Meeting the Buddha presents the life and legacy of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje – the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The film captures the remarkable presence of this “Living Buddha”, tracing his early years in Tibet, his preservation of the lineage in exile in India, and his vision to spread Buddhism to the modern world.
In this context, we meet Ole Nydahl, a wild young hippie from Denmark who, as a small child, had declared his wish to become the “Danish champion of mind.” His life is radically transformed by a chance encounter with the Karmapa in 1969. He and his wife, Hannah, become key figures in bringing Buddhism to the West, founding hundreds of meditation centres – from Mexico City to Vladivostok – and carrying forward their teacher’s vision with unshakable dedication.

Amid political upheaval in Tibet and cultural transformation in the West, Meeting the Buddha tells the richly historical yet deeply personal story of how timeless wisdom found its way into contemporary life. Through interviews, animation, and never-before-seen footage, this documentary honors the profound bond between teacher and student that sustains the living transmission of the Karma Kagyu lineage.