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Kadampa Meditation Centre Wales is a member of the NKT-IKBU The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, an international association of Mahayana Buddhist Centres that follow the Kadampa Buddhist Tradition founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

What is Kadampa Buddhism?

Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982-1054).

In the word, ‘Kadampa’, ‘Ka’ refers to Buddha’s teachings, and ‘dam’ to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions. Kadampas, then, are practitioners who regard Buddha’s teachings as personal instructions and put them into practice by following the instructions of Lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightenment.

By integrating their understanding of all Buddha’s teachings into their practice of Lamrim, and by integrating their experience of Lamrim into their everyday lives, Kadampas use Buddha’s teachings as practical methods for transforming daily activities into the path to enlightenment.

Find out more about Kadampa Buddhism HERE

Our Founder: Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

In recent years, Kadampa Buddhism has been promoted widely throughout the world by the contemporary Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Since coming to the West in 1977, he has transmitted all the essential teachings and practices of Modern Kadampa Buddhism and provided training and support for hundreds of modern Kadampa Teachers. By founding the New Kadampa Tradition, the International Kadampa Buddhist Union in 1991, Geshe Kelsang has created a truly global infrastructure to preserve and promote Kadampa Buddhism for many generations to come.

It is through his kindness that we are able to access the precious teachings of Kadampa Buddhism and have the opportunity to attain the ultimate goal of human life, the supreme permanent mental peace of enlightenment, and be able to lead all living beings to the same state.

In recent years, Kadampa Buddhism has been promoted widely throughout the world by the contemporary Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Since coming to the West in 1977, he has transmitted all the essential teachings and practices of Modern Kadampa Buddhism and provided training and support for hundreds of modern Kadampa Teachers. By founding the New Kadampa Tradition, the International Kadampa Buddhist Union in 1991, Geshe Kelsang has created a truly global infrastructure to preserve and promote Kadampa Buddhism for many generations to come.

It is through his kindness that we are able to access the precious teachings of Kadampa Buddhism and have the opportunity to attain the ultimate goal of human life, the supreme permanent mental peace of enlightenment, and be able to lead all living beings to the same state.

Senior Teachers

Gen-la Dekyong

General Spiritual Director

Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong is the General Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU and Resident Teacher and Special Teacher Training Programme Teacher at Manjushri KMC, the mother centre of modern Buddhism. She has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for over 30 years, sincerely training under his guidance in all aspects of modern Buddhism. Gen-la is recognized as a fully qualified Buddhist Teacher of both Sutra and Tantra. She teaches National and International Festivals and special events throughout the year.

Gen-la Jampa

Deputy Spiritual Director

Gen-la Kelsang Jampa is the Deputy Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU and Resident Teacher at International Kadampa Meditation Centre Grand Canyon in Arizona. Gen-la Jampa has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for many years, and teaches National and International Festivals around the world.

Kadam Bridget Heyes

National Spiritual Director, UK and Ireland

Kadam Bridget Heyes, the principal teacher at Nagarjuna KMC (Northamptonshire) is the National Spiritual Director of the UK. She is a senior disciple of Geshe Kelsang who has been practising for over 20 years. Her down-to-earth teachings and joyful example are an inspiration to all. We are always delighted to welcome her to Wales to teach the Welsh Dharma Celebration each year.

Find out more about qualified Modern Kadampa Teachers HERE

International Temples Project

When Venerable Geshe-la opened the first Temple for World Peace at Manjushri Centre in 1997, he expressed the wish to develop a modern Buddhist Temple in every major city of the world. To accomplish this and many other purposes, he founded the International Temples Project (ITP).

The scope and activities of the ​ITP are constantly evolving in response to the needs of the ever-changing demands of busy lives. It presently achieves ​its aim through ​developing and ​building traditional and non-traditional temples, meditation and retreat centres, and through the activities of World Peace Cafés and Tharpa Publications.

All profits generated through the activities of the International Temples Project are dedicated to public benefit through the continual development of this fund.

Find out more about the Traditional Kadmapa Temples for World Peace here.

Kadmapa Temples for World Peace

Urban Temples

International Retreat Centres

International Festivals

There are three International Kadampa Festivals each year. They are the high point of the modern Kadampa calandar. They are taught by Senior Teachers and consist of empowerments, teachings, meditations and retreats.

International Festivals offer a unique opportunity to spend time with thousands of people from all over the world and to see first hand the universality of Buddha’s teachings and the power of Modern Kadampa Buddhism to touch the hearts and transform the lives of people of all nationalities and cultures.

In 2020 and 2021 he International Festival have been mainly accessed online with many thousands of people taking part.  Find our  about the 2022 International Kadampa Festival programme here.

Tharpa Publications

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche published his first book, Meaningful to Behold, in 1980. Since then he has composed a further 22 authoritative books on Buddhism and meditation as well as many sadhanas and booklets.

Venerable Geshe-la founded a charitable publishing company, Tharpa Publications, to distribute the wisdom of Modern Buddhism throughout the world. Tharpa publishes all of Venerable Geshe-la’s printed books and eBooks, as well as many other items such as Buddhist art and chanted prayers in many languages. The worldwide readership of Venerable Geshe-la’s books runs into hundreds of thousands.

KMC Wales shop stocks a range of Tharpa books, art work and essential items.

All the books and other items sold by Tharpa Publications are published under the auspices of the International Temples Project and the profits from all of these sales are dedicated to public benefit through this fund. When you buy a Tharpa book you directly contribute towards this vision for world peace.