After engaging in the traditional trainings of a monk from a young age in Tibet, Venerable Geshe-la withdrew to remote areas in Tibet and India to engage in meditative retreats.
During these retreats he received many signs and visions in which Je Tsongkhapa appeared to him and clarified all the essential teachings of Sutra and Tantra, and especially the Ganden Oral Lineage.
It was during these retreats that Venerable Geshe-la formed an especially close connection with the people of this world and made a lifelong dedication to helping us find lasting peace and happiness through the teachings of Buddha.
Appearing In The West
On August 27, Venerable Geshe-la accepted an invitation to become the Resident Teacher at the fledgling Manjushri Centre in the UK. His arrival heralded the dawn of Modern Buddhism and a new spirit of hope in this world.
Opening Dharma Centres
Almost immediately, Venerable Geshe-la opened his first Dharma centre in the West, Madhyamaka KMC in the UK. He went on to establish literally hundreds of centers around the world.
Building Temples for World Peace
In 1997, Venerable Geshe-la designed, blessed and opened the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace at Manjushri KMC. Later, he created five other such Temples.
Statues & Art For The Modern World
Venerable Geshe-la oversaw the design, production and finishing of new statues and artwork for all of the new Temples. Here he is welcoming from the foundry the first Buddha statue that he designed for the Temple. Later he established Kadampa Art Studio to provide qualified statues and art for future Temples and centres.
An Ocean of Teachings
Venerable Geshe-la gave literally thousands of teachings at Manjushri KMC and other centres around the world, including Spring, Summer and Fall Festivals. These extraordinary teachings were unique and life-changing for everyone who heard them.
Books & Study Programmes
In total Venerable Geshe-la composed 23 extraordinary books on Buddhism and meditation. Based on these, he developed the three study programs – the General, Foundation and Teacher Training Programs – that are the core of all Kadampa centres around the world. In addition, hundreds of qualified modern Kadampa teachers are arising from the Special and Intensive Teacher Training Programs.
Tantric Empowerments & Practices
Venerable Geshe-la granted many Tantric empowerments and taught all four classes of Tantra. Based on these, Kadampa centres and practitioners around the world now enjoy authentic Tantric books, sadhanas and practices.
Retreats
Having himself spent almost a third of his life in retreat, Venerable Geshe-la always encouraged us to engage in retreat to gain authentic experience of Dharma. For our benefit, in 1987, he entered into a three-year retreat in Tharpaland, Scotland. Later, he inaugurated a number of dedicated retreat centres.
Pujas & Prayers
Thanks to Venerable Geshe-la’s dedication, Kadampa centers around the world now have a complete collection of authentic pujas and prayers in all languages that are the basis of individual and center practices.
Ordained Sangha
Venerable Geshe-la personally ordained hundreds of people as monks and nuns, using a modern presentation of the vows. He established a special tradition that will continue into future generations.
Uncommon Linegae
Venerable Geshe-la was the holder of the uncommon lineage of the Ganden Oral Tradition. He transmitted this lineage through his senior disciples, making it available to everyone in the modern world.
International Community Dedicated to World Peace
The International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global family of fortunate modern Kadampa disciples bound by a common intention to bring peace into our world by developing peace in our minds. This precious union grows year by year, and Venerable Geshe-la’s enduring legacy is the conviction that world peace is really possible through the practice of Kadam Dharma.
Ganden Ling Kadampa Meditation Centre is a member of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU)
We are a Registered Charity in the UK: Charity Number (England) 108517
Our Address: Ganden Ling KMC, 9 St Marys Street, Truro TR1 2AF
