Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not addressed here, please ask a teacher or an experienced member of the Sangha.
I’m new to any kind of organized religion.
In some ways, Buddhism is not a religion. Buddhist teachings are inclusive and tolerant, and presented more as an applied philosophy, a practical psychology, and an ethical way of life. We have virtually no dogma and invite you to bring your own experience and intellectual capacity to bear on any teaching. It is okay if you don’t have a mala (prayer beads), say the prayers, do prostrations, or agree with everything. You are invited to ask as many questions as you want. A questioning mind is very helpful for making progress in Buddhist meditation.
I’m experienced in other religions.
You are cherished and valued here. We respect your path and hope our teachings can aid you on your journey. We don’t evangelize but have been known to debate, we don’t preach but offer a very authentic, practical, and westernized version of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings. We don’t have ministers, deacons, or priests, but we do have different types of teachers: lay and ordained, male and female. Our “Sangha” is like any sincere spiritual community, not perfect but getting better all the time.
I am experienced in meditation.
We welcome you. Your familiarity with and enthusiasm for meditation will fit in with our tradition. Feel free to sit in your normal meditation position. Your previous experience can help you in many aspects of the Kadampa path. It is worth remembering, however, that all Buddhist masters advise us that once we have chosen our path it is wise to follow it, or we run the real danger of our understanding remaining theoretical and superficial. Each path is a complete method in itself and does not need to be mixed up or diluted. Should you chose the Kadampa path as your own, that is wonderful. Should you chose another path, follow it whole-heartedly and we wish you well.
I am completely new to meditation.
Welcome to a time-honored and fully integrated mind/body philosophy and meditation system that, if done systematically, correctly, and with the desire to help other people, creates a permanently happy, compassionate, wise, and healthy person. It is not easy to find other complete spiritual paths to enlightenment, such as this one, in the West. Study the teachings and do the practices and you wil soon realize how lucky you are.
I’m not a Buddhist but I like it here.
You don’t have to be a Buddhist to come here. Most members of the Sangha didn’t start out considering themselves Buddhists. Like you, we began to notice that the meditation practices seem to solve our daily problems and bring us a greater measure of inner peace. Each week, we have different classes for varying degrees of commitment. Do what’s right for you and we will do all our best to be of benefit to you no matter how “Buddhist” or not you are.
What about the prayers, prostrations, and other rituals?
We use the practices of prayers, prostrations, and other rituals, for example, during pujas, to help us purify our mind, increase our merit, and receive inspiration from enlightened beings—all with the purpose of quickly transforming our mind. Some of the most sacred and ancient prayers and mantras have been retained in their original Tibetan or Sanskrit, but most of the prayers have been translated under the guidance of Geshe-la into our own language. The prostrations are a way of showing humility, gratitude, and respect for the teachings. Decide for yourself whether or not you wish to memorize the prayers, and join us in prostrations or any other ritual.
I can’t seem to do the meditations … what do I do?
Geshe-la says “Try, don’t worry!” Keep a light and happy mind, make steady effort, and you will find that your concentration naturally improves. Geshe-la also suggests that we can improve our meditation by using mindfulness in our daily life—remembering to keep a positive mind by relying upon the teachings, and to practice moral discipline. You are in the right place. We will do our best to answer your questions if you have them and lift your concerns if you voice them. Your confusion will clear if you take the time to deeply and thoroughly contemplate each aspect of the teachings and put them into joyful and consistent practice in your life.
What are the economics of the Center and the Sangha?
Each NKT Center is an independent, non-profit entity, receiving no financial support from the tradition’s leadership or any other government or corporate entity. We sustain the running of the Center, the offering of all Dharma activities, and the living expenses of our principal teachers through your class fees and that can help us with our spiritual practice.
Why do people put food and flowers on the shrine?
In all Buddhist traditions, offerings are made to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas out of respect and gratitude for their attainments and teachings, with the wish that we gain the same attainments ourselves. The bowls filled with water symbolize the different offering substances, such as perfume and nectar. Flowers add beauty and the food, blessed, is enjoyed by everyone after it has been on the shrine. Please feel free to make offerings—they create merit, or good karma, the cause for swift progress on the spiritual path.
What are the rules here?
There are different types of Buddhist vows and precepts, including refuge vows, monk’s and nun’s vows, Bodhisattva vows, and Tantric vows—all for those with varying levels of personal commitment. Vows are an individual’s sole responsibility and each person voluntarily and privately chooses to take them or not. Nobody will judge you or expect anything from you other than common courtesy and respect. All of the vows serve the purpose of helping us to train our mind. The most important promise a Buddhist makes is the promise never to deliberately harm other living beings. Beyond that, we try to avoid placing our books or prayers on the floor, to remain quiet during meditation, to take off our shoes in the gompa or meditation room, and to stand when the teacher enters—all out of respect for the teachings. Mistakes are part of the path and we all make many of them, it’s the fact that we keep trying to improve that counts.
I feel like I have found a permanent home in Kadampa Buddhism.
It is wonderful that you have found us and we are happy to have you join us. Our tradition has many opportunities to participate in practical ways. Including helping at the Centers with many tasks, contributing financially to ensure our viability and to enable our growth, and studying and practicing enough to become a teacher who can offer the tradition to others. All are of great value. Jump in. Welcome to your new home.
What classes are available and where should I start?
Our General Program classes (check our monthly calendars) are open to everyone. There is a simple talk, meditation and time for questions. In these classes you will learn breathing meditation and other forms of practical meditation that you can do at home throughout the week. We also have weekly pujas where we pray and meditate together as a group. You are welcome to attend any of these classes and pujas. For the more committed student, we offer the Foundation Program and Teacher Training Program, including by correspondence. For those with Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment, we offer a Highest Yoga Tantra meditation class.
How often should I meditate and what meditations should I do?
To begin with, getting into the habit of coming regularly once or twice a week to meditation classes will recharge your batteries and make a big difference. Once you feel ready, it is very helpful to engage in these meditations at home on a regular basis—you will soon notice positive effects on your life. Start with breathing meditation until your concentration is stronger , and then gently include the other meditations you have learned. Meditating once a day is recommended, even if it is only for 5, 10, or 15 minutes—this both gives us space and helps us maintain a positive, sane perspective on the rest of the day. If you come to classes regularly, you will know how to incorporate all of the meditations you have learned into a 3 week cycle of 21 meditations called “Lamrim”, or the “stages of the path”. Always feel free to ask the teacher for advice on your individual meditation practice.
What books should I read?
A good book to start off with is Transform Your Life. If you are ready to do the cycle of meditations based on “Lamrim” (see above), you will be well guided by The New Meditation Handbook. Additional commentary to these 21 meditations can be found in Joyful Path of Good Fortune. Browse our bookstore to see what else catches your interest or go to the Tharpa Publications website at www.tharpa.com. And always feel free to ask for advice.
Who is Geshe Kelsang Gyatso?
We do not worship our Spiritual Director, yet we recognize him as having gained 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. 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 the last 30 years he has worked tirelessly to bring these precious teachings to the West, including setting up hundreds of Centers, designing 3 special study programs (the General Program, the Foundation Program, and the Teacher Training Program), writing over twenty highly acclaimed books, and training Western Buddhist teachers. He currently spends his time divided between England and the United states, living humbly and guiding and inspiring many thousands of students.
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 empowerment. Tantra teachings require an empowerment from a Tantric Master, such as Geshe-la, 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!)
How do I get involved?
We love people who are doing their best to put the teachings into practice. Talk to an experienced Sangha member, study a book, do your best on the meditations, practice Dharma in daily life, ask questions, and share your experiences.
I have a specific problem in my life.
You have come to the right place. You have happened upon what is a primary mental and health care system for much of the world. The Kadampa path heals and transforms the mind, granting access to deep relaxation, happiness, and inner peace. Our Sangha is filled with compassionate people who will offer you help through the immediate and effective application of Buddhist wisdom and practice to your specific problem. Ask someone.
What are the facts about Buddhism?
Buddhism is the world’s third oldest and fourth largest religion—a 2500 year old tradition of teachings and practices. Many Westerners first heard about Buddhism from another religion’s partial idea of it, often out of context. It is not a cult. At least a billion human beings are presently following the Buddhist path, keeping compassion and wisdom as their motivating force.
What are all the Deities I hear people mention?
That is a wonderful complex question—enjoy discovering the answer yourself by coming to know them in your own experience. Each Deity, male or female, is the embodiment of an aspect of enlightenment, like a facet of a jewel. Each has specific qualities.
Avalokiteshvara, for example, is the Buddha of Compassion and can help us to actualize our own universal compassion. Je Tsongkhapa is the embodiment of the wisdom of all Buddhas and helps us to increase our own meditative insight. You can find out more about these Buddhas and do the special meditation practices, mantras, and visualizations associated with them by, for example, attending the weekly pujas (see the calendars). Feel free to ask questions about the pictures, the offerings, the objects on the shrine, and so forth.