VENERABLE GESHE KELSANG GYATSO RINPOCHE

(1931-2022)

The Founder of Modern Buddhism

Play Video

A Life of supreme dedication

After engaging in the traditional trainings of a monk from a young age in Tibet, Venerable Geshe-la withdrew to remote areas in Tibet and India to engage in meditative retreats.

During these retreats he received many signs and visions in which Je Tsongkhapa appeared to him and clarified all the essential teachings of Sutra and Tantra, and especially the Ganden Oral Lineage.

It was during these retreats that Venerable Geshe-la formed an especially close connection with the people of this world and made a lifelong dedication to helping us find lasting peace and happiness through the teachings of Buddha.

Then in 1977 Venerable Geshe-la accepted an invitation to become the Resident Teacher at the fledgling Manjushri Centre in the UK.

Appearing in the west

Appearing in the west

On August 27, 1977 Venerable Geshe-la arrived in the west at the invitation of Manjushri KMC. His arrival heralded the dawn of Modern Buddhism and a new spirit of hope in this world.

Opening Dharma centers

Almost immediately, Venerable Geshe-la opened his first Dharma center in the West, Madhyamaka KMC in the UK. He went on to establish literally hundreds of centers around the world.

Building Temples for World Peace

In 1997, Venerable Geshe-la designed, blessed and opened the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace at Manjushri KMC. Later, he created five other such Temples.

Statues & art for the modern world

Venerable Geshe-la oversaw the design, production and finishing of new statues and artwork for all of the new Temples. Here he is welcoming from the foundry the first Buddha statue that he designed for the Temple. Later he established Kadampa Art Studio to provide qualified statues and art for future Temples and centers.

An ocean of teachings

Venerable Geshe-la gave literally thousands of teachings at Manjushri KMC and other centers around the world, including Spring, Summer and Fall Festivals. These extraordinary teachings were unique and life-changing for everyone who heard them.

Books & Study programs

In total Venerable Geshe-la composed 23 extraordinary books on Buddhism and meditation. Based on these, he developed the three study programs - the General, Foundation and Teacher Training Programs - that are the core of all Kadampa centers around the world. In addition, hundreds of qualified modern Kadampa teachers are arising from the Special and Intensive Teacher Training Programs.

Tantric empowerments & practices

Tantric empowerments & practices

Venerable Geshe-la granted many Tantric empowerments and taught all four classes of Tantra. Based on these, Kadampa centers and practitioners around the world now enjoy authentic Tantric books, sadhanas and practices.

Retreats

Having himself spent almost a third of his life in retreat, Venerable Geshe-la always encouraged us to engage in retreat to gain authentic experience of Dharma. For our benefit, in 1987, he entered into a three-year retreat in Tharpaland, Scotland. Later, he inaugurated a number of dedicated retreat centers.

pujas & prayers

Thanks to Venerable Geshe-la's dedication, Kadampa centers around the world now have a complete collection of authentic pujas and prayers in all languages that are the basis of individual and center practices.

Sangha

Ordained Sangha

Venerable Geshe-la personally ordained hundreds of people as monks and nuns, using a modern presentation of the vows. He established a special tradition that will continue into future generations.

Uncommon lineage

Venerable Geshe-la was the holder of the uncommon lineage of the Ganden Oral Tradition. He transmitted this lineage through his senior disciples, making it available to everyone in the modern world.

International community dedicated to world peace

The International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global family of fortunate modern Kadampa disciples bound by a common intention to bring peace into our world by developing peace in our minds. This precious union grows year by year, and Venerable Geshe-la's enduring legacy is the conviction that world peace is really possible through the practice of Kadam Dharma.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The birth OF MODERN BUDDHISM

As Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche explains in his book The Mirror of Dharma:

"The Indian Buddhist Master Atisha founded the Kadampa lineage in general, and Je Tsongkhapa founded the New Kadampa lineage in particular. Both lineages are the very essence of Buddha’s teachings and are most suitable for people of this modern age."

In recent times, Venerable Geshe-la brought these two precious lineages into the modern world and founded the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT-IKBU).

Thus modern Kadampa Buddhism was born.

This precious tradition embraces all the essential teachings of Sutra and Tantra taught by Buddha himself as preserved and passed to the present day by great masters such as Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa.

While faithfully preserving the meaning of these ancient teachings, with the permission of his own Spiritual Guide Trijang Rinpoche, Venerable Geshe-la prepared a new presentation making them easier to understand and apply in the modern world.

Now for the first time, pure Kadam Dharma is available equally to everyone throughout the world regardless of nationality, culture, gender or age.

AN ETERNAL LEGACY

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche left an extraordinary legacy from his life's work and inspired thousands of people of all nationalities to continue creating the conditions for pure Kadam Dharma to spread throughout the world.

I will always be with you

Venerable Geshe-la tells us he visits all Kadampa centers with his mind every day, and would often say:

"I will always be with you."

Venerable Geshe-la taught us how to rely on Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka continuously by holding him in our heart at all times, receiving blessings directly from him and eventually transforming our mind and becoming one with him.

In the precious prayer Request to the Holy Spiritual Guide, which we now recite daily, we pray:

You who take on the great responsibility of caring in every way for the doctrine and migrators,
Giving to everyone equally, without discrimination, the precious opportunity to accomplish one’s own purpose and the purpose of others;
O Guru Sumati Buddha Heruka, 
Please remain at my heart forever, 
So that all directions will be pervaded by your matchless, excellent deeds.

how-to-transform-your-life-book-front-2016_5-1

How to Transform Your Life

A Blissful Journey

How to Understand the Mind

How to Understand the Mind

The Nature and Power of the Mind

joyful-path-of-good-fortune_frnt_web_2018-07

Joyful Path of Good Fortune

The Path to the Supreme Happiness of Enlightenment

mirror-of-dharma-with-additions_2d-paperback-front_2019-04_web

The Mirror of Dharma

How to find the real meaning of human life

new-heart-of-wisdom_2d-paperback-front-crop_2024-05_web_1

The New Heart of Wisdom

Profound Teachings from Buddha’s Heart

modern-buddhism_2021

Modern Buddhism

The Path of Compassion and Wisdom

TGAP

Tantric Grounds and Paths

How to Enter, Progress on, and Complete the Vajrayana Path

new-guide-to-dakini-land_2021_F

The New Guide to Dakini Land

The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Buddha Vajrayogini

essence-of-vajrayana_ebook-cover-epub-1600x2400_2022-08_1_

Essence of Vajrayana

The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Heruka Body Mandala

Book-the-oral-instructions-of-mahamudra

The Oral Instructions of Mahamudra

The very esssence of Buddha’s teachings of Sutra and Tantra

great-treasury-of-merit_2020

Great Treasury of Merit

How to Rely upon a Spiritual Guide

new-eight-steps-to-happiness_ebook-cover-kindle-1563x2500_2019-07_web

The New Eight Steps to Happiness

The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness

introduction-to-buddhism_2d-paperback-front-crop_2024-03_web

Introduction to Buddhism

An Explanation of the Buddhist Way of Life

how-to-solve-our-human-problems_2d-paperback-front-crop_2023-03

How to Solve Our Human Problems

The Four Noble Truths

meaningful-to-behold_2d-paperback-front_2019-02_web_1

Meaningful to Behold

Becoming a Friend of the World

kh_qP8bw

The Bodhisattva Vow

A Practical Guide to Helping Others

universal-compassion_2d-paperback-front-crop_2023-05_web

Universal Compassion

Inspiring Solutions for Difficult Times

Book-new-meditation-handbook_2d-paperback-front_2019-02_2

The New Meditation Handbook

Meditations to Make Our Life Happy and Meaningful

Living-Meaningfully-Dying-Joyfully-frnt-PRINT_2018-11

Living Meaningfully, Dying Joyfully

The Profound Practice of Transference of Conciousness

ocean-of-nectar

Ocean of Nectar

The True Nature of All Things

Heart Jewel

Heart Jewel

The Essential Practices of Kadampa Buddhism

clear_light_of_bliss_2019-09

Clear Light of Bliss

Tantric Meditation Manual

Mahamudra Tantra

Mahamudra Tantra

An Introduction to Meditation on Tantra

guide-to-the-bodhisattvas-way-of-life_book_frnt_2018-02

Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life

How to enjoy a life of great meaning and altruism

Continuing the Guru's work

During his life, Venerable Geshe-la performed countless emanation actions for the benefit of the people of this world, laying the foundation for Kadam Dharma to flourish in this and all future generations, and bringing true peace and happiness to countless living beings.

These activities are seeds that we can continue to nurture during our daily actions. In this way we can dedicate ourselves to fulfilling his heart wishes. Nothing will hold us closer to him than this.

As we can see, in so many ways Venerable Geshe-la will always be with us, and us with him.