New Kadampa Tradition Totally Explained

Everything about The New Kadampa Tradition totally explained

The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is a global Buddhist tradition founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso 1991 in England. In 2003, the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" (IKBU) were added to the name, making its official full name the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU). The NKT-IKBU is an international non-profit organization registered in England as a charitable company.
The NKT-IKBU describes itself as Kadampa Buddhism and as a 'time-honored' tradition, stating that "Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054)."

History of the New Kadampa Tradition

In 1976 Lama Thubten Yeshe invited Geshe Kelsang from India to teach at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

(then Manjushri Institute) in England. Geshe Kelsang taught the General Program at Manjushri KMC from 1976 to 1987.
   In 1987, Geshe Kelsang entered a 3-year retreat at Tharpaland in Dumfries, Scotland. During Geshe Kelsang's retreat he wrote five books and established the foundations of the NKT.
   After completing his retreat in the Spring of 1991, Geshe Kelsang announced the creation of the New Kadampa Tradition, an event which was celebrated in the NKT-Magazine Full Moon as "a wonderful development in the history of the Buddhadharma." In 1992, the NKT was legally incorporated under English law, which constituted the formal foundation of the NKT.
   With the foundation of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, he established an independent religious tradition aiming to "principally follow the teachings and example of Je Tsongkhapa". The many Centres which were following Geshe Kelsang's spiritual direction were gathered under the common auspices of the NKT and their spiritual guide, and became distinct from other traditions.

Teachings, spiritual programs, teachers and religious observance days

Teachings

The New Kadampa Tradition has been developed exclusively on the basis of Geshe Kelsang's teachings and published books, which follow a selection of Gelug Teachings of different Buddhist Mahayana and Vajrayana texts. The main practice in the NKT is Lamrim (Stages of the Path to Enlightenment), Lojong (Training the Mind), and Vajrayana Mahamudra (the practices of Highest Yoga Tantra), with a strong emphasis on Guru devotion and the tantric Guru-Yoga.
Geshe Kelsang regards all his books as "coming from Je Tsongkhapa, with himself as being like a cassette recorder into which the Wisdom Buddha, the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, has placed the cassette of Je Tsongkhapa's teachings".
About the textbooks of Geshe Kelsang, the NKT says: "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're currently being translated into many of the world's major languages."

Spiritual programs

At the heart of the NKT are its three study programs. Giving an overview of the purpose of the programs, the NKT says: "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has designed three special spiritual programs for the systematic study and practice of Kadampa Buddhism that are especially suited to the modern world." It is believed by NKT followers that they embody the "pure lineage" in its entirety.

The three spiritual programs are:

The General Program, which provides an introduction to basic Buddhist ideas and meditation.
The Foundation Program, which includes the study of six commentaries written by Geshe Kelsang on the following classical texts:
- Joyful Path of Good Fortune - based on Atisha's teachings on Lamrim or The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
- Universal Compassion - a commentary on Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points
- Eight Steps to Happiness - a commentary on Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa's Eight Verses of Training the Mind
- Heart of Wisdom - a commentary on the Heart Sutra
- Meaningful to Behold - a commentary on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
- Understanding the Mind - a commentary and detailed explanation of the mind based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga.
The Teacher Training Program is intended for people who wish to train as NKT Dharma Teachers. All Resident Teachers of NKT Centers follow this program of study and practice. The program involves the study of 14 texts of Geshe Kelsang, including all of those in the Foundation Program, and the additional 8 listed below. This program also includes commitments concerning one's lifestyle, based on the 5 lay vows of the Pratimoksha, and the completion of specific meditation retreats.
- The Bodhisattva Vow - A commentary on Mahayana moral discipline and the practice of the six perfections.
- Ocean of Nectar - A commentary on Chandrakirti's Guide to the Middle Way
- Clear Light of Bliss - A commentary on meditations of Highest Yoga Tantra.
- Great Treasury of Merit - A commentary on the puja Offering to the Spiritual Guides by the First Panchen Lama
- Mahamudra Tantra - Meditation on the nature of mind according to Tantra
- Guide to Dakini Land - A commentary on the Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Vajrayogini
- Tantric Grounds and Paths - An explanation of the practice of the lower and upper classes of Tantra
- Essence of Vajrayana - A commentary on the Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Heruka

In 1990 Geshe Kelsang said: ť "These programs...are real wishfulfilling jewels for Dharma practitioners. By participating in them we can improve our wisdom and Dharma experience and use Dharma to solve our daily problems. We can become our own protector by protecting ourselves from danger and suffering, and our own doctor by curing our mental pain with Dharma medicine. We shall be able to set a good example for others to follow and help others by giving teachings and advice. Eventually we'll be able to give extensive teachings and benefit others in many ways by organizing special programs and so forth. In this way we'll make both our own and others' human lives extremely meaningful." In his book Understanding the mind, Geshe Kelsang states that "it is mixing different religious traditions that causes sectarianism". The books and sadhanas prepared by Geshe Kelsang upon which all NKT practice is based, and the infrastructure of the NKT organisation itself, are considered to have placed a boundary around Tsongkhapas's pure tradition, the survival of which depends entirely upon a widespread diligence in boundary maintenance.

Teachers

Geshe Kelsang expounded on the qualifications of NKT teachers in 1990: ť "Buddhadharma is beneficial to others only if there are qualified Teachers. Without Teachers, Dharma texts alone are of little benefit. To become a qualified Dharma Teacher requires special preparation and training. It isn't easy to become a Dharma Teacher because special qualities are needed: wisdom, correct view, faith, conviction, and pure conduct as an example to others. Also a Teacher needs an inexhaustible reservoir of Dharma knowledge and experience to teach from, otherwise he or she'll dry up after one or two years. If a Teacher lacks qualities such as wisdom, experience, faith, and pure motivation, it'll be difficult for others to develop faith in them or their teachings, and there will be little benefit. Also, without proper training and preparation there's a danger of Teachers mixing worldly, samsaric activities with their teaching activities. Therefore we definitely need to train well if we wish to be a genuine benefit to others."
According to Bluck's research: ť "Most teachers are appointed to centres by Geshe Kelsang before they've completed the Teaching Training Programme and continue studying by correspondence, with an intensive study programme at Manjushri each summer. After 4 years as a resident teacher, monastics take the title 'Gen' and lay teachers become 'Kadam' (Namgyal, 2004). Most resident teachers are ordained, with only a few centres having a lay teacher, though local branch classes are often taught by lay students. Kay found that lay people were almost as likely as monastics to be given teaching and leadership roles; and he sees this as an important Western adaptation of Gelug Buddhism, again because this includes tantric practices which Tsongkhapa restricted to those with 'a solid grounding of academic study and celibate monastic discipline'."

Religious observance days

From its inception, NKT centres followed a common calendar for religious observances. some of the traditionally Buddhist religious days. These include the following:
Monthly observances

Tara Puja Days (8th of each month)

Tsog Days (10th and 25th of each month)

8 Mahayana Precepts Days (15th of each month)

Protector Puja Days (29th of each month) Annual Holidays common to other Buddhist traditions

Buddha's Enlightenment Day (April 15)

Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day (June 4, 49 days after Buddha's Enlightenment Day)

Buddha's Return from Heaven Day (September 22)

Je Tsongkhapa Day (October 25) Annual Holidays unique to the NKT

NKT Day (the first Saturday in April)

International Temples Day (the first Saturday in November) In 2004, the dates of these observances were changed to the respective days in the common calendar. For example, Tsog Days were previously designated as the 10th and 25th days of each lunar month: "We should … make sure that we don't miss tsog offerings on these two days - ten days after the new moon and ten days after the full moon". This sentence has been deleted from the 2005 reprint, and these days are celebrated on the 10th and 25th days of each solar month.
'Turning the Wheel of Dharma' (a.k.a Dharmachakra) Day on the 4th of June is coincidentally Geshe Kelsang's birthday.
NKT day commemorates the founding of the NKT-IKBU, while International Temples Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of building Kadampa Buddhist Temples throughout the world..

Lineage of teachers

The New Kadampa Tradition traces its spiritual lineage through these main figures:

Atisha

Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Successor to Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

From 1991 to 1995 Gelong Thubten Gyatso (a.k.a. Gen Thubten or Neil Elliot) was appointed as a 'Gen-la' and Resident Teacher of Madhyamaka Centre (Pocklington, York) and as Geshe Kelsang's future successor. He was described by NKT as "the first qualified English Tantric meditation master in Britain". He was known as the 'heart-disciple' According to Madeleine Bunting "Gen Thubten [..] is described by former members as having been the 'power behind the throne'."
In August of 2001, Geshe Kelsang established a system of democratic succession for the General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU.
In February 2007, Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab was elected the new Deputy Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU.

Ordination

The ordination tradition in the NKT differs from that of other Buddhist groups in that it's based on the Mahayana Perfection of Wisdom Sutras instead of the Hinayana Vinaya Sutras. According to Geshe Kelsang, "The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras are our Vinaya and Lamrim is its commentary." This tradition is based on Buddha advising his disciple Ananda, "that the minor and lesser rules [ofthe Pratimoksha] could be removed, so that the text would remain light, relevant, and appropriate."
   Buddha established both lay and ordained Pratimoksha vows, and established several levels of ordination vows. According to the Hinayana schools such as the Vaibhashika school, ordained vows are a subtle physical form, whereas according to the Mahayana they're in the nature of a determination, which is part of mind. Traditionally, the different levels of ordination were distinguished by the specific vows taken, and by the ceremony in which they were received. In the NKT, Geshe Kelsang established a simplified tradition of ordination with ten vows and a single ordination ceremony that apply to all levels of ordained practitioner. When a person is first ordained they receive a Rabjung (preliminary) ordination; when their renunciation improves and deepens their ordination transforms into a Getsul (sramanera) ordination; and when their renunciation becomes spontaneous their ordination transforms into a Gelong (bhikkhu) ordination.
   The 10 vows of the NKT's ordination are to "throughout my life ... abandon killing, stealing, sexual conduct, lying and taking intoxicants" and also to "practise contentment, reduce my desire for worldly pleasures, abandon engaging in meaningless activities, maintain the commitments of refuge, and practise the three trainings of pure moral discipline, concentration and wisdom." They also engage in a Sojong ceremony twice a month to purify and restore their vows. A monk or nun who breaks their ordination vows must leave their Centre for at least a year. After that year, "with some conditions" they can return but can't teach.
   The first five vows are common to all ordination traditions, while the second set of five vows are a practical condensation of the 253 Vinaya vows of fully ordained monks. As Nagarjuna says, "always practice superior moral discipline, superior concentration, and superior wisdom. These three perfectly include all 253 trainings." Geshe Kelsang encourages his followers to focus their effort on improving their renunciation and ordained way of life, and that it isn't necessary to receive Getsul or full ordination vows in a separate ceremony. He describes these vows as being easier to integrate into today's society.
   Ordained people in the NKT abandon the physical signs of a lay person by shaving their head and wearing maroon and yellow robes of Je Tsongkhapa's tradition. They are given a new name which starts with "Kelsang," since it's traditional for ordinees to receive part of the ordaining master's name.
   Within the NKT community there are over 700 monks and nuns. NKT ordination ceremonies are usually held twice a year in the main NKT Temple at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center in Cumbria (UK), Ulverston.
   Practitioners approach their Buddhist teacher when they feel ready, and request formal permission once they've their teacher's consent. They may decide to live in one of the NKT's many Buddhist centers, but this isn't a requirement. They are, in general, not financially provided for by the NKT. And, if they live in an NKT center, they still have to pay rent for their accommodation and pay for meals and the spiritual programs. To finance this, some have part-time work. According to Belither, "a few people are sponsored because of their NKT work but others are on 'extended working visits' or work locally, and some are legitimately on employment benefit." For doing so they wear ordinary clothes if this is more convenient.

Religious activities

Throughout the year and in different places around the world, the NKT hosts a number of religious festivals. These feature teachings and empowerments from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and senior NKT teachers. The longest running are the Spring and Summer Festivals at Manjushri Centre in Ulverston, England.

Growth and financing

As of 2008 NKT claims the establishment of over 1100 centres and groups worldwide

The NKT has established a Kadampa Buddhist Temple in the United Kingdom, as well as in Canada, the United States, and Spain; and it's currently developing a Temple in Brazil, with plans to build one in Germany too. The NKT stated that "The International Temples Project was established by Venerable Geshe Kelsang in the early nineties. The vision is to build a Kadampa Temple for World Peace in every major city in the world. The project is funded entirely by voluntary donations and revenue from International Buddhist Festivals."(means NKT festivals) World Peace Cafes have been opened at some residential centres, and in 2005 the NKT opened their first World Peace Hotel, called Hotel Kadampa, a no-smoking, alcohol-free hotel in Southern Spain. A second Hotel Kadampa has been bought in Italy. This place will be also the home of the Kadampa Meditation Centre Italy.

Origins of the name "New Kadampa Tradition"

According to an NKT brochure, written by James Belither while secretary of the NKT:

   Nowadays the New Kadampa Tradition describes Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's presentation of Buddhism to the West as Kadampa Buddhism with the following statement: ť "Kadampa Buddhism is a time-honored tradition that for centuries has made Buddha's teachings and meditation practices available to people throughout the world."

ť "It is an association of Buddhist Centers 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 New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is an international non-profit organization registered in England as a charitable company..., and was founded by Geshe Kelsang to provide a vehicle for promoting Kadampa Buddhism throughout the world."

Moreover, the NKT presents itself as being the continuation of the old Kadampa tradition by naming its school Kadampa Buddhism and equating this Kadampa Buddhism with the historical Kadampa School of Atisha:
   Consequently followers of the NKT refer presently to themselves as Kadampa Buddhists, the Temples of the New Kadampa Tradition are referred to as Kadampa Buddhist Temples, and more recently NKT teachers are named Kadampa Teachers. Additionally, the Dharma centers of the New Kadampa Tradition are called Kadampa Buddhist Centers and the hotels Hotel Kadampas.
   James Belither, the former secretary of the NKT, described the NKT as "a Mahayana Buddhist tradition with historical connections with Tibet", rather than a Tibetan tradition, and explained that Geshe Kelsang wishes his followers always "to present Dharma in a way appropriate to their own culture and society without the need to adopt Tibetan culture and customs".
   In 1998, the NKT became a member of the British Network of Buddhist Organizations (NBO). Waterhouse notes that when the NKT joined the British Network of Buddhist Organizations, about thirty percent of the other Buddhist groups identifying themselves with the Tibetan Buddhist tradition left the NBO.

Geshe Kelsang's views

In 1998 Geshe Kelsang Gyatso expressed his views in an interview with Donald S. Lopez, Jr. as follows:
His reason for founding the New Kadampa Tradition: ť "I wanted to encourage people to practice purely. Just having a lot of dharma knowledge, studying a lot intellectually but not practicing, is a serious problem. This was my experience in Tibet. Intellectual knowledge alone doesn't give peace."

His view on Dorje Shugden and his view towards HH the 14th Dalai Lama: ť "We believe that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha who is also a dharmapala. Problems have arisen because of someone's view [theDalai Lama's view]. So although we say the 'Dorje Shugden problem', in reality this is a human problem, not a Dorje Shugden problem. This isn't a fault of Buddhadharma, not a fault of Tibetan Buddhism, or even a fault of Tibetan people in general. This is a particular person's wrong view [theDalai Lama's wrong view]. He can keep this view, of course, but forcing other people to follow this isn't right."

ť Geshe Kelsang replied to Lopez' question: "In your opinion, the Dalai Lama isn't a Gelugpa, and therefore has no right to tell Gelugpas which dharmapala they can worship?" with "That's right." Geshe Kelsang clarified further: "It looks as if he humiliates the Gelugpas, as if he destroys the dharma of the Gelugpas. It's not only about Dorje Shugden. If Dorje Shugden is bad, then all those Gelugpa lamas who engaged in the practice of Dorje Shugden are impure. Then, without doubt the Gelugpa dharma is impure. He publicly destroys the Gelugpa dharma, so how can he say he's a Gelugpa lama?"

Asked about the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Geshe Kelsang replied: ť "We believe that every Nyingma and Kagyupa have their complete path. Not only Gelugpa. I believe that Nyingmapas have a complete path. Of course, Kagyupas are very special. We very much appreciate the example of Marpa and Milarepa [inthe Kagyu lineage]. Milarepa showed the best example of guru devotion. Of course the Kagyupas as well as the Nyingmapas and the Sakyupas, have a complete path to enlightenment. Many Nyingmapas and Kagyupas practice very sincerely and are not just studying intellectually. I think that some Gelugpa practitioners need to follow their practical example. But we don't need to mix our traditions. Each tradition has its own uncommon good qualities, and it's important not to lose these. We should concentrate on our own tradition and maintain the good qualities of our tradition, but we should always keep good relations with each other and never argue or criticize each other. What I'd like to request is that we should improve our traditions while maintaining good relations with each other."

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