In Geshe Kelsang's own words:

Under Geshe Kelsang's spiritual direction, Manjushri Institute " became a thriving training and retreat center.

Robert Bluck explained that as a consequence of opening Madhayamaka Centre, Lama Yeshe asked for Geshe Kelsang's resignation, " but his students petitioned him to remain, and a struggle ensued for control of Manjushri Institute, which eventually withdrew from the FPMT.

" Although some FPMT students regarded Geshe Kelsang as a " rogue geshe " as a result of his separation from the FPMT, Bluck suggests an alternative view: " FPMT teachers became increasingly remote, with Geshe Kelsang's single-minded approach and personal example inspiring many students.

In these programs people can study Geshe Kelsang's books with authorized NKT-IKBU Dharma teachers.

A number of Geshe Kelsang's textbooks have received favourable reviews.

" Batchelor says that Geshe Kelsang's books are written with " considerable clarity.

Biography Research Guide describes Geshe Kelsang's books:

Over a million copies of Geshe Kelsang's books have been sold, and " their popularity is increasing as more people become interested in the teaching of Buddhism.

" Geshe Kelsang's " conservative and traditional presentation of Buddhism " is appealing to Westerners who " wish for a meaningful alternative to spiritual pluralism.

One of Geshe Kelsang's teachers, the highly respected Lharampa Geshe Zong Rinpoche, affirms Geshe Kelsang's view on the importance of lineage:

Also, Geshe Kelsang's students made revisions to the list of Mahamudra lineage gurus in the second edition of Clear Light of Bliss published in 1992.

'" Their letter of expulsion stated that Geshe Kelsang's outspoken criticism against the Dalai Lama's ban of the practice of Dorje Shugden was not acceptable.

The New Kadampa Tradition " offers standard Gelugpa teachings based on Geshe Kelsang's books, which present a systematic path to enlightenment.

Both David Kay and Daniel Cozort describe the management committee of Manjushri Institute from 1981 onwards as made up principally of Geshe Kelsang's closest students, also known as " the Priory Group ".

The courses offered by both Geshes complemented each other, but as Kay remarked, they " differed in one important respect: only Geshe Kelsang's General Programme included courses on Tantric Buddhism, and attendance upon these required the reception of a Tantric empowerment.

" Further, Kay argues that " Lama Yeshe's and Geshe Kelsang's different ideological perspectives provided the conditions for the organisational dispute between the Institute and the FPMT to escalate.

During Geshe Kelsang's period of retreat he wrote some of his books and worked out the foundations of the NKT.

In 1978 Trijang Rinpoche wrote a prayer for Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's long life that is regularly recited at New Kadampa Tradition Centres.

Geshe Kelsang has repeatedly talked about his complete indebtedness to and reliance upon his Spiritual Guide, describing him as more important than his life.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's " Spiritual Father " was the great Gelugpa Master Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang ( 1900-1981 CE ), who was also the " root guru " of the current Dalai Lama.

" In explaining this, Geshe Kelsang said that if the Dalai Lama succeeds in destroying the practice of Dorje Shugden, the entire Gelug tradition itself will be destroyed:

Ngawang Dorjieff, the envoy, was one of the Buryats, a Lamaist people from the trans-Baikal region of Siberia, who had traveled to Tibet as a youth, studied at Drepung Monastery, been awarded the degree of Lharam Geshe, " Master of Metaphysics, and appointed one of the seven Lharam Geshe teachers of the young 13th Dalai Lama.

Hemaloka Thero, Geshe Rabten, the 16th Karmapa, the 14th Dalai Lama, and other eminent representatives from different Buddhist traditions visited the country, gave talks, and attracted dharma students.

Those who have followed the practice of Dorje Shugden most recently in the 20th and 21st centuries include the majority of the most famous Gelug teachers, including Pabongka Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche ( senior tutor of the current, 14th Dalai Lama ), Trijang Rinpoche ( junior tutor of the Dalai Lama ), Zong Rinpoche, Gangchen Rinpoche, Gonsar Rinpoche, Dagom Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Lama Zopa, Kundeling Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, and Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche.

Pro-Dorje Shugden Lamas such as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso have asked the Dalai Lama to present valid reasons supporting his claims and, in the absence of any response, have continued to engage in the practice.

Among those who practised Shugden in the Gelug school were not only the Dalai Lama but also Geshe Rabten, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe ( founder of the FPMT ), Geshe Kelsang Gyatso ( founder of the NKT ) and Tomo Geshe Rinpoche.

As part of the Dalai Lama's visit to Miami University, Geshe Kalsang Damdul and Geshe Jampel Kakpa, of Dharamsala, India, turned two pages of the book as honorary guests.

According to researcher David N. Kay, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was invited in 1976 by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who sought the advice of HH the 14th Dalai Lama when choosing Geshe Kelsang.

In 1979 Lama Yeshe installed another Geshe at Manjushri Institute, Geshe Jampa Tekchok, to teach a parallel twelve-year Geshe Studies Programme, which was recognized and validated by the Dalai Lama and which was modeled on the traditional Geshe degree.

" The pictures of the Dalai Lama were removed from the gompas and shrines of Geshe Kelsang's centres.

Geshe Kelsang uses the terms New Kadampa and Gelugpa synonymously, in accordance with his lineage gurus as well as the current Dalai Lama, who explained: " So we call the teachings of both Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa the Kadampa tradition, and then slowly this becomes the New Kadampa and then finally it is known as the Gelugpa.

Govinda had begun his explorations of Buddhism in the Theravada tradition, studying briefly under the German-born bhikkhu, Nyanatiloka Mahathera ( who gave him the name Govinda ), but after meeting the Gelug Lama, Tomo Geshe Rinpoche, in 1931, he turned towards Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan lamas such as the Karmapa ( Rangjung Rigpe Dorje ), Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Geshe Wangyal, Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Dezhung Rinpoche, Sermey Khensur Lobsang Tharchin, Tarthang Tulku, Lama Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche all established teaching centers in the West from the 1970s.

In 1976, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso was invited by Lama Thubten Yeshe via their spiritual guide, Trijang Rinpoche, to become the resident teacher at the main FPMT center in England.

Contemporaries at Sera Je included Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Geshe Rabten, and Lama Thubten Yeshe.

* Geshe Ngawang Tashi Bapu, popularly known as Lama Tashi, Grammy Awards Nominee of the Traditional World Music category in 2006.

In April 1931 Govinda went to All-India Buddhist Conference in Darjeeling as the representative of the IBU, to propagate the “ pure Buddhist teaching as preserved in Ceylon, in a country where it had degenerated into a system of demon worship and fantastic forms of belief .” However, in nearby Sikkim he met the Tibetan Gelugpa meditation teacher Tomo Geshe Rimpoche alias Lama Ngawang Kalzang ( 1866 – 1936 ), who greatly impressed him and completely changed his views about Tibetan Buddhism.

Numerous envoys including Geshe Sherab Gyatso and the Panchen Lama went to negotiate.

The distancing of Geshe Kelsang from the Tibetan hierarchy has also been underlined by a number of revisions made to later editions of his earlier publications.

The Three Noble Brothers are: Geshe Potowa ( Potowa Rinchen Sal ), Geshe Chenngawa ( Chengawa Tsultrim Bar ) and Geshe Phuchungwa ( Phuchungwa Shönu Gyaltsen ).

" Braizer echoes this sentiment, saying that Geshe Kelsang writes " excellent " books that are " an important contribution to Western understanding of Buddhism and its traditions.

The editors are to be commended for their skilful efforts in conveying Geshe Kelsang ’ s instructions in such simple and precise language ... By making this book available for Vajrayogini practitioners, Geshe Kelsang has truly brought a blessing into our lives.

A Tibetan Buddhist monk and scholar ; Geshe Kelsang has written twenty books that aim to provide Western Dharma practitioners with essential Buddhist texts ; some are books for beginners such as Transform Your Life and How to Solve Our Human Problems, books about the Mahayana path like Universal Compassion ( Lojong ), and books on Vajrayana ( Tantra ) like Mahamudra Tantra ; ( born 1931, in Tibet ).

There are currently 700 monks and nuns within the New Kadampa Tradition, all ordained by Geshe Kelsang.

Tibetan Buddhist monks from a monastery in Bhutan, led by Lama Norbu ( Ruocheng Ying ), are searching for a child who is the rebirth of a great Buddhist teacher, Lama Dorje ( Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen ).

The NKT-IKBU's teachings are based exclusively on the teachings and published works of Geshe Kelsang, which in turn are commentaries on Gelug works, especially those of its founder Je Tsongkhapa's texts.

Giving an overview of the purpose of the programs, the NKT-IKBU says: " Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has designed three special Study Programs for the systematic study and practice of Kadampa Buddhism that are especially suited to the modern world.

According to Geshe Kelsang, " The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras are our Vinaya and Lamrim is its commentary.

Alongside Geshe Kelsang, 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.

According to Robert Bluck, " Most teachers are appointed to centres by Geshe Kelsang before they have completed the Teaching Training Programme and continue studying by correspondence, with an intensive study programme at Manjushri each summer.

is defined as the union of Kadampa Buddhist Centres, the international association of study and meditation centres that follow the pure tradition of Mahayana Buddhism derived from the Buddhist meditators and scholars Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa, introduced into the West by the Buddhist teacher Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union ; and that follow the three New Kadampa Tradition Study Programmes ; and that are guided by the code of moral discipline called The Internal Rules of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union set out in this document.

New Dharma centers are expected to be self-supporting, as neither Geshe Kelsang nor the NKT-IKBU owns the centers.

From an NKT viewpoint, Geshe Kelsang has played a unique role in the transmission of Tsongkhapa's pure teachings, and the organisation and study structures he has created in the West are now believed to protect and preserve a tradition that is all but lost in its indigenous Eastern context.