Editing New Kadampa Tradition (section)

===Leadership===
The New Kadampa Tradition was founded in 1991, when it separated from the [[Manjushri Institute]], and became a distinct legal entity the following year.{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=78}}{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=233}} Each of the individual centres remained legally and financially independent from the organisation as a whole, but Kelsang Gyatso set the teachings and practices across the organisation as General Spiritual Director.{{sfn|Bluck|2006|p=145}}{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=233}}

From 1991 to 1995 [[Thubten Gyatso (NKT)|Gelong Thubten Gyatso]] was designated as Kelsang Gyatso's future successor. He disrobed in 1995, and Kelsang Gyatso provisionally appointed four "Gen-las": Losang Kelsang, Kelsang Jangsem, Kelsang Dekyong and [[Samden Gyatso]].<ref>Bunting, Madeleine. [http://tibet.ca/en/newsroom/wtn/archive/old?y=1996&m=8&p=18_1 ''Sect disrobes British monk'']. ''The Guardian''. 15 August 1996. Retrieved 2008-12-08.</ref>

In August 2001, Kelsang Gyato established a system of democratic succession for the General Spiritual Director of the NKT- IKBU, with each term of office limited to four years.<ref name="internalrules">{{cite web |url=http://www.newkadampatruth.org/internalrules.php |title=A Moral Discipline Guide: The Internal Rules of The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union |work=newkadampatruth.org |publisher=NKT-IKBU |access-date=23 December 2011 |archive-date=13 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313094636/http://www.newkadampatruth.org/internalrules.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> In February 2007, Samden Gyatso resigned as Deputy Spiritual Director. In 2008, Gen-la Khyenrab became Acting General Spiritual Director, under Kelsang Gyatso's supervision and, when Kelsang Gyatso retired, assumed the post of General Spiritual Director in August 2009 for a four-year term. Gen-la Dekyong, the National Spiritual Director of the United States of America, additionally assumed the post of Deputy Spiritual Director.<ref name="internalrules"/><ref>[http://kadampafestivals.org/fall/festival-teachers/ ''Festival Teachers: Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong'']. Retrieved 23 August 2009.</ref>{{sfn|Bluck|2006|p=145}}