Buddha advised not to believe anything just because he said it. Everything should be examined carefully to see whether it is truly beneficial. This makes well-asked questions especially important.

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Buddhism is the path of experience. Through methods and meditation, all teachings and intellectual understanding become direct experience, leading to inner insight that goes beyond belief.

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Is Buddhism about learning to think positively?

No. Thoughts naturally come and go in the mind, and positive ones are just as impermanent as negative ones. That’s why we can’t rely on them. Instead, we work on understanding how our mind functions. As we gain insight, more space appears in the mind and we begin to enjoy life’s situations more, experiencing them as exciting and meaningful. This creates more positive imprints in our mind, enabling us to understand how it works.

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Do you teach yoga at Buddhist centers?
Most people associate the word "yoga" with physical exercises and breathing techniques—that’s what's known as hatha yoga, which is not a Buddhist practice. In the Diamond Way Buddhist context, "yoga" refers to advanced meditations (such as guru yoga) that work with identification with the enlightened qualities of the teacher and the nature of mind.

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What book do you recommend for beginners?
Lama Ole Nydahl’s The Way Things Are is a modern introduction to Buddhism, written for those who want a clear and practical overview. It presents the main Buddhist traditions and outlines the foundations of the Diamond Way. Entering the Diamond Way tells the story of how Lama Ole and his wife Hannah met the 16th Karmapa in the late 1960s and became his students. In Riding the Tiger, Lama Ole shares how he brought the teachings from East to West, establishing lay Buddhist centers around the world.

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Is it important to meditate in a group and have a teacher?
Yes. Meditating in a group is often more inspiring and effective. It’s like learning a new language—it’s easier and faster with native speakers and a supportive environment. Buddhism works the same way. If you want to use Diamond Way methods, you’ll need a qualified teacher who can show you the goal through their own experience and point out the timeless qualities already present in your mind.

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Why is establishing Buddhism in the West so important?
Buddhism originated in India 2,500 years ago and has always adapted to new cultures while keeping the essential teachings intact. As the teachings move into the West, it’s natural for the style and language to become more suited to modern, independent, and educated minds. This doesn’t mean changing the teachings—out of the 84,000 teachings Buddha gave, we can simply use those that fit best. The highest teachings about the nature of mind, are like a diamond: clear, indestructible, and reflecting the color of the culture in which they appear.

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The monastic path, with its emphasis on renunciation, may feel foreign or even escapist to many modern people. That’s why the lay yogi approach—fully engaged in life while applying the teachings—is often more relevant today. Of course, we still respect the Tibetan monks who preserve the traditional practices as part of their cultural heritage. Buddha gave countless methods to benefit beings, and today the yogic and lay paths are often one and the same.

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Westerners are often sensitive to superficial cultural mixing. People who rely on logic and clarity, and who feel uneasy about exotic rituals, can easily relate to Diamond Way Buddhism when it's presented without cultural extras. It’s unfortunate when people end up in nihilism, political correctness, or substance use simply because they didn’t find a trustworthy spiritual path.

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Do I need to pay to meditate?
No, meditation is free and open to everyone. The centers are maintained through voluntary donations and the work of the practitioners.

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What happens with the donations?
We currently have 27 centers where our goal is to make the Buddha’s timeless wisdom accessible to everyone. We offer regular public meditations and teachings. Each summer, we also organize international meditation courses at our retreat center in Becske. All this is made possible by the voluntary work and support of our lay practitioners.

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Do Buddhists have to be vegetarians?
This depends on your motivation. It’s not possible to live in a physical body without affecting other beings. Even to make a cup of tea, fields must be plowed and countless small creatures may die. If you feel that not eating meat leads to fewer beings being killed, that’s wonderful.

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Buddha had a practical view on eating meat. He said: eat what you can afford and don’t make it into a problem, but don’t allow animals to be killed specifically for you. From a Buddhist perspective, the negative karma of killing lies between the butcher and the animal. Even if you weren’t present or didn’t eat the steak, that karmic link would ripen. The key is not to get caught in that cycle.

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What you can do is say the mantra OM MANI PEME HUNG and blow on the meat. If it has been dead for more than seven weeks (e.g. frozen meat), there is no longer a connection between the animal’s consciousness and its body. But within the first seven weeks after death, the being may still sense your goodwill. Saying mantras and showing compassion can help their rebirth in a more favorable condition.

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Are all Buddhists celibate pacifists?
No. While some monastics may choose that path, most Diamond Way Buddhists are lay people who fully enjoy life. We are a lay movement that applies the Buddha’s teachings in everyday life. Practitioners have relationships, enjoy good food, and protect those around them when needed—even powerfully, if the situation calls for it.

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Is a business career compatible with being a Buddhist?
Yes, absolutely. Buddhist teachings and meditation help us think more clearly and increase our focus—skills that are useful in all aspects of life. They also help us relate to colleagues, clients, and partners more effectively. From a Buddhist point of view, competition is fine as long as it’s fair. When you succeed, you can share the merit with all beings, giving them a share in your positive actions.

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Are Buddhists always focused on others?
There are three classic ways a bodhisattva—the ideal practitioner—can benefit others: like a king, who first becomes strong to help others later; like a ferryman, who crosses together with others; and like a shepherd, who puts others before himself. While the king has the most power, the shepherd develops fastest because of his selfless compassion.

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How are newcomers welcomed at a Buddhist center?
Before meditation begins, new visitors are given a short introduction to Diamond Way Buddhism, the meditation methods we practice, and the function of the center. That’s why it’s best to arrive about half an hour before the start time on your first visit. After the half-hour meditation, we’re happy to answer questions, and informal conversations often follow. Each center may have different evening programs, so it's worth checking ahead for details.

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