Frequently Asked Questions about Buddhism,
the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), and other Religious Beliefs
Is Buddhism a religion, and is Buddha the same as God?
Buddhism is a major world religion that emphasizes practical philosophy, psychology, and a compassionate way of life. While belief in God is widespread, most people lack a clear understanding of the nature of God. Because of this, the Buddhist tradition does not refer to 'God' as such, but focuses on how to create greater and greater inner peace and compassion. The ultimate result of this development is the attainment of enlightenment, or Buddhahood. Ultimately, all living beings can become Buddhas by cultivating a mind of faith and love, and practicing moral discipline, concentration, and wisdom. Buddhism is the world's third oldest and fourth largest major religion—a 2600-year-old tradition of teachings and practices. At least 400 million human beings are presently following the Buddhist path, keeping compassion and wisdom as their motivating force.
What relevance does Buddhism have to my life?
Although Buddhism first appeared in India over two and a half thousand years ago, it has a timeless and universal relevance. In a nutshell, Buddha explained that all our problems arise from confused and negative states of mind. He taught methods for ridding the mind of these destructive states and thereby realizing true happiness and fulfillment. These methods work for any mind, in any country, in any age.
Is the NKT part of Tibetan Buddhism?
No. The New Kadampa Tradition is a global Buddhism. Just as the Tibetans faithfully adopted the practices taught to them by the great Indian masters and adapted it to their own culture, so Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso encourages people from all ethnic backgrounds to adopt the wisdom and compassion of Buddha and put it into practice in a way that suits their particular culture.
Do Buddhists meditate on "nothingness," or "emptiness"? What good is that?
There is a great deal of popular confusion about those two concepts. Buddhists do not meditate on nothingness. Instead, our studies include contemplating ultimate and conventional truths. The study of conventional truths helps us deal with our day-to-day experiences and problems in such a way that we transform our mind into greater peace and happiness. Through gaining wisdom by listening to teachings on emptiness and meditating on the lack of inherent existence of all phenomena, we can ultimately eliminate all our suffering and transform our mind into the mind of a fully enlightened Buddha.
Who is Geshe Kelsang Gyatso?
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the founder and Spiritual Director of Kadampa Buddhism He has accomplished a full understanding and experience of all Buddha's teachings, such that he now possesses the qualities of an enlightened being himself-including perfect compassion, wisdom, and skill. We honor and cherish him because he teaches us how to attain all of the spiritual realizations that he now possesses. From the age of 8, Geshe-la (a term of endearment) studied at the great monastic universities of Tibet, earning the title of "Geshe," which means "Spiritual Friend." Under the guidance of the famous Tibetan Lama Trijang Rinpoche, his Spiritual Guide, he spent the next 18 years in meditative retreat in the Himalayas. He rose to prominence through his mastery of the Kadampa tradition and his compassionate healing acts. In 1976, he was invited to teach in England. For over 25 years, he has worked tirelessly to bring these precious teachings to the West, including setting up more than 800 Centers, designing 3 special study programs (the General Program, Foundation Program, and Teacher Training Program), writing 19 highly acclaimed books, training Buddhist teachers from a variety of cultures, and building Temples dedicated to world peace. He currently resides in England, living humbly and guiding and inspiring many thousands of students worldwide.
Sutra and Tantra, what's the difference?
Sutra teachings are all those teachings of the Buddha that are open to everyone to practice without the need for spiritual blessings called an empowerment. Tantra teachings and practice require an empowerment from a qualified teacher called a Vajra Master and are known as "the quick path to enlightenment". (Rest assured that, despite many misunderstandings in the West, Buddhist Tantra has nothing to do with adult encounter groups, etc!)