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is Buddhism? What is the New Kadampa Tradition?, Temples, Special courses
Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school
founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054).
His followers are known as 'Kadampas'. 'Ka' means
'word' and refers to Buddha's teachings, and 'dam' refers to Atisha's
special Lamrim instructions known as 'the stages of the path to
enlightenment'.
The Kadampa tradition was later promoted widely
in Tibet by Je
Tsongkhapa and his followers, who were known as the
'New Kadampas'.
Books on Kadampa Buddhism and meditation
by the renowned author and meditation Teacher Geshe
Kelsang Gyatso.
“One of the most concise presentations of the Buddhist
path available in any Western language.” - BBC
This remarkable series of
authoritative books represents the most complete and integrated
presentation of the Buddhist path to enlightenment available
in any western language. Originally written in English they are
currently being translated into many of the world's major languages.
Transforming daily activities
into the path
By integrating their knowledge of all Buddha's teachings into their
practice of Lamrim, and by integrating this into their everyday
lives, Kadampa Buddhists are encouraged to use Buddha's teachings
as practical methods for transforming daily activities into the
path to enlightenment.
The great Kadampa Teachers are famous not only
for being great scholars but also for being spiritual practitioners
of immense purity and sincerity.
Lineage
The lineage of these teachings, both their oral transmission and
blessings, was then passed from Teacher to disciple, spreading throughout
much of Asia, and now to many countries throughout the western world.
Buddha's teachings, which are known as 'Dharma',
are likened to a wheel that moves from country to country in accordance
with changing conditions and people's karmic inclinations.
The external forms of presenting Buddhism may change
as it meets with different cultures and societies, but its essential
authenticity is ensured through the continuation of an unbroken
lineage of realised practitioners.
Kadampa Buddhism in the West
Kadampa Buddhism was first introduced into the West in 1977 by the
renowned Buddhist Master, Venerable
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Since that time he has worked tirelessly to spread
Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world by giving extensive teachings,
writing many profound texts on Kadampa Buddhism, and founding the
New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). There are now more than 1000 Centres
and groups worldwide that have been established by Geshe Kelsang.
International Festivals attract
thousands of practitioners from around the world
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What is Buddhism?
The founder of Buddhism was Buddha Shakyamuni who
lived and taught in India some two and a half thousand years ago.
Since then millions of people around the world have followed the
pure spiritual path he revealed. The Buddhist way of life of peace,
loving kindness and wisdom is just as relevant today as it was in
ancient India. Buddha explained that all our problems and suffering
arise from confused and negative states of mind, and that all our
happiness and good fortune arise from peaceful and positive states
of mind. He taught methods for gradually overcoming our negative
minds such as anger, jealousy and ignorance, and developing our
positive minds such as love, compassion and wisdom. Through this
we will come to experience lasting peace and happiness. These methods
work for anyone, in any country, in any age. Once we have gained
experience of them for ourselves we can pass them on to others so
they too can enjoy the same benefits.
Every
year at the NKT summer Festival there is a play of the Life of
Buddha.
Click
here to watch the video of it...
Meditation
Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way
of life. It is basically a method for understanding and working
on our own mind. We first learn to identify our different negative
mental states known as 'delusions', and learn how to develop peaceful
and positive mental states or 'virtuous minds'.
Then in meditation we overcome our delusions by
becoming familiar with virtuous minds. Out of meditation we try
to maintain the virtuous minds we have developed and use our wisdom
to solve the problems of daily life. As our mind becomes more positive
our actions become more constructive, and our experience of life
becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others.
Anyone can learn basic meditation techniques and
experience great benefits, but to progress beyond basic meditation
requires faith in the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Usually people find this develops naturally as they experience the
benefits of their meditation practice.
"Meditation is a mind that concentrates on
a virtuous object, and which is a main cause of mental peace. The
practice of meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with
virtue. The more familiar our mind is with virtue, the calmer and
more peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful, we are free
from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience true happiness.
If we train our mind to become peaceful we shall be happy all the
time, even in the most adverse conditions; but if our mind is not
peaceful, then even if we have the most pleasant external conditions
we shall not be happy. Therefore it is important to train in meditation."
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in The New Meditation Handbook p6
How to meditate
The spiritual path
The teachings of Buddha reveal
a step by step path to lasting happiness. By following this path
anyone can gradually transform his or her mind from its present
confused and self-centered state into the blissful mind of a Buddha.
As Geshe Kelsang says in his
popular book Eight
Steps to Happiness:
Every living being has the potential to become
a Buddha, someone who has completely purified his or her mind
of all faults and limitations and has brought all good qualities
to perfection. Our mind is like a cloudy sky, in essence clear
and pure but overcast by the clouds of delusions.
Just as the thickest clouds eventually disperse,
so too even the heaviest delusions can be removed from our mind.
Delusions such as hatred, greed, and ignorance are not an intrinsic
part of the mind. If we apply the appropriate methods they can
be completely eliminated, and we shall experience the supreme
happiness of full enlightenment.
Having attained enlightenment
we shall have all the necessary qualities - universal love and compassion,
omniscient wisdom and boundless spiritual power - to lead all living
beings to the same exalted state. This is the ultimate aim of Mahayana
Buddhism.
To find out more about basic
Buddhism, read Introduction
to Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
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New Kadampa Tradition
Amitabha Buddhist Centre
is a member of the New
Kadampa Tradition - The International Kadampa
Buddhist Union, an association of Buddhist Centres and practitioners
that derive their inspiration and guidance from the example of the
ancient Kadampa Buddhist Masters and their teachings, as presented
by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
The Kadampa Buddhism of the
NKT is an entirely independent Buddhist tradition and has no political
affiliations.
Each center offers study
programmes, 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. Geshe Kelsang is the Spiritual
Director of all NKT Centres.
Kadampa Buddhists worldwide rely upon Dorje
Shugden as their Dharma Protector.
Temples
In 1997 the first purpose designed and built Kadampa
Temple was opened at Manjushri Centre near Ulverston in Cumbria.
This is the mother centre of the NKT. Another Kadampa Temple is
in New York state and was officially opened in October 2006.
A third one in Brazil is nearing completion.
There are many other Temples in or near major
cities around the world that have adapted existing buildings. Geshe-la
aims for each major town in the world to have its own Temple dedicated
to world peace and directly helping local people to develop the
peaceful minds that are the basis for world peace.
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With Venerable Geshe Kelsang ...
With Gen-la Khyenrab
United Kingdom Dharma Celebration (UKDC) at Tara Centre Derbyshire
