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Kadampa Buddhism

The New Kadampa Tradition is a special Kadampa tradition of Mahayana Buddhism founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Although established as a distinct tradition in 1991, the New Kadampa Tradition arose, as with all Buddhist traditions, from the teachings, example, and blessings of Buddha Shakyamuni.  
 
These were then transmitted through a lineage of realized Buddhist Masters, including the Indian Buddhist Master Atisha, the founder of the Old Kadampa Tradition, and the Tibetan Buddhist Masters, Je Tsongkhapa and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the root Spiritual Guide, or Guru, of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. 

 

Three Special Spiritual Programmes

General Programme
The General Programme provides a basic introduction to Buddhist teachings and meditation that is suitable for beginners. Through these classes we can learn how to use Buddha's advice in our daily lives to solve our problems and find the peace and happiness we seek. General Programme also includes advanced teachings and practices from both Sutra and Tantra. Classes are held at locations throughout Dublin and also in Waterford, Galway and Bray. Click here to find out details. You can also call us on 01 707 8809 or email us.

Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme is for those who wish to deepen their understanding and experience of Buddhism by engaging in the systematic study of five essential Buddhist texts.

Joyful Path of Good Fortune - a commentary to Atisha's Lamrim instructions, the stages of the path to enlightenment.
Universal Compassion - a commentary to Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points.
Heart of Wisdom - a commentary to the Heart Sutra
Meaningful to Behold - a commentary to Venerable Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.
Understanding the Mind - a detailed explanation of the mind based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga.

The benefits of studying and practicing these texts are as follows:

Joyful Path of Good Fortune - we gain the ability to put all Buddha's teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment. From a practical point of view, Lamrim is the main body of Buddha's teachings, and the other teachings are like its limbs.
Universal Compassion - we gain the ability to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.
Heart of Wisdom - we gain a realization of the ultimate nature of reality. By gaining this realization we can eliminate the ignorance of self-grasping, which is the root of all our suffering.
Meaningful to Behold - we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva's way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.
Understanding the Mind - we understand the relationship between our mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind, we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually we shall gain the ability to control our mind and in this way solve all our problems.

Students sign up to study one book at a time.

Tara Centre currently runs Foundation Programme on Monday from 18.30 to 22.00 and in Galway on Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00. Please feel free to call us on 01 707 8809 or email us if you wish to find out more.

Teacher Training Programme
The Teacher Training Programme is designed for those who wish to become qualified teachers of Kadampa Buddhism. It involves the study of twelve of Geshe Kelsang's books, covering both Sutra and Tantra teachings. Students of TTP are also required to observe certain commitments with regard to behavior and way of life, and to complete a number of mediation retreats.