Modern Kadampa Buddhism
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, founder of the NKT-IKBU, is a truly remarkable person. Born in a remote village high on the Tibetan plateau he ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of eight and spent the next twenty years studying the teachings of Buddha in the great Tibetan monasteries.
After concluding his studies and being awarded the title ‘Geshe’, which means ‘virtuous spiritual friend’, he entered a life of meditation, engaging in deep retreat at first near the Nepali border and later in the mountains of northern India, where he soon developed a reputation as a great meditator, with many coming to regard him as a modern-day Mahasiddha.
After almost twenty years in retreat, in 1977 at the behest of his own Spiritual Guide, Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, Venerable Geshe Kelsang graciously accepted an invitation from Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre to travel to the West and become the Resident Teacher at what was then a fledgeling Buddhist centre that had recently acquired Conishead Priory as its base.
Since that time Manjushri Centre has been Venerable Geshe Kelsang’s spiritual home, where he has given thousands of teachings. Many of these teachings have been published in a number of highly acclaimed books on Buddhism and meditation.
Venerable Geshe Kelsang presents Buddha’s teachings in such a way that everyone, regardless of nationality, age or gender, can put them into practice in their daily lives and begin to experience true inner peace.
He understands the problems faced by modern people and shows how we can solve them through simple scientific methods taught by Buddha. His teachings are clear and easy to understand yet contain the entire profound lineage of ancient Buddhist wisdom he holds.
While at Manjushri Centre Geshe Kelsang designed and oversaw the construction of the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace, and inaugurated the International Temples Project with the intention to establish Buddhist institutions such as Temples throughout the world.
Over the years, Venerable Geshe Kelsang has founded more than a thousand meditation centres and groups in over forty countries and has established three study programmes – the General Programme, the Foundation Programme, and the Teacher Training Programme – to be taught continuously at these centres.
He has trained hundreds of teachers and ordained scores of monks and nuns and transmitted a complete lineage not only of teachings and insights but also of prayers, ritual practices, sacred art and music, all tailored to the needs of the modern world.
Though he has now formally retired as Spiritual Director, even though in his 80’s, he continues to work tirelessly to spread the precious teachings of Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world with the intention that each and every living being will eventually experience the supreme permanent mental peace of enlightenment.
Geshe Kelsang’s compassionate intention is embodied in the International Temples Project (ITP), a unique international fund dedicated to public benefit.
The ITP fosters the international development of a wide range of contemporary Buddhist institutions. These presently include Temples for World Peace, Kadampa Meditation Centres (KMCs), International Retreat Centres (IRCs), Kadampa Buddhist Centres (KBCs) Hotel Kadampas, World Peace Cafes, the International Schools Project, and Tharpa Publications. All these institutions provide a public service that exemplifies the Buddhist faith.
Each year, for example, tens of thousands of people visit the Temples, KMCs, KBCs and IRCs. Some attend courses and retreats to learn how to develop inner peace through meditation, while others go to view the holy objects and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. But whatever their reason for visiting, Geshe Kelsang has said that anyone who sees a Temple or the holy objects within will receive a special blessing that sows a seed of future peace and happiness in their mind.
“Whenever anyone, Buddhist or not, sees a Temple or an image of Buddha they receive blessings.”
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
For more information about the International Temples Project, including ways you can help, visit kadampa.org/temples.
