Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism. Geshe-la, as he is affectionately called by his students, is primarily responsible for the worldwide revival of Kadampa Buddhism in our time.
Kadampa Buddhism
Kadampa Buddhism is a time-honoured Buddhist tradition that for centuries has made Buddha’s teachings and meditation practices available to people throughout the world.
The New Kadampa Tradition
To provide a vehicle for promoting Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world, in 1991 Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche founded the New Kadampa Tradition, International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT–IKBU). The NKT-IKBU is an international association of study and meditation centres that follow the pure tradition of Mahayana Buddhism derived from the Buddhist meditators and scholars Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa and introduced into the West by the Buddhist Teacher Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Our Founder
Study and Retreat
From the age of eight Geshe-la studied extensively in the great monastic universities of Tibet and earned the title Geshe, which literally means spiritual friend. Under the guidance of Trijang Rinpoche, his Spiritual Guide, he then spent the next eighteen years in meditation retreats in the Himalayas.
Teaching in the West
In 1977 he accepted an invitation to teach at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England, where he lived for many years giving teachings and guidance to an ever-growing group of disciples.
Geshe-la has continued to teach on Kadampa Buddhism in many countries around the world, and published a series of remarkable books on Buddhist thought and meditation.
He has established three unique study programmes and over 1200 meditation centres around the world, trained qualified teachers and a flourishing ordained community, and created a project to build Buddhist temples in every major city in the world.
Teaching From Example
In his teachings Geshe-la emphasises the importance of meditation and how to apply it in daily life, the need to be truly happy, and how to cultivate a good heart to help others. He demonstrates these qualities perfectly in his own life.
This remarkable teacher inspires so many people from so many different countries because he teaches from example.
He is a humble Buddhist monk dedicated to helping people throughout the world find true happiness in their hearts.
Profound Teachings
Venerable Geshe-la’s teachings, embodied in his 23 highly acclaimed books, teach simple practices that are easy to follow, but which lead us from the state of an ordinary being to the attainment of enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of our human life.
Our Spiritual Directors
Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong
General Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong is the General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU and Resident Teacher at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, UK.
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa
Deputy Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa is the Deputy Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU and the Resident Teacher at the International Retreat Centre Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Gen Kelsang Rabten
National Spiritual Director
Gen Kelsang Rabten is the NKT-IKBU National Spiritual Director for Australia & New Zealand and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centre Leeds in the UK.
Kadampa Festivals
Every year the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) organises a worldwide program of special courses on Buddhism and meditation that explain how to apply Buddha’s teachings (Dharma) to modern living. The program includes International Festivals, National Festivals and Dharma Celebrations.
National Festivals
Our Australian national festivals draw people from throughout the country to receive teachings and empowerments from some of the most senior teachers of the New Kadampa Tradition. Held at Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges outside of Melbourne, these events are a special opportunity to receive profound spiritual guidance and happiness. For those new to Buddhism, the teachings and meditations at these festivals provide deeper insight into the meaning and practical application of Buddha’s teachings.
International Festivals
International Kadampa Festivals are special courses taught by the Spiritual Director and Deputy Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition. The Festivals include teachings, empowerments and meditations led by senior NKT Teachers, chanted meditations and offering ceremonies, and retreats to consolidate and deepen your understanding and experience. Open to everyone, these International Festivals are a wonderful opportunity to meet with Buddhist practitioners from all over the world and share experience and understanding with them.
International Temples Project
“Whenever anyone, Buddhist or not, sees a Temple or an image of Buddha they receive blessings.”
– Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
– Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
The International Temples Project was founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche with the vision to create a Kadampa Buddhist Temple in every major city in the world. Its aim is to introduce the Buddhist faith of the New Kadampa Tradition publicly and in particular to exemplify Buddhist practice through public service.
Kadampa Buddhist Temples take many forms. Some are custom built according to a special design developed by Geshe Kelsang based on traditional Buddhist architecture, such as the Mother Temple at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England and the Temples in New York, and São Paulo. Others are adapted from existing buildings acquired for Kadampa Meditation Centers around the world, such as the Temples in Toronto, Le Mans, Berlin, Zurich, Texas, and Melbourne.
Whatever form they take, Kadampa Temples are holy places open to everyone to enjoy. They are Pure Lands in our troubled world – offering doorways to inner peace for all who visit them.