KADAMPAS
AN INTERNATIONAL MODERN BUDDHIST TRADITION
Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the 11th century Indian Buddhist master, Atisha, who skillfully arranged all of Buddha’s teachings (Dharma) into a clear and sequential presentation, known as “Lamrim” in Tibetan. Atisha’s followers became known as “Kadampas.” “Ka” refers to all of Buddha’s teachings and “dam” to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions, known as “the stages of the path to enlightenment.” A Kadampa is a practitioner who regards Buddha’s teachings as personal advice and puts them into practice by following Atisha’s Lamrim instructions.
Who
We
Are
Our Founder:
Venerable Geshe Kelsang
Gyatso Rinpoche
The founder of modern Kadampa Buddhism and The New Kadampa Tradition–International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, a fully accomplished meditation master and scholar who moved to the West in 1977 at the request of students at Manjushri Center in the UK, the Mother Center of the New Kadampa Tradition. Since that time, Venerable Geshe-la has worked tirelessly to introduce modern Kadampa Buddhism into contemporary society and to create a worldwide infrastructure to support its growth and development in this and future generations.
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Our Tradition
The Indian Buddhist master, Venerable Atisha, was responsible for reintroducing the entirety of Buddhism into Tibet in the 11th century. Three hundred years later, the great Buddhist yogi and scholar, Je Tsongkhapa (1357 – 1419), appeared in Tibet and widely promoted Atisha’s Lamrim instructions for the people of that time. It was a golden age in Tibet in which thousands of Tibetans were inspired by Je Tsongkhapa’s teachings and immaculate example. His followers became known as the “New Kadampas” and to this day Kadampa Buddhists throughout the world study his teachings and strive to put them into practice.
After arriving in the West in 1977, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche began working to establish a modern presentation of the Kadampa lineage in the West. This presentation is Modern Kadampa Buddhism. The teachings of this tradition retain all of the essential meanings and insights of Buddha’s original teachings and are presented in a way that is practical and suitable for modern people.
International Teachers
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa ~ General 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.
Kadam Morten Clausen ~ Eastern US National Spiritual Director
Kadam Morten Clausen is the NKT-IKBU National Spiritual Director of the Eastern US, as well as the Resident Teacher at KMC New York City. Kadam Morten is greatly admired as a meditation teacher and is especially known for his clarity, humor and inspirational presentation of Dharma. His teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. He is a long time close disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.