Modern Buddhism For Modern People

Kadampa Buddhism

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054). ‘Ka’ refers to Buddha’s teachings, and ‘dam’ to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions known as ‘the stages of the path to enlightenment’.

Kadampas learn to use Buddha’s teachings as practical methods for transforming all their daily activities into the path to enlightenment. The Kadampa tradition was later promoted widely in Tibet by Je Tsongkhapa and his followers, known as the ‘New Kadampas’, who were not only great scholars but also spiritual practitioners of immense purity and sincerity.

Buddha Shakyamuni

Buddha Shakyamuni is the founder of Buddhism who demonstrated the attainment of full enlightenment and how to awaken from the sleep of ignorance and cyclic rebirth. He then passed the teachings, or dharma, in an unbroken lineage through the ancient Kadampa teachers Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa.

Atisha

The great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (982-1054 AD) was responsible for reintroducing pure Buddhism into Tibet. He was asked to present a Dharma that everybody could follow and show how all paths of Sutra and Tantra could be practiced together. Atisha wrote Lamp for the Path, the original Lamrim text that served as the basis for all subsequent Lamrim instructions.

Je Tsongkhapa

Je Tsongkhapa was a great 14th century Tibetan Buddhist Master who promoted and developed the Kadampa Buddhism that Atisha had introduced three centuries earlier. His followers became known as the ‘New Kadampas’, and to this day New Kadampas worldwide study his teachings and strive to emulate his pure example.

Modern Buddhism

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 Rinpoche, 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 from the ancient Kadampa Buddhist Masters and aim to preserve Kadampa Buddhism for many generations to come.

Our Founder

Venerable Geshe-la Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, often affectionately called ‘Geshe-la’ by his students, is the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU), and a Spiritual Guide for the modern world.

A world-renowned meditation master, he has pioneered the introduction of modern Kadampa Buddhism in contemporary society. Presenting Buddha’s teachings in a way that is relevant and suitable for modern people with busy daily lives, he shows how these teachings can be used by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, to solve daily problems, improve personal relationships, and eventually attain a deep, lasting happiness and inner peace.

Venerable Geshe-la is a truly international Teacher who presents Buddha’s teachings in ways that anyone, regardless of nationality, culture, gender or age can easily understand their meaning and apply them to their modern daily life. The teachings are open to everyone, not anchored in any specific country or culture. Today, many thousands of people around the world are experiencing the immense, practical benefits of applying his life-transforming teachings.

Our Senior Teachers

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 Center of Kadampa Buddhism. Gen-la has studied and practiced Kadampa Buddhism for many years under the guidance of her Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.

As one of Venerable Geshe Kelsang’s close disciples, Gen-la Dekyong’s teachings, humour and kindness exemplify the essence of the Buddhist way of life. She is a perfect example of a Kadampa Teacher. Each year, Gen-la Dekyong teaches at the International Festivals, National Festivals, and Dharma Celebrations throughout the world.

Deputy Spiritual Director & National Spiritual Director for Canada
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa

Gen-la Jampa is an internationally renowned, ordained Buddhist teacher and the Deputy Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU), and current Resident Teacher at the International Kadampa Retreat Center

As a senior NKT teacher, Gen-la Jampa has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for many years, and under Geshe-la's guidance has taught at many centers and events around the world. Gen-la is well-loved for his clear and inspiring teachings and his ability to touch people’s hearts through his sincerity and loving-kindness.