Editing New Kadampa Tradition (section)

==Activities==
===Teachings and books===
The NKT-IKBU's teachings are written in English and based exclusively on the teachings and published works of Kelsang Gyatso.{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=86}} These are, in turn, translations of and commentaries on [[Gelug]] works, especially those of its founder [[Je Tsongkhapa]].{{sfn|Cozort|2003|pp=230,232}}

The NKT has a [[Prasangika]] Madhyamaka philosophical orientation, and emphasises the teachings on [[Pratitya-samutpada|dependent arising]] and [[Śūnyatā|emptiness]].{{sfn|Waterhouse|1997|pp=182–3}} The main practice in the NKT-IKBU is [[Lamrim]] (the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment), [[Lojong]] (Training the Mind), and [[Vajrayana]] [[Mahamudra]] (the practices of Highest Yoga Tantra). The NKT also includes traditional [[Mahayana]] Buddhist teachings, including those on [[karma]], [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]], [[Refuge (Buddhism)|going for refuge]], the [[Four Noble Truths]], the [[Threefold Training]], the [[Paramita#Mahayana Buddhism|six perfections]], and developing [[bodhicitta]], in addition to general teachings on meditation and the importance and value human of life.<ref>{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|pp=136–137}}</ref>

According to Helen Waterhouse, Kelsang Gyatso followed the [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhist]] custom of studying texts through the teacher's commentaries and the contents of NKT teachings are "not different from that of mainline [[Gelugpa]]". She says that where the NKT is unusual is in its assertion that Geshe Kelsang's texts contain "the whole of what is necessary" and its emphasis on exclusively following the training and practices set by Geshe Kelsang. This extends to avoiding other traditions, religions, and mind training techniques, and an emphasis on maintaining the "pure lineage" of Geshe Kelsang's practices. The NKT also advises members against reading books by other teachers. Waterhouse says that some practitioners find this advice contentious and not all of them follow it.{{sfn|Waterhouse|1997|pp=182–5}} Unlike most mainstream Gelug practices, the NKT encourages the practice of Dorje Shugden, who is often considered a symbol of sectarianism in Tibetan Buddhism.<ref name="Repressive rule" />{{sfn|Hertog|2018}}

===Study programs===
NKT-IKBU offers three study programs: an introductory General Programme, a more advanced Foundation Programme, and a Teacher Training Programme.<ref>{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|p=232}}</ref><ref name="Waterhouse, Helen 2002. p. 940">Waterhouse, Helen. "New Kadampa Tradition" entry in Melton, J. Gordon, and Martin Baumann. 2002. ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices''. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. p. 940</ref><ref>Bluck, Robert (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, Practice and Development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. p. 139.</ref> It is believed by NKT-IKBU followers that the teachings transmit the pure lineage of Je Tsongkhapa in its entirety.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 130">Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. p. 130.</ref>

The General Program (GP) provides an introduction to basic Buddhist ideas and meditation. Cozort explains that GP classes are "simply the ongoing general instructure for all comers at NKT Centers or wherever NKT teachers find a venue for teaching."<ref name="Cozort, Daniel 2003 p. 232">Cozort, Daniel (2003). ''The Making of the Western Lama''. Quoted in Heine, S., & Prebish, C. S. (2003). ''Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 232.</ref> The Foundation Program (FP) includes the study of six commentaries written by Kelsang Gyatso on several classical texts.<ref name="Cozort, Daniel 2003 p. 232"/> The Teacher Training Program (TTP) is intended for people who wish to train as NKT-IKBU Dharma Teachers who, in turn, will teach Buddhism to newcomers as well as serve as tantric gurus.<ref>{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|p=233}}</ref> All resident teachers of NKT-IKBU centres follow this program of study and practice. It involves the study of 14 texts by Kelsang Gyatso, including all of those in the Foundation Program. This program also includes commitments concerning one's lifestyle, based on the five lay vows of the [[Pratimoksha]], and the completion of specific meditation retreats.<ref>Cozort, Daniel (2003). ''The Making of the Western Lama''. Quoted in Heine, S., & Prebish, C. S. (2003). ''Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 236.</ref> There is also a "teaching skills" class every month.<ref>Cozort, Daniel (2003). ''The Making of the Western Lama''. Quoted in Heine, S., & Prebish, C. S. (2003). ''Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 234.</ref>

===Religious practices===
NKT-IKBU meditation practices include traditional [[Lamrim]] subjects such as the preciousness of human life, death, [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]], [[samsara]], [[Mettā|kindness]], [[Karuṇā|compassion]], equanimity, and [[Guru#Guru in Buddhism|the role of the guru in Buddhism]]. Chanted prayers follow a traditional Tibetan format, including [[Refuge (Buddhism)|going for refuge]], generating [[bodhicitta]] and the [[Brahmavihara|four immeasurables]], imagining the Buddhas and bodhisattvas as physically present, asking for and receiving blessings, the [[transfer of merit]], and so on.<ref>{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|pp=133–4}}</ref>

[[Je Tsongkhapa]] and [[Dorje Shugden]] practices are also recited daily, alongside a number of other [[Puja (Buddhism)|ritual practices]], including prayers to [[Avalokiteshvara]], [[Heruka]], [[Vajrayogini]], [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara]], [[Manjushri]], [[Amitayus]] and the [[Medicine Buddha]]. Keslang Gyatso compiles or approves all the sādhanās used by the NKT.<ref>{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|p=135}}</ref>

===Religious observances===
From its inception, NKT-IKBU Dharma centres followed a common calendar for religious observances, including some of the traditional Buddhist religious days. In 2004, the dates of lunar month observances were changed to the respective days in the common calendar.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

Common Buddhist celebrations observed by the NKT include monthly celebrations for the Buddha [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara]], [[Je Tsongkhapa]], and [[Five Precepts#Other precepts|Eight Mahayana Precepts]]:{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}
* Tara Day (8th of each month)
* Tsog Day (10th and 25th of each month)
* Precepts Day (15th of each month)

The NKT also observes [[Dorje Shugden]] practices, used by some forms of Tibetan Buddhism:
* Protector Day (29th of each month){{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

Annual holidays common to other Buddhist traditions include: 
* Buddha's Enlightenment Day (15 April)<ref name="Chryssides, George 1999 p. 237">Chryssides, George (1999). ''Exploring New Religions''. London: Cassell. p. 237.</ref>
* Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day (4 June [49 days after Buddha's Enlightenment Day, and also Kelsang Gyatso's birthday])<ref name="Chryssides, George 1999 p. 237" />
* Buddha's Return from Heaven Day (22 September)<ref name="Chryssides, George 1999 p. 237" />
* Je Tsongkhapa Day (25 October)<ref name="Chryssides, George 1999 p. 237" />

Annual holidays unique to the NKT-IKBU include:
* NKT Day (the first Saturday in April) which commemorates the founding of the NKT-IKBU<ref>[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/nkt-day ''NKT Day'']. NKT-IKBU official website. Retrieved 7 December 2008.</ref><ref name="Chryssides, George 1999 p. 237" />
* International Temples Day (the first Saturday in November) celebrates the building of Kadampa Buddhist Temples around the world<ref>[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/international-temples-day/ ''International Temples Day'']. NKT-IKBU official website. Retrieved 8 December 2008.</ref>

===International Buddhist festivals===
Three annual Buddhist NKT Festivals are held each year: (1) The Spring Festival – held at Manjushri KMC in UK; (2) The Summer Festival – held at Manjushri KMC in UK; (3) The Fall Festival – held at various locations outside the UK. These are taught by the General Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition, currently Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong.<ref>[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/gen-la-kelsang-dekyong1/ ''Modern Kadampa Teachers: Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong'']. Retrieved 28 December 2011.</ref>

===Ordination===
The NKT-IKBU reports that it has over 700 monks and nuns.<ref>[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/a-global-spiritual-community/ ''A Global Spiritual Community'']. NKT-IKBU official website. Retrieved 7 December 2008.</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2025}} Ordination ceremonies are usually held twice a year in the main NKT Temple at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center in Cumbria (UK), Ulverston. To ordain, one must ask Kelsang Gyatso's permission, and also the permission of his or her parents.<ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|p=138}}</ref>

Buddha established both lay and ordained Pratimoksha vows, and established several levels of ordination vows.<ref>Waterhouse, Helen (1997). ''Buddhism in Bath: Adaptation and Authority''. University of Leeds, Department of Theology and Religious Studies. p. 175.</ref> However, in the NKT-IKBU, Kelsang Gyatso established a simplified alternative tradition of ordination with ten vows that summarise the Vinaya,<ref>{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|p= 144}}</ref> and a single ordination ceremony.

The NKT is unusual in having only 10 ordination vows, which are identical for both nuns and monks:<ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|p=174}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Hertog|2018}}</ref>

# abandon killing
# abandon stealing
# abandon sexual activity
# abandon lying and cheating
# abandon taking intoxicants
# practice contentment
# reduce one's desire for worldly pleasures
# abandon engaging in meaningless activities
# maintain the commitments of refuge
# practise the three trainings of pure moral discipline, concentration, and wisdom

In ''The Ordination Handbook'', Kelsang Gyatso described these vows as being easier to integrate into today's society, saying:

{{blockquote|The verbal explanation of the Kadampa ordination is brief – there are just ten commitments – but their practice is very extensive. These ten commitments that you promise to keep are the condensation of the entire lamrim teachings. Although we can finish a verbal explanation of these vows in a few hours, their practice is all-embracing. You should do like this – saying few words but always practising extensively.<ref>Gyatso, Kelsang. (1999). ''The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition''. p. 17.</ref>}}

He also says:

{{blockquote|Western people are well educated; they do not have blind faith but immediately question and try to understand the truth. I cannot pretend with you. We cannot be like a fully ordained monk who has taken 253 vows, but who is not even keeping one. We should never do like this; we need to do everything correctly and purely. The Kadampa ordination solves all these problems. Practically speaking, all the 253 vows explained in the ''Vinaya Sutra'' are included within the ten commitments.<ref>Gyatso, Kelsang. (1999). ''The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition''. p.20.</ref>}}

The ordination tradition of the NKT-IKBU is based on the [[Mahayana]] ''[[Perfection of Wisdom Sutras]]''.<ref name="Gyatso, Kelsang 1999 p. 16">Gyatso, Kelsang. (1999). ''The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition''. p. 16.</ref><ref>Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. p. 146.</ref> Kelsang Gyatso says that when a person is first ordained they receive a [[Rabjung]] (preliminary) ordination; when their renunciation improves and deepens, their ordination naturally transforms into a Getsul ([[sramanera]]) ordination; and when their renunciation becomes "a spontaneous wish to attain nirvana", their ordination naturally transforms into a Gelong ([[bhikkhu]]) ordination.<ref name="Gyatso, Kelsang 1999 p. 16"/> For this reason, Kelsang Gyatso did not require a separate ritual ordination ceremony.<ref>Gyatso, Kelsang. (1999). ''The Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition''. p. 20.</ref>

Monks and nuns in the NKT-IKBU abandon the physical signs of a lay person by shaving their head and wearing the maroon and yellow robes of an ordained person. They are given a new name which starts with "Kelsang", since it is traditional for ordinees to receive part of the ordaining master's name (up until his death, this was Kelsang Gyatso). They also engage in a Sojong ceremony twice a month to purify and restore their vows.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 146" />

Monastics who break their ordination vows must leave their Centre for a year, with the exception of attending various bigger courses, Celebrations and Festivals. After that year, "with some conditions" they can return but cannot teach or participate in the Teacher Training Program.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 146" />

Practitioners who wish to ordain approach their Buddhist teacher when they feel ready, and request formal permission once they have their teacher's consent. They may decide to live in one of the NKT-IKBU's many Buddhist centres, but this is not a requirement. They are, in general, not financially provided for by the NKT-IKBU, and many are encouraged to seek unemployment benefits. If they live in an NKT-IKBU Dharma centre, they still have to pay rent for their accommodation and pay for meals and the spiritual programs. To finance this, some have part-time or full-time work.<ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=174–8}}</ref><ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 146">Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-39515-1}}. p. 146.</ref> 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."<ref>Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-39515-1}}. p. 147.</ref> When working, they may wear ordinary clothes if more convenient, and typically change out of robes to attend benefits appointments.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 146"/><ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|p=175}}</ref>