History of the NKT-IKBU
Kadampa Buddhism was first introduced into the West in 1977 by the renowned Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso when he arrived in England.
Based at Manjushri Centre in Cumbria, he worked tirelessly first giving extensive teachings and commentaries which later formed the basis for the 20 books that have now been published by Tharpa Publications.
The late 1970s saw the first Kadampa Buddhist Centres being established with qualified teachers being drawn from the students of Geshe Kelsang.
Since that time he has overseen more than 1,000 centres and classes being established in more than 40 countries around the world, with more than 40 residential centres in the UK alone.
The late 1990s saw the opening of the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace being opened at Manjushri Centre, the first of many to be built and opened around the world. Geshe Kelsang has a vision of there being a Kadampa Temple for World Peace in every major city in the world - providing the focal point for the development of peace within the minds of everyone, the basis for world peace.
Ashoka Centre, as with every other centre in the world, is under the spiritual guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang, and is a member of the New Kadampa tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union.
Tel: 01752 224137