Editing New Kadampa Tradition (section)

===1987–1990: Retreat===
From 1987 to 1990, Kelsang Gyatso engaged in a three-year [[retreat (spiritual)|retreat]]  in [[Dumfries]], [[Scotland]]. Geshe Losang Pende from Ganden Shartse monastery was invited by Kelsang Gyatso to lead the General Programme in his absence.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

During the period of retreat, Kelsang Gyatso wrote several books and planned to establish the NKT.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> According to Kay, Geshe Kelsang's first major development during the retreat was the introduction of the Manjushri Institute's new Teacher Training Programme (TTP).{{sfn|Kay|2004|p=74}}

In 1990, Kelsang Gyatso taught in the US, including visiting the centre of Geshe Lhundup Sopa in Madison, Wisconsin. During this time, pictures of the Dalai Lama were also removed from Kelsang Gyatso's centres; NKT says this was to clarify that the Dalai Lama was not a lineage guru of those centres.<ref name=removal/>