New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union
New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union

Modern Kadampa Buddhism

New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union

Founder:

VENERABLE GESHE KELSANG GYATSO RINPOCHE

Founder:

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

The Founder of Modern Kadampa Buddhism is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, affectionately known as Venerable Geshe-la, a world-renowned meditation master and Teacher. He inspired thousands of people around the world to apply the pure teachings of Buddha to their modern lives to solve their personal problems and discover a deep and lasting inner peace and happiness. Today, the legacy of his life's work touches the lives of people of all nationalities and cultures.


"The day will come when you will do my job."
VENERABLE GESHE KELSANG GYATSO RINPOCHE

Working for world peace

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche devoted his entire life to making the pure teachings of Buddha available in a modern form to people throughout the world.

Now Venerable Geshe-la's followers holding him at their hearts continue his work with auspicious projects in every region of the world.

Great reels from July 2025

18 Jul 2025

Once a month we pick out some of our favorite reels from Kadampa centers around the world. In this post, we’ve curated a selection of fun, creative, and inspiring reels for the month of July

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Why we enjoy the Intensive Teacher Training program

16 Jul 2025

As the ITTP enters its final week, we hear from some of the Resident Teachers about why they love this program and how both they and their centers benefit from it.

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Discover the Tharpa Summer Festival Shop

15 Jul 2025

The Tharpa Festival Shop is an essential part of the International Summer Festival 2025, offering everything you need to support your spiritual practice during the Festival and beyond. It’s an opportunity to purchase all Festival-related Tharpa items— including books, art, and sadhanas—alongside new and updated releases.

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Connecting with our Kadampa heart – Summer Festival 2025

14 Jul 2025

Over two weeks, the Festival will emphasise teachings and meditations on Advice from Atisha’s Heart from our two most senior Teachers. For the first time, all of Venerable Geshe-la’s oral transmissions on the verses will be brought together, including his special advice on how to engage in retreat on this text.

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Editors’ Picks – June – July 2025

13 Jul 2025

Our editors select their favorite photographs from around the world for the months of June to July.

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Qualified Teachers

Why we enjoy the Intensive Teacher Training program

As the ITTP enters its final week, we hear from some of the Resident Teachers about why they love this program and how both they and their centers benefit from it.

Festivals & Celebrations

Mexican National Festival 2025

It was a blessed and joyful Mexican Festival this year at KMC Mexico. Share the atmosphere with these beautiful images.

Centers

Teachers gather together at their spiritual home 2025

The Resident Teachers of the New Kadampa Tradition have gather together at their spiritual home, Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, to participate in an annual Intensive Teacher Training Program (ITTP).

Where to start

Download FREE eBooks on Modern Buddhism

Find a local center

Words of Wisdom & Compassion

Daily quote from the collected works of Venerable Geshe-la

There are two types of meditation: analytical meditation and placement meditation. Analytical meditation involves contemplating the meaning of a spiritual instruction that we have heard or read. By contemplating such instructions deeply, eventually we reach a definite conclusion or cause a specific virtuous state of mind to arise. This is the object of placement meditation. We then concentrate single-pointedly on this conclusion or virtuous state of mind for as long as possible to become deeply acquainted with it. This single-pointed concentration is placement meditation.

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche,
The New Meditation Handbook