Founder & Spiritual Director
Founder: Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
The founder and inspiration of Akanishta Kadampa Buddhist Centre is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned Buddhist teacher.
Born in Tibet in 1931 and ordained a Buddhist monk at the age of eight, he studied Buddhism deeply at Sera-Je, Ngamring Jampaling and Tashi Lhunpo monasteries under many highly qualified Teachers, in particular Kyabje trijang Rinpoche . After leaving Tibet in 1959, he spent the next eighteen years mainly emphasizing meditation retreat in various locations in the Himalayan region and northern India.
In 1977, at the request of his Root Guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, he accepted an invitation to teach in England at Manjushri Centre, and since then he has worked tirelessly to provide all the conditions Westerners need to enter, make progress on and complete the Buddhist path to peace and happiness.
Geshe-la has written twenty highly-acclaimed books that explain clearly and practically every aspect of Buddha’s teachings. Though these books are based on the ancient texts of great Buddhist Teachers, they are clear and accessible to modern readers and have been translated into numerous languages, giving Western readers access to Buddha’s teachings at whatever level they wish to practice. These books are available through Tharpa Publications. Since the publication of his first book, Venerable Geshe-la has given away 100% of the royalities to charities helping people around the world to benefit from Buddha’s teachings, without receiving a single penny himself.
He has established three unique study programmes for the systematic study and practice of Buddhism, and a network of Kadampa Buddhist Centres and Temples throughout the world dedicated to world peace and happiness.
Many people are inspired by his example of a humble and sincere practitioner dedicated to helping others find happiness from within. His public teachings are attended by people from all over the world because he reveals the entire path to enlightenment from his own experience and through his own example of humility, contentment, compassion and profound wisdom.
Spiritual Director: Gen-la Khyenrab
Our Spiritual Director, Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab, has studied and practised Kadampa Buddhism for almost three decades under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. As one of Venerable Geshe Kelsang’s closest disciples, Gen-la Khyenrab’s humility and kindness exemplify the Buddhist way of life. He is well-loved for his clear, direct and inspiring teachings and gives many courses in the UK and throughout the world.
Gen-la Khyenrab’s other responsibilities include instructing Kadampa Teachers from around the world on the International Teacher Training Program, and granting precepts, ordination and Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments.
Gen-la is also the Resident Teacher at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Cumbria, the mother Centre of the NKT-IKBU.
Upcoming teachings in the UK with Gen-la Khyenrab:
A pure life (Vajrasattva empowerment and commentary to the practice at Manjushri KMC, 20-22 November 2009
NKT-IKBU Spring & Summer Festivals 2010 at Manjushri KMC