What books are recommended by Kadampa centres?
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of modern Kadampa Buddhism, has written a remarkable series of 23 books that present Buddha’s teachings in a clear, accessible, and practical way. These books are recommended by Kadampa centers worldwide and cover everything from introductory topics for beginners, to instructions on profound aspects of meditation not found anywhere else.
Modern Buddhism: The Path of Compassion and Wisdom
A comprehensive overview of Buddha’s Sutra and Tantra teachings. Perfectly suited for inspiring those seeking solutions within Buddhism to problems of everyday life, as well as for encouraging practitioners of all faiths to deepen their understanding and practice of the spiritual path. Available as a free download
How to Transform Your Life
A practical manual for daily life that shows how we can develop and maintain inner peace, solve our problems and bring about positive changes in our lives that will enable us to experience deep and lasting happiness. Available as a free download
The New Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness
Based on the famous Eight Verses of Training the Mind, this inspiring book reveals essential methods for transforming all life’s difficulties into valuable spiritual insights and for developing universal love and compassion, the source of true happiness for both self and others.
How to Solve Our Human Problems
A scientific exploration of the causes and solutions to our daily problems and difficulties, in particular those caused by anger. It shows how to use Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths to change our world by changing our mind.
Joyful Path of Good Fortune
A comprehensive and detailed explanation of the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment teaching us what we need to understand and practice at each stage of our spiritual journey.
The New Meditation Handbook
A practical guide to 21 daily meditations known as Lamrim–the stages of the path to enlightenment–offering a clear structure for developing a peaceful and meaningful life.
How to Understand the Mind
A unique and practical manual that reveals the depth and profundity of the Buddhist understanding of the mind. This book shows how an understanding of the nature and functions of our mind can be used practically in everyday experience to improve our lives.
The New Heart of Wisdom: An Explanation of the Heart Sutra
By revealing the profound meaning of the very heart of Buddha’s teachings–the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras–this book shows how we can attain pure, lasting happiness by developing a special wisdom realizing emptiness that is associated with compassion for all living beings.
These and other books are available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats through Tharpa Publications and are also stocked in Kadampa center bookshops. Whether you’re looking for practical life advice, guided meditations, or deep philosophical insight, there’s something to support every stage of spiritual development.
What should I expect when I visit a New Kadampa Buddhist centre?
When you visit a New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) Buddhist center, you can expect a peaceful, friendly, and accessible environment designed to support people from all walks of life in learning about and practicing meditation and modern Buddhism.
You’ll be warmly welcomed, whether or not you have any prior experience with Buddhism. You’ll find a diverse mix of people of all ages and backgrounds and you are likely to meet beginners, long-term practitioners, and everyone in between.
Classes are usually structured around simple guided meditations and practical teachings drawn from Buddha’s wisdom. They’re designed to be immediately helpful–giving insight into how to deal with everyday problems and experience more peace of mind. After class, there’s often a chance to ask questions, chat over tea, or browse the bookshop.
Centers typically include a shrine room with images of Buddhas and both chairs and cushions for seating. There’s a calm, respectful atmosphere, but no special clothing or rituals are required–just come as you are.
You might hear about prayer practices, retreats, or opportunities to volunteer, as well as national or international special events, all of which offer ways to deepen your understanding and connect with the community–but there’s never any pressure. People are encouraged to take things at their own pace and find what works for them.
When visiting a New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) Buddhist center, you can expect a welcoming and peaceful environment run by dedicated volunteers and geared towards study, meditation, and the practice of Buddhism.
NKT centers have bookshops that sell books by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, meditation audio resources, Buddhist art, and other materials related to Buddhist practice.
How do I find a New Kadampa centre near me?
You can find a New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) center near you by visiting the official website: kadampa.org/centers
This page allows you to search for Kadampa centers around the world, including Kadampa Temples, Meditation Centers, and local branch classes. You can search by country or region and find links to local websites with information about classes, events, and contact details.
Most centers offer in-person classes and retreats, and many also provide live-streamed or on-demand teachings.
Are there any online classes in the New Kadampa Tradition?
Yes, there are online classes available for those interested in Kadampa Buddhism, offering teachings, inspiration, and support for study and meditation wherever you are.
Your local Kadampa Center should be your first port of call as they offer livestream classes as well as correspondence study programs to their members who are unable to attend in person.
There are also Kadampa teachings released each week as Living Clarity podcasts on all major podcast streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple podcast & Youtube.
International Festivals, National Festivals and Dharma Celebrations are also often made available to join via livestream or on catch up, making it easier than ever to connect with Kadampa teachings from anywhere in the world. These are offered in multiple languages.
These online courses and resources make the teachings of New Kadampa Buddhism accessible to a wide audience including those who are unable to travel or attend in person teachings due to their personal circumstances.
Are there online resources for Kadampa Buddhism?
Yes, there are many online resources available for those interested in New Kadampa Buddhism, offering teachings, inspiration, and support for study and meditation wherever you are.
The official Kadampa Buddhism website provides a wealth of information about the tradition, including teachings, events, news, and guidance on how to start or deepen your practice. There is a daily newsletter, regular podcasts and a meditation app is in development.
Tharpa Publications offers books by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in print, ebook, and audiobook formats, as well as Buddhist art and meditation resources. These texts are central to the study programs offered in Kadampa centers.
There is an official NKT YouTube channel, which shows video teaching clips and many feature videos about events and the tradition. Also a channel broadcasting Modern Buddhism podcasts, which are discussions about people’s experience of practicing Dharma.
Local Kadampa centers offer livestream classes to their members who are unable to attend in person. Many also share content through YouTube or on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
International Festivals and Dharma Celebrations are also often made available to livestream or join on catch up, making it easier than ever to connect with Kadampa teachings from anywhere in the world.
What are the International Kadampa Festivals?
The three International Kadampa Festivals held each year are special spiritual gatherings that offer practitioners of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding and experience of Buddha’s teachings, receive powerful blessings, and connect with the global Kadampa community.
These Festivals are more than just events–they are immersive spiritual experiences that give people the rare opportunity to step back from everyday life and focus deeply on their spiritual development. Run entirely by volunteers, they create a joyful, harmonious environment where everyone is working to improve their mind. Many describe the Festivals as a glimpse of what society could be like if we all practised love, patience, and generosity–a truly inspiring vision of a better world.
These Festivals–Spring, Summer, and Fall–are open to everyone and include:
- Empowerments (blessing ceremonies) to connect with enlightened beings and receive inspiration for our spiritual journey
- Teachings from senior NKT teachers, including the General Spiritual Director
- Guided meditations to help internalize the teachings
- Retreat sessions for quiet reflection
- Time to gather with like-minded people from around the world in a joyful, supportive spiritual environment.
The Spring and Summer Festivals each year are held at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in the United Kingdom. This is the home of the first Kadampa World Peace Temple and the mother center of the tradition. The Fall Festival moves around the world each year, and is often held in other Kadampa World Peace Temples.
These Festivals are important for individual spiritual growth as well as playing a crucial role in maintaining the International Kadampa Buddhist Union. Through practitioners and centres from around the world practicing together, the pure teachings and practices of the New Kadampa Tradition are preserved and disseminated.
How can I stay updated with New Kadampa news and events?
There are several easy ways to stay informed about the latest news, teachings, and events within the New Kadampa Tradition:
Official Website: The Kadampa website is regularly updated with news, event announcements, feature articles, and photo stories from around the world. It’s the best place to follow international developments, festivals, and special programs. You can subscribe to a weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.
Social Media: Follow Kadampa Buddhism on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for inspiring daily content, live updates, teachings, and behind-the-scenes festival footage.
Local Center Websites & Newsletters: Most Kadampa centers have their own websites and email newsletters where they post local class updates, special events, and retreat info. Subscribing is a great way to stay connected with your nearest center.
International Festivals: You can follow details and find registration info for the Spring, Summer, and Fall International Kadampa Festivals through their dedicated site.
Tharpa Publications: Tharpa.com also has a enewsletter and social media presence to stay up to date about new book releases, special editions, and Tharpa products that support your study and practice.
By staying connected through these channels, you can stay informed, inspired, and closely connected to the worldwide Kadampa community
