New Kadampa tradition

The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is a recognized non-profit organization and worldwide Buddhist organization founded in 1991 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in England. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" were added to the name. Since then it has been known as the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) .

The organization of the New Kadampa Tradition follows the internal regulations of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union . These regulations contain a large number of guidelines and examinations relating to the conduct, election and removal of management, teachers and spiritual leaders and are legally binding.

The NKT-IKBU logo illustrates this spiritual path:

The purity of the white snow mountain symbolizes the pure spirit of renunciation. The clouds symbolize the loving kindness and the spirit of enlightenment bodhichitta that come from the heart of Maitreya. The sun represents the wisdom that realizes the ultimate truth. These are the three principal aspects of the path that arise through the study and practice of Lamrim and Lojong. The two lines that enclose the words “Kadampa Buddhism” symbolize the generation and completion stage of the Secret Mantra contained in Vajrayana Mahamudra.

Founder and history

The founder of the New Kadampa Tradition is Geshe Kelsang Gyatso . He is a Tibetan teacher, Buddhist monk, and scholar who studied at Gelugpa Sera Monastery . Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, two Gelug- Tulku , visited him in 1976 in Mussourie, India, where he gave a 16-year meditation retreat, and invited Geshe Kelsang to England. After his spiritual master Trijang Rinpoche asked him, Geshe Kelsang accepted the invitation.

Geshe Kelsang taught the General Program at Manjushri Institute from 1977 to 1987. He then conducted a three-year retreat in Dumfries, Scotland from 1987 to 1990 , during which time he wrote several books. Together with other texts that arose from his many years of teaching, mostly several times a day, at the Manjushri Institute, these texts form the basis for the three study programs of the New Kadampa Tradition.

Following his retreat, Geshe Kelsang announced the foundation of the New Kadampa Tradition in the spring of 1991. Legally, it has been a registered non-profit association since 1992. The NKT was later expanded to include the “International Kadampa Buddhist Union” (NKT-IKBU) and became an independent Buddhist tradition. From a Buddhist point of view, the New Kadampa Tradition can be viewed as a line of spiritual teachings and blessings from teacher to student.

According to the New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe Kelsang completely relied on his spiritual master Trijang Rinpoche, who was one of the most important teachers of the Gelugpa tradition, in all of his actions and teachings. So it is valid, in their view, that the teachings, study programs, and new presentations of the teachings of Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa as conveyed by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso have the blessings of the lineage.

The new presentation of the Buddhist teachings of Je Tsongkhapa and Atisha in the New Kadampa tradition was created to meet the needs and wishes of the modern western world in particular.

The fact that the NKT regards itself as a continuation of the old Kadampa tradition of the master Atisha is made clear by the fact that it calls its presentation Kadampa Buddhism and equates Kadampa Buddhism with the time-honored Kadampa tradition (10th century in Tibet):

“Kadampa Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that was founded by the great Indian Buddhist master Atisha (982-1054 AD). ... The great Kadampa teachers are known not only for their great learning, but also for their spiritual practice of incredible purity and sincerity. ... It spread over much of Asia and now over many countries in the western world. Through the activities and dedications of the respected Buddhist master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Kadampa Buddhism has spread to many countries in recent years. Geshe Kelsang has worked tirelessly to spread Kadampa Buddhism worldwide by giving extensive teachings, writing many in-depth texts on Kadampa Buddhism and establishing the New Kadampa Tradition, the International Association of Kadampa Buddhists. "

Centers and Groups

Tharpaland International Retreat Center, Sommerswalde Castle

According to the NKT-IKBU, there are currently more than 200 centers and around 900 local groups around the world, i. d. "Branches" (Engl. - R. meet weekly branches called). The focus of activities in 40 countries around the world are England and the USA; In Germany, Austria and Switzerland there are currently 22 centers, all of which are registered as independent non-profit associations, and around 55 local groups that function as "branches" (alternatively also called "branch centers") of these centers. The aim of the activities of the centers and groups is to "present the Buddhist faith of the new Kadampa tradition to the public and, in particular, to exemplify Buddhist practice through service to the general public."

There are different types of centers:

Dharma Centers (Kadampa Buddhist Centers - KBCs) offer introductory lectures, study programs and meditation retreats.

Kadampa Meditation Centers (KMCs) offer in addition to the above. also host major events such as Dharma celebrations, national festivals and international festivals.

Temples of Kadampa Buddhism are based e.g. Some have a traditional shape, others have a modern design.

International Retreat Centers (IRCs) provide facilities for those looking to do short or long retreats.

Hotel Kadampas are hotels operated by NKT-IKBU. They offer a non-smoking and alcohol-free atmosphere.

The centers are open to everyone.

Temple of Kadampa Buddhism

Kadampa Buddhist Temple at Manjushri Center, England

Other NKT activities include building NKT temples. These "temples for world peace" or "temples of Kadampa Buddhism" were built in Great Britain and also in Canada, the USA and Spain. Temples are currently being built in Brazil, Australia and Italy. An NKT temple is also planned in Germany. The International Temple Project was founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in the mid-1990s. His vision is to build a Kadampa Temple of World Peace in every major city in the world, dedicated to the good of all.

“A temple of Kadampa Buddhism is a special, sacred place where we can receive blessings and powerful impressions in our minds that lead to deep inner peace in the future . Some of them are based on a traditional shape and others are modern in design. These temples are all dedicated to world peace. Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains that a temple essentially represents a Pure Land, such as the Tushita Heaven, in which Je Tsongkhapa dwells, or the Pure Land of Buddha Heruka and Vajrayogini . Eventually, by the power of all the pure practice and sincere prayers that have been performed within it and the blessings of the holy beings, the temple becomes an actual Pure Land. "

Lineage

According to the NKT, the main teachers of its lineage are:

Teaching principles and teaching program

The teaching of the NKT is based on a selection of Gelug teachings given by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso according to the teachings of his spiritual master Trijang Rinpoche and which are published in the books of the New Kadampa Tradition.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has created three study programs:

the general program,
the basic program and
the teacher training program.

On the occasion of the introduction of these study programs, Geshe Kelsang said in 1990:

We currently have a basic and teacher training program in our centers. It's not a new tradition. There have been other programs in the past that were tailored for Dharma students according to their particular circumstances. All of these programs included studying a certain number of texts, memorizing certain texts, passing exams and receiving a diploma or certificate. For example, the earlier Kadampa Geshes had a program in which they studied six texts. Later, Je Tsongkhapa introduced a program based on ten texts, and even later Tibetan monasteries such as Ganden, Sera and Drepung introduced a program based on five texts. I studied this program in Sera Monastery .

The General Program introduces the basic Buddhist view, meditation and action. It is offered at all NKT centers.

The basic program comprises the following five topics, based on the Buddha's sutra teachings and the accompanying commentaries by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

The steps of the path to enlightenment based on the commentary Joyful Path
Mind Training based on the comments on All Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness
The Heart Sutra based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom
Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life Based on the Commentary to Consider
Minds Based on Comment Understanding the Mind

The teacher training program consists of twelve topics based on the sutra and tantra teachings of Buddha and the accompanying commentaries by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. There are the five topics of the basic program, as well as:

Guide to the Middle Way based on the Ocean of Nectar commentary

Vajrayana Mahamudra , based on the commentary The Clear Light of Bliss

The bodhisattva's moral discipline based on the commentary on The Bodhisattva Vow

Offering to the Spiritual Master based on the comments on Great Treasury of Merits and Mahamudra Tantra

Vajrayogini Tantra , based on the Commentary Guide to Dakini Land

Levels and Paths of the Secret Mantra based on the Commentary Tantric Levels and Paths

The practice of the Heruka body mandala based on the commentary Essence of Vajrayana

One or more of these programs can be studied at any center of the New Kadampa Tradition. These programs are offered in the respective national language.

The NKT regards its form of presentation as adapted to modern western culture and practices a combination of sutra and tantra .

Only students of the New Kadampa Tradition who have studied the texts taught are permitted as teachers in the NKT, and they are obliged to participate in the teacher training program.

ordination

The ordination tradition in the NKT differs from that of other Buddhist groups in that it is based on the Mahayana Sutras of Perfection of Wisdom rather than the Vinaya Sutras of Hinayana. According to Geshe Kelsang: “ The Sutras of Perfection of Wisdom are our Vinaya, and Lamrim is the commentary.” This tradition is based on the advice of the Buddha to his disciple Ananda: “If it is the desire, Ananda, the Sangha can, if I have gone away am to abolish the subordinate and minor rules. "

The Buddha gave pratimoksha vows to both lay and ordained people and taught several levels of ordination vows. According to the Hinayana schools such as Vows of ordination, such as the Vaibashika, are a subtle physical form, while according to the Mahayana they have the nature of a determination as to what is part of the mind. Traditionally, the different levels of ordination were distinguished on the basis of the specific vows taken and the corresponding ceremony. In the NKT, Geshe Kelsang has introduced a simplified tradition of ordination, with 10 vows and a single ordination ceremony for all levels of ordained practitioners. When a person ordains first, he or she receives a rabjung (preparatory) ordination; as her renunciation improves and her ordination deepens, it turns into a getsul (sramanera) ordination; and when her renunciation becomes spontaneous it turns into a Gelong (bikkhu) ordination.

The ten vows of NKT ordination as a monk or nun are:

"Killing, stealing, giving up sexual activity, lying and drug use for life," as well

"To practice contentment, to diminish the desire for worldly pleasure, to give up doing pointless activities, to keep the obligations of refuge, and to practice the three trainings of pure moral discipline, concentration and wisdom."

In the ordination manual Geshe Kelsang says:

“The verbal explanation of the Kadampa ordination is short (there are only ten commitments), but its practice is extensive. These ten commitments that you promise to keep are a summary of all of the Lamrim teachings. Although we can complete a verbal explanation of these vows in a matter of hours, their practice is comprehensive. You should do so - say a few words, but always practice extensively ” .

The aim of the Vinaya (Tib. Dulwa) is to "control the mind" through higher moral discipline, as this is the basis for the development of pure concentration (calm abiding) and profound wisdom (higher seeing). While the first five vows are found in all Vinaya lineages, the second five vows come from the Mahayana Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom and its commentaries, such as Atisha's Lamrim text A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment . This text in turn refers to Arya Asanga's The Bodhisattva Planes (Sanskrit Bodhisattvabhumi ) and lists six "branches" or necessary conditions for attaining calm abiding, including 1. Little desire, 2. Satisfaction, 3. No distracting activities, 4 Pure moral discipline 5. No distracting ideas.

The purpose of monastic ordination in the Buddhist tradition is to practice a moral discipline that enables one to attain calm abiding. Atisha says in his text:

Whoever neglects the branches of quiet abiding will never attain concentration, even if he meditates with great effort for a thousand years .

The second group of five NKT ordination vows is a practical summary of the 253 Vinaya vows of a fully ordained monk. According to Atisha , the founder of the Kadam tradition:

A monk's training is ... the two hundred and fifty-three [rules] .

As Nagarjuna says, these vows can be summarized:

Practice higher and higher moral discipline, higher concentration and higher wisdom. These three perfectly include all 253 courses .

Geshe Kelsang encourages his students to focus their efforts on improving their renunciation and their ordained life; then it is not necessary to receive Getsul or Bikkhu vows in another ceremony. He explains that these vows are easier to practice in today's society.

To support the practice of the ordained in the NKT, they hold a sojong ceremony twice a month to purify and renew vows. An ordain who breaks their vows must leave the center for at least a year, after which they may return with some restrictions, but not teach or participate in the teacher training program.

Ordinates in the NKT give up the outward signs of a lay person by cutting their hair and wearing the red and yellow robes of the Je Tsongkhapa tradition . You will receive an ordination name which, according to Buddhist tradition, partly consists of the name of the ordination master. In 2008 there were over 700 monks and nuns in the NKT.

If practitioners in the NKT have a wish and feel ready to do so, they can turn to their teacher. With the teacher's consent, they can then formally request ordination. You can live in a Buddhist center, but this is not a requirement for ordination. In general, they are not financially supported by the NKT, some ordained work part-time or full-time, some have a sponsored work in a Dharma center.

Religious Holidays in the New Kadampa Tradition

Traditional Buddhist holidays are celebrated in the NKT as well as some that are specific to the NKT. The annual holidays are:

Buddha's Enlightenment Day (April 15)
Day of the first rotation of the Dharma wheel (Sanskrit: Dharmachakra) (June 4th; 49 days after Buddha's enlightenment)
Buddha's Return from Heaven (September 22nd)
Tsongkhapa Day (October 25)

Monthly Holidays:

Day for Tara Puja (8th of every month)
Tsog days (10th and 25th of each month)
Mahayana Principles Day (15th of every month)
Protector Puja Day (29th of every month)

Special annual holidays in the NKT:

NKT day (the first Saturday in April)
International Temple Day (the first Saturday in November)

In 2004, the holidays in the NKT were transferred from the Tibetan lunar calendar to the western solar calendar. (e.g. the day of Buddha's enlightenment according to the lunar calendar is observed on the 15th day of the fourth month, now April 15th)

NKT Day commemorates the founding of the NKT and International Temple Day serves to remember the importance of building Buddhist temples.

Scientific Article

The New Kadampa Tradition and the Continuity of Tibetan Buddhism in Transition - David N. Kay , Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 12, No. 3, 1997; pp. 277-293.
Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation - The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), and the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC) - David N. Kay , London and New York, 2005, ISBN 0-415-29765- 6 .
Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz : "Shugden versus pluralism and national unity". The Shugden Conflict and the Role of the Media. In: Hubert Mohr, Jürgen Mohn (Hrsg.): Media of Religion: Theoretical, social and historical aspects. Pano Verlag, Zurich 2015, ISBN 978-3-290-22012-9 , pp. 85–110; limited preview in Google Book search
Carol McQuire: Realizing the Guru's Intention: Hungry Humans and Awkward Animals in a New Kadampa Tradition Community. In: Timothy Miller (ed.): Spiritual and visionary communities: out to save the world. Ashgate, Farnham 2013, ISBN 978-1-4094-3902-8 , pp. 65–82, limited preview in Google Book Search

Web links

General reports on the NKT

Supporters of the New Kadampa Tradition

Critical Articles

Ken Jones: "Many Bodies, One Mind": Movements in British Buddhism ( Memento June 12, 2003 in the Internet Archive ), Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Colman Jones: Bitter theological infighting rocks the Dalai Lama's Moverment, just as he's winning the PR war for tibetan autonomy ( Memento of September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), Now Magazine Toronto, January 22, 1998
New Kadampa tradition , info-buddhismus.de

Sources and Notes

↑ The New Kadampa Tradition - International Union of Kadampa Buddhism : "Registered charity 1015054"

↑ http://www.newkadampatruth.org/de/internalrules.php

↑ http://meditation-in-muenchen.de/neue-kadampa-tradition/

↑ Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation by David N. Kay, London and New York, ISBN 0-415-29765-6 , pp. 56,57

↑ Modern Kadampa Buddhism - Brochure of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Daniel Cozort, The Making of Western Lama . In: Buddhism in the Modern World . ISBN 0-19-514698-0 , p. 247
↑ Modern Kadampa Buddhism - Brochure of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Modern Kadampa Buddhism - Brochure of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Modern Kadampa Buddhism - Brochure of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Kadampa tradition, from the official NKT website, as of 2008
↑ Number of centers on August 29, 2009, according to map.kadampa.org : 3 International Retreat Centers (IRC), 19 Kadampa Meditation Centers (KMC), 196 Kadampa Buddhist Centers (KBC). There could also be a few more centers, as some of the centers listed here may not yet be shown on the map.
↑ http://kadampa.org/files/Modern_Kadampa_Buddhism_de.pdf Modern Kadampa Buddhism (p. 16)
↑ http://kadampa.org/files/Modern_Kadampa_Buddhism_de.pdf Modern Kadampa Buddhism (p. 6)
↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 11, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Wish-Fulfilling Jewels for Dharma Practitioners, lecture by Geshe Kelsang, Tara Center, England, October 1990
↑ Study programs of the NKT
^ Teachers in the NKT
^ The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition; Page 20
↑ Maha-parinibbana Sutta ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Translations German and English@1@ 2

^ The Bodhisattva Vow Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Tharpa Publications, 2nd Edition 1995, p. 4

↑ The Ordination Manual of the New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, p.17

^ The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, p. 2

^ Waterhouse 1997: 174

↑ The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

↑ A lamp for the path to enlightenment, Atisha; Quoted in: Freudvoll Weg, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Tharpa Verlag, 1998, page 571

↑ The Complete Works of Atisa Sri Dipamkara Jnana, Jo-Bo-Rje by Atisa, Richard Sherburne (2000), p. 123

↑ www.newkadampatruth.org/de [1]

^ Ordained in the NKT

^ British Buddhism Teachings, Practice and Development by Bluck, Robert, ISBN 0-415-39515-1 , Publisher: Routledge Shorton; Interview with Namgyal

[1] The New Kadampa Tradition - International Union of Kadampa Buddhism : "Registered charity 1015054"

[2] ttp://www.newkadampatruth.org/de/internalrules.php

[3] ttp://meditation-in-muenchen.de/neue-kadampa-tradition/

[4] Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation by David N. Kay, London and New York, ISBN 0-415-29765-6 , pp. 56,57