A Buddhist tradition

Kadampa Buddhism

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian teacher Atisha (982-1054). “Ka” refers to the teachings of the Buddha, and “Dam” refers to Atisha’s special Lamrim teachings which are also called “The Steps of the Path to Enlightenment”. Kadampas learn to use the Buddha’s practical methods to transform all daily activities into the path to enlightenment. The Kadampa tradition was later spread far and wide in Tibet by Je Tsongkhapa and his followers, who are also called “new Kadampas”. They were not only highly learned but also spiritual practitioners who were characterized by great purity and sincerity.

Buddha Shakyamuni

Buddha Shakyamuni founded Buddhism and showed how to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and be free from uncontrolled rebirth by reaching full enlightenment. His teachings, which are also called Dharma, have since been passed down in an unbroken line through teachers of the early Kadampa ranks such as Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa.

Venerable Atisha

The great Indian Buddhist teacher Atisha (982-1054) reintroduced pure Buddhism in Tibet. He was asked to present the Dharma in a way that everyone could follow along and showed how all paths, both Sutra and Tantra, could be practiced together. Atisha wrote “A Lamp to the Way,” the first Lamrim text that served as the basis for all subsequent Lamrim teachings.

Je Tsongkhapa

Je Tsongkhapa was a great Tibetan Buddhist teacher in the 14th century who promoted and developed the Kadampa Buddhism that Atisha had presented three hundred years earlier. His followers were called “New Kadampas”, and even today, New Kadampas from all over the world study his teachings and strive to imitate his good example.

The New Kadampa Tradition

Modern Buddhism

After Je Tsongkhapa, New Kadampa has flourished for hundreds of years until today. In recent years, it has been spread far and wide by the contemporary Buddhist teacher Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, who founded the New Kadampa tradition – the International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU). The New Kadampa Tradition is a foundation of over 1200 Buddhist centres and groups that follow the previous Kadampa Buddhist masters and strive to steward Kadampa Buddhism for future generations.

Modern Buddhism shows how all parts of the spiritual path, from the most basic to the deepest, can be used practically to solve problems in everyday life and experience deeper inner peace and happiness.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Spiritual founder

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (1931–2022) is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism.

In 1977 he accepted an invitation to teach at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England, where he lived and taught, giving teachings and guidance to an ever-growing group of disciples.

He has published a series of remarkable books on Buddhism and meditation, from basic introductory books to advanced philosophical texts and meditation manuals.

Geshe-la has established three unique study programmes and 1200 centres and groups around the world, trained hundreds of qualified Teachers, created a flourishing ordained community and initiated a project to build Buddhist Temples in every major city in the world.

In his teachings Geshe Kelsang emphasizes 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 — and he demonstrated these qualities perfectly in his own life.

Gen-la Kelsang Jampa

Spiritual Director

Gen-la Jampa is an internationally renowned, ordained Buddhist teacher and the General Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU).

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.

Gen-la Kelsang Sangden

Deputy Spiritual Director

Gen-la Sangden is the Deputy Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU, and is the National Spiritual Director of Kadampa Buddhism in Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru, and the Resident Teacher at KMC Mexico.

She is admired by many for her good example and her loving and clear advice. She has practised and taught Kadampa Buddhism for over 25 years.

Gen-la Kelsang Jampa

Spiritual director

Gen-la Jampa is an internationally renowned, ordained Buddhist teacher and the General Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU).

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.

Gen-la Kelsang Sangden

Deputy Spiritual director

She is admired by many for her good example and her loving and clear advice. She has practised and taught Kadampa Buddhism for over 25 years.

Books about Buddhism

Learn more

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has written 23 inspiring books on meditation and Buddhism. These books provide practical methods for developing one’s own meditation practice and are particularly suitable for modern people with busy lives.

Tharpa Publications is the New Kadampa tradition publisher that publishes Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyaso’s books. Tharpa is a global organization and all its proceeds are donated to the International Temple Fund.

Your local centre

Explore Modern Buddhism in Newcastle

About Us