in 1941 and first encountered Buddhism as a teenager. He became interested in Zen Buddhism and later travelled to Asia, where he met the 16th Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa recognized Nydahl's potential as a teacher and gave him permission to teach Buddhism to Westerners.

Nydahl and his wife, Hannah, went on to establish Diamond Way Buddhism centers and groups around the world, and over the course of their careers they transmitted the Karma Kagyu lineage to thousands of students. They are widely credited with bringing Tibetan Buddhism to a wider audience in the West and are known for their innovative approach to teaching and their emphasis on the practical application of Buddhism in daily life.

Lama Ole Nydahl passed away in 2018, but the Diamond Way Buddhism organization continues to thrive and has centers and groups in more than 60 countries around the world. The organization is a non-profit organization and is supported by the contributions of its members and supporters. It is

The Diamond Way centers are related to the 16th Karmapa and belong to the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. They consider Thaye Dorje to be the 17th Karmapa. Approximately 635 centers and groups worldwide belong to this association.