Our Tradition

Buddhism: A Complete Path of Personal Development

Buddhism is a major world religion that arose from the inspiration and teachings of Buddha. It is a complete way of life concerned with the wholesome development of the individual.

Buddhism can be best summarised by the words of Buddha himself:

Learn to do good,
Cease to do harm,
Control the mind,
And benefit others.

Buddhism teaches us how to overcome our problems and difficulties by understanding and preventing their causes.

Whereas we usually look to outward circumstances for the causes of our problems, Buddha taught us to look inwards. He showed how our feelings of dissatisfaction arise from negative states of mind—primarily anger, attachment, and ignorance—and offered methods to eliminate these by developing generosity, compassion, wisdom and other positive states of mind.

Through cultivating these qualities we discover an inner state of peace and strength.

Kadampa Buddhism: Practicing the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist master Atisha Atisha (982-1054 AD). Followers of this tradition up to the time of Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419 CE) are known as 'Old Kadampas,' and those after the time of Je Tsongkhapa are known as 'New Kadampas.' Ka means word and refers to Buddha's teachings, dam refers to Atisha's special Lamrim instructions (known as 'the stages of the path' to enlightenment), and pa refers to a follower of Kadampa Buddhism who integrates all the teachings of Buddha that they know into their Lamrim practice and everyday lives.

Through gaining experience of Lamrim, we shall understand that none of Buddha's teachings are contradictory, and we shall take all Buddha's teachings as personal advice and put them into practice. Kadampa Buddhists are encouraged to use Buddha's teachings as practical methods for transforming daily activities into the path to enlightenment.

Kadampa Buddhism was first introduced into the west in 1977 by the renowned Buddhist Master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to spread Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world by giving extensive teachings, writing many profound books on Kadampa Buddhism, and establishing over 1100 meditation Centers and groups.

Each Center offers study programs, meditation instruction, and retreats for all levels of practitioner. The emphasis is on integrating Buddha's teachings into daily life to solve our problems and to spread lasting peace and happiness throughout the world.

The Kadampa Buddhism of the NKT is an entirely independent Buddhist tradition and has no political affiliations. For more information, see the Kadampa Buddhism website.

Life Stories of Accomplished Kadampa Meditation Masters

Click on these links to read Dharma stories excerpted from Geshe Kelsang's books: