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Lineage

mahayana tradition

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054). ‘Ka’ refers to Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings, and ‘dam’ to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions known as ‘The stages of the path to enlightenment’. By integrating their knowledge of all Buddha’s teachings into their practice of Lamrim, and by integrating this into their everyday lives, Kadampa Buddhists learn to use Buddha’s teachings as practical methods for transforming their daily activities into the path to enlightenment by improving their love, compassion and wisdom.

The Kadampa tradition was later promoted widely in Tibet by Je Tsongkhapa and his followers, who were known as the ‘New Kadampas’. 

Practice

Training the Mind

After Atisha, the Kadampa lineage was passed down through a succession of great Kadampa Teachers who were not only great scholars but also spiritual practitioners of immense purity and sincerity. They placed particular emphasis on the practice of Training the Mind (Lojong) by which all our daily life experiences, and especially all our problems and difficulties, can be transformed into the spiritual path.

The Kadampa lineage passed from generation to generation until the fourteenth century when it reached the great Buddhist Master Je Tsongkhapa. Je Tsongkhapa clarified all the teachings of Kadam Dharma and made them very accessible to the people of that time. In particular, he showed how to combine Lamrim and Lojong with Mahamudra Tantra in a unified daily practice. Just as the union of study and practice was a hallmark of the early Kadampas, so the union of Sutra and Tantra was to become a hallmark of the New Kadampas.

Modern Buddhism

The New Kadampa Tradition

After Je Tsongkhapa, the New Kadampa lineage flourished for hundreds of years, down to the present day. In recent years, it has been promoted widely throughout the world by the contemporary Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who founded the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU).

The New Kadampa Tradition is an association of over 1200 Buddhist Centres and groups that derive their inspiration and guidance from the example of the ancient Kadampa Buddhist Masters and their teachings. Through establishing this tradition and presenting Buddha’s teachings in a way that is suitable for busy modern people, Geshe Kelsang has created a truly global infrastructure in order to preserve and promote Kadampa Buddhism for many generations to come.

Founder

venerable geshe kelsang gyatso rinpoche

The Founder of Modern Kadampa Buddhism is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, a world-renowned meditation master who holds the very essence of Buddha’s teachings in his heart.

Venerable Geshe-la transmits this profound wisdom and compassion to the people of the modern world in very practical ways through the extremely accessible methods of modern Kadampa Buddhism, which he introduced.

Since 1977, when he accepted an invitation to become Resident Teacher at Manjushri Centre in the UK, he has given thousands of teachings, composed twenty-three widely acclaimed books on Buddhism and meditation, established over 1,300 meditation centers, trained hundreds of qualified Teachers and developed practical study and meditation programs to suit the needs of the modern world.

In short, he has dedicated his entire life to laying the foundation for modern Kadampa Buddhism to flourish throughout the world in this and future generations.

General Spiritual Director

Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong

Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong is the General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU and the Resident Teacher at Manjushri KMC, the Mother Centre of Kadampa Buddhism.

Gen-la has been a disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for nearly 40 years and holds the lineages of his blessings in her heart.

She is recognised as a fully qualified Teacher of Sutra and Tantra, and in particular is qualified to bestow the blessings of the Highest Yoga Tantra practices of Heruka and Vajrayogini.

She is an inspiring example of a modern Kadampa disciple who relies sincerely upon her Spiritual Guide in all her actions.

Gen-la is greatly respected for the power and sincerity of her teachings and the warmth of her personality.

Gen-la Kelsang Jampa

Deputy Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU and Resident Teacher at IKRC Grand Canyon.

Having taught internationally for many years he is greatly admired for his warm personality and clear, inspiring teachings.

Kadam Bridget Heyes

National Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU for the UK and Ireland and Resident Teacher of Nagarjuna KMC. Kadam Bridget is  known for her powerful teachings and her compassionate heart.