Editing New Kadampa Tradition (section)

==Practices==
Scholars of Buddhism such as Robert Bluck, Daniel Cozort, David Kay, and Helen Waterhouse have described the formation of the New Kadampa Tradition as unusual among Tibetan Buddhist groups. Unlike those other organisations, NKT intentionally distinguishes itself from the traditions that preceded it and its contemporaries.<ref name="Cozort 240">{{harvnb| Cozort|2003|p=240}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=184–7}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Kay|2004|pp=89, 86}}</ref><ref name="Bluck, R. 2006">Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-39515-1}}. p. 145.</ref> It does this while also emphasising the purity of its Tibetan lineage.<ref>Chryssides, George (1999). ''Exploring New Religions''. London: Cassell. pp. 235, 237.</ref><ref name="Belither 2006">Belither, James. quoted in Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-39515-1}}. p. 145.</ref>{{sfn|Barnett|2014}}

Kelsang Gyatso said his aim was to establish an independent movement which directly followed the "pure" teachings of [[Je Tsongkhapa]] and which focussed exclusively on the translations and commentaries of Geshe Kelsang himself.<ref>{{harvnb|Kay|2004|pp=89, 86}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=165–6}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|pp=230, 232}}</ref> Waterhouse has described this view as sectarian.<ref name="Sectarianism" /> According to Kay, the NKT defines itself in this way to show that it is adapted for the needs of Westerners, but also to emphasise that it alone is guardian of "the pure tradition of Tsongkhapa in the modern world".<ref name="foundation">{{harvnb|Kay|2004|pp=88,89}}</ref>

Tibetologist Robert Barnett says the NKT is unusual in its criticism and rejection of mainstream Tibetan Buddhism.{{sfn|Barnett|2014}} Kelsang Gyatso himself severed ties with the [[Gelug]] teachers in India and [[Tibet]], establishing himself as the organisation's sole religious authority.<ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|2001|p=137}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=184–7}}</ref><ref name="Cozort, Daniel 2003 p. 231">{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|p=231}}</ref><ref name="Belither, James 2001 p. 311"/> In 1996, Kelsang Gyatso was formally expelled by the Sera Je Monastery for his worship of [[Dorje Shugden]] and criticism of the Dalai Lama, and had his geshe degree revoked.<ref name="Expulsion" />

Bluck sees an "apparent contradiction between claiming a pure Tibetan lineage and complete separation from contemporary Tibetan religion, culture and politics."<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006"/> [[University of Oxford]] professor Peter Clarke has characterised the NKT-IKBU as a "controversial Tibetan Buddhist [[New Religious Movement]]", not because of any moral failings but because of the NKT-IKBU's separation from contemporary Tibetan Buddhism.<ref>Clarke, P. B. (2006). ''New religions in global perspective: A study of religious change in the modern world''. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-25748-4}}. p. 92.</ref> The NKT-IKBU disagrees that there is a contradiction, saying: "It is possible to be a follower of Je Tsongkhapa's lineage but not a Tibetan Buddhist, just as a child of Russian immigrants to America may consider themselves American but not Russian."<ref>[http://newkadampatruth.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/has-the-nkt-broken-away-from-the-mainstream/ ''Has the NKT broken away from the mainstream?'']. New Kadampa Truth blog. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-08.</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2025}}

The NKT's isolation from mainstream Tibetan Buddhism conversely gave a new identity to Kelsang Gyatso's followers, who built many new centres rapidly and were able to distinguish themselves from other traditions, including their more inclusive rivals such as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (now the [[Triratna Buddhist Community]]).<ref name="Cozort 240" /><ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=184–7}}</ref> Despite its separation from contemporary Tibetan Buddhism, the commitments undertaken by NKT members also include maintaining "a deep respect" for all Dharma teachings and other Buddhist traditions.<ref>Bluck, R. (2006). ''British Buddhism: Teachings, practice and development''. Routledge critical studies in Buddhism. London: Routledge. p. 137.</ref> When asked about sectarianism between the Gelugpas and other schools of [[Tibetan Buddhism]], Kelsang Gyatso said that "the [[Kagyu]]pas as well as the [[Nyingma]]pas and the [[Sakya (Tibetan Buddhist school)|Sakyapas]]" also have "a complete path to enlightenment".<ref>{{harvnb|Lopez|1998b|p=76}}</ref>

===Dorje Shugden===
According to the NKT, Dorje Shugden worship is "the very essence of the New Kadampa Tradition", and the protector is presented as the deity most able to help practitioners. The NTK's ''The Heart Jewel'' and ''Wishfulfilling Jewel'' [[sādhanā]]s, as compiled by Kelsang Gyatso, incorporate elements of the Dorje Shugden sādhanā. Dorje Shugden may also have influenced Geshe Kelsang's teaching that practitioners cannot mix with other traditions, a view which has been criticised by other Buddhists and led to Kelsang Gyatso's expulsion from Sera Je Monastery and its revocation of his [[geshe]] degree.<ref name="Sectarianism">{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|pp=188–196, 195|ps=: "Geshe Kelsang in teaching that NKT Buddhism should not be mixed is probably referring to this dispute. Mixing Gelugpa practices with the practices of other schools is for him the process by which the pure lineage of Tsongkhapa's teaching is corrupted, a view promulgated by Pabongka Rinpoche who strongly relied on Dorje Shugdan as Dharma Protector. This view is easily understood as sectarian since it entails separation from other Tibetan schools, a matter of significant concern to the Dalai Lama who is anxious to promote unity among Tibetans in a time of exile. Geshe Kelsang takes the view that Gelugpa practice should be followed without the introduction of practices from other schools and also that Dorje Shugdan is the most appropriate protector deity for this time."}}</ref><ref name="Expulsion" /> The [[Western Shugden Society]], which received backing from the Chinese government to criticise the Dalai Lama, describes Kelsang Gyatso was the final teacher in the Dorje Shugden spiritual lineage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spiritual Lineage of the Dorje Shugden practice |url=http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org/lineage.php |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org |quote=As all Buddhists know, the root of the Buddhist spiritual path is sincere reliance upon one's Spiritual Guide, and accordingly Geshe Kelsang has faithfully relied upon Trijang Rinpoche's guidance and widely taught the practice of Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden.}}</ref>

===Kadampa Buddhism===
According to the NKT-IKBU, it is Tibetan in its antecedents, and follows the teachings of the historic "old" [[Kadampa]] school and the "[[New Kadam]]" Tradition of [[Je Tsongkhapa]], the latter of which became the [[Gelug]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref name="meditationincolorado.org">Belither, James. [http://www.meditationincolorado.org/history_new_kadampa_tradition.htm ''Modern Day Kadampas: The History and Development of the New Kadampa Tradition''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211123509/http://www.meditationincolorado.org/history_new_kadampa_tradition.htm |date=11 December 2008 }}. Retrieved 7 December 2008.</ref> The NKT consider Kelsang Gyatso the one who "is primarily responsible for the worldwide revival of Kadampa Buddhism in our time".<ref name="Official NKT website">[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/venerable-geshe-kelsang-gyatso Official NKT website]</ref><ref name=okws>[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/new-kadampa-tradition Official Kadampa Website at]</ref>

The NKT has been criticised for the lack of clarity regarding its lineage, and especially the use of the name ''Kadampa''. Both Buddhists and non-Buddhists have described the NKT as "a breakaway sect or [[cult]]" of the [[Gelug]] school, rather than the older Kadampa tradition of [[Atisha]], as the NKT often suggests.{{sfn|BBC RE|2003}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gyatso |first=Kelsang |url=http://archive.org/details/joyfulpathofgood0000kels |title=Joyful Path of Good Fortune: The Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment |date= |publisher=Ulverston; Glen Spey, N.Y. : Tharpa |others=Internet Archive |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-948006-45-6 |p=651 |quote=Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (AD 982–1054)... The great Kadampa Teachers are famous not only for being great scholars but also for being spiritual practitioners of immense purity and sincerity. 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... 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 – International Kadampa Buddhist Union.}}</ref> Followers of the NKT refer to themselves as ''Kadampa Buddhists'', the temples of the New Kadampa Tradition are referred to as ''Kadampa Buddhist Temples'', and more recently, NKT teachers are named ''Kadampa teachers''. Additionally, the Dharma centres of the New Kadampa Tradition are called ''Kadampa Buddhist Centres''.<ref>Official Kadampa Website at [http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/teachers/], {{cite web |title=Samantabhadra Buddhist Centre – Finding Peace within the City |url=http://www.meditateinbirmingham.org/venerable-geshe-kelsang-gyatso.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218031449/http://www.meditateinbirmingham.org/venerable-geshe-kelsang-gyatso.htm |archive-date=18 December 2006 |access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref>

Bluck says there remains an apparent contradiction between claiming a pure Tibetan lineage and separating completely from contemporary Tibetan tradition. While the NKT strongly emphasises its unbroken "lineage" to the Kadampa tradition, it has no Tibetan followers and claims to stand outside current Tibetan Buddhism.<ref name=Bluck>Bluck, Robert (2006). British Buddhism Teachings, Practice and Development. RoutledgeCurzon, {{ISBN|0-415-39515-1}}</ref>

In 1998, Kelsang Gyatso stated in an interview:

{{blockquote|We are pure Gelugpas. The name Gelugpa doesn't matter, but we believe we are following the pure tradition of Je Tsongkhapa. We are studying and practicing Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings and taking as our example what the ancient Kadampa lamas and geshes did. All the books that I have written are commentaries on Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings. We try our best to follow the example of the ancient Kadampa Tradition and use the name Kadampa to remind people to practice purely.<ref>Lopez Jr., Donald S. "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso discusses Dorje Shugden as a benevolent protector god." ''[[Tricycle Magazine]]'' (Spring 1998, Vol. 7 No. 3).</ref>}}

===Teachers===
[[Image:Tsongkhapa.jpg|right|frame|Je Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa), founder of the [[Gelug]] school, in the fifth vision of Khedrub Jey (Mkhas-'grub)]]
The NKT-IKBU traces its spiritual lineage from [[Shakyamuni]] through [[Tsongkhapa]], [[Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo]], [[Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso]], and [[Kelsang Gyatso]].<ref>"Requests to the Field for Accumulating Merit and the Lamrim Lineage Gurus", ''Essence of Good Fortune'' sadhana, ''Joyful Path of Good Fortune: The Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment''. Ulverston, England: Tharpa Publications. pp. 587–588</ref><ref>"Prayers of Request to the Mahamudra Lineage Gurus", ''Great Liberation'' sadhana, ''Tantric Grounds and Paths: How to Begin, Progress on, and Complete the Vajrayana Path''. London: Tharpa Publications. p. 230</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|pp=140–141}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Kay|2004|pp=46, 57, 90}}</ref> The NKT often compares Kelsang Gyatso to [[Atisa]], as a reformer of Buddhism.{{sfn|Hertog|2018}}

As in other Tibetan traditions, the NKT considers Kelsang Gyatso a [[Buddha]] or enlightened being.{{sfn|Waterhouse|1997|p=187}} According to ''[[Oxford Biographies]]'', Kelsang Gyatso is presented as the third and final Buddha in a sequence beginning with Shakyamuni and Je Tsongkhapa. [[Dorje Shugden]] is considered the protector of this lineage.{{sfn|Sparham|2020}} David Kay has criticised the exclusivity of Kelsang Gyato's teachings and his emphasis on the purity of lineage, saying: "The NKT presented his books as the emanations of the mind of a Buddha."{{sfn|Hertog|2018}}

====Kelsang Gyatso====
{{main|Kelsang Gyatso}}

After leaving Tibet in 1959, Kelsang Gyatso taught and engaged in retreat in India for 18 years.<ref name="Cozort, Daniel 2003 p. 230"/> [[Trijang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso|Trijang Rinpoche]], Kelsang Gyatso's [[Guru#In Buddhism|root guru]], asked him to be the resident teacher at [[Manjushri Institute]] (now known as Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre) in England.<ref>Gyatso, Kelsang. (2000). ''Eight steps to happiness: The Buddhist way of loving kindness. London: Tharpa Publications''. p. 16.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|pp=225, 230}}</ref> Kelsang Gyatso taught the General Programme at Manjushri from 1976 to 1987.{{sfn|Kay|2004|pp=56, 73}}

Beginning in 1987, Kelsang Gyatso entered a 3-year [[Retreat (spiritual)|retreat]] at Tharpaland in [[Dumfries]], Scotland. During his retreat, he wrote five books and established the foundations of the NKT-IKBU.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 130"/> He officially launched the NKT in 1991.<ref>[http://www.kadampa.org/en/centers ''Kadampa Centers'']. NKT-IKBU official website. Retrieved 7 December 2008.</ref>

Kelsang Gyatso died on 17 September 2022. Ten days after his death, he was cremated at Barrow Crematorium, [[Cumbria]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT-IKBU) |url=https://info-buddhism.com/geshe_kelsang_gyatso.html |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=info-buddhism.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Other teachers====

Alongside Kelsang Gyatso, who as founder and former spiritual director was the main teacher of the NKT-IKBU and his successors, all teachings (i.e. the three study programs) are held by Western students—lay persons and ordained alike. Qualification as an NKT-IKBU Dharma teacher is generally achieved by attending the NKT-IKBU's own Teacher Training Programme, which Kelsang Gyatso regarded as "a western equivalent to the traditional Tibetan [[Geshe]] degree", although much compressed.<ref>{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|pp=231–232}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|1997|p=166}}</ref>

Kelsang Gyatso is one of several prominent Tibetan Buddhist gurus to train Westerners in the Dharma.<ref>{{harvnb|Cozort|2003|pp=221–222}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Kay|2004|p=95}}</ref> Kelsang Gyatso explained the importance of Western Dharma teachers to the flourishing of Dharma in the world, saying that one fully qualified teacher is worth a thousand enlightened students.<ref>{{harvnb|Waterhouse|2001|p=142}}</ref> The training programme may include a period of correspondence learning, with an intensive in-person programme each summer at Coniston Priory.<ref name="Bluck, R. 2006 p. 146"/><ref name="Cozort 2003 234"/>

Training and leadership roles are offered to lay members as well as ordained members, which Kelsang Gyatso saw as a necessary adaptation from the practices of Tsongkhapa, who restricted tantric teachings to monastics.<ref>{{harvnb|Kay|2004|p=85}}{{pb}}{{harvnb|Bluck|2006|p=146}}</ref> Kelsang Gyatso said that monks, nuns, and lay people can all become spiritual guides if they have the necessary experience, qualities and training.<ref>Kelsang Gyatso. (1992). ''Great treasury of merit: How to rely upon a spiritual guide''. Ulverston, U.K.: Tharpa Publications. p. 1.</ref>

In addition to the TTP commitment, all Resident Teachers have to attend International Teacher Training Program each year, taught in repeated rotation according to a sixteen-year study scheme. Ordained and lay Resident Teachers who have taught successfully for four years are given the titles 'Gen' and 'Kadam', respectively.{{sfn|Bluck|2006|p=146}}