Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, or Geshe-la, as he is affectionately called, is the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) and the Spiritual Guide of many thousands of Kadampa Buddhists throughout the world. He was born in Tibet in 1931 and ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of eight. He spent the next 20 years receiving the traditional monastic training. Later, following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, he travelled to India and Nepal where he engaged in extensive meditation retreats under the guidance of such great Buddhist masters as as his Spiritual Guide, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. During this time he took to heart the very essence of the teachings he had received, having completed the formalities necessary to earn the title of 'Geshe', meaning 'virtuous friend' in tibetan.

In 1977 he was requested by his Spiritual Guide, Trijang Rinpoche, to become the resident teacher of Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso teaching at a festival in Berlin in 2005

Since then Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has worked tirelessly to cause the teachings of Buddha to flourish throughout the world. To this end he founded the NKT-IKBU and has established over 1100 Buddhist Centres and branches in over 40 countries.

Geshe Kelsang has written 20 highly acclaimed books on Buddhism, and established three special study programmes including a retreat programme. All centres run one or more of these programmes. He has trained hundreds of teachers and granted ordination to many hundreds of monks and nuns.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple in the USA

Venerable Geshe-la has inspired the organisation of Buddhist Festivals and Celebrations which are held every year in many countries throughout the world. He has also founded a project with the vision to build a Buddhist temple in every major city in the world.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's sincere and humble example of kindness, compassion and wisdom - and the great results flowing from those inner qulaities - is a source of great inspiration. He is an extraordinary living example of the benefits of practising Buddha's teachings.