About Kadampa Buddhism
 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'.
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).
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About Buddhism
The founder of Buddhism in this world 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.
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