What is Buddhism?
The Buddhist way of life of peace, loving kindness and wisdom is just as relevant today as it was in ancient India. Buddha explained that all our problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind, and that all our happiness and good fortune arise from peaceful and positive states of mind.
He taught methods for gradually overcoming our negative minds such as anger, jealousy and ignorance, and developing our positive minds such as love, compassion and wisdom. Through this we will come to experience lasting peace and happiness. These methods work for anyone, in any country, in any age. Once we have gained experience of them for ourselves we can pass them on to others so they too can enjoy the same benefits.
Meditation
Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life. It is basically a method for understanding and working on our own mind. We first learn to identify our different negative mental states known as 'delusions', and learn how to develop peaceful and positive mental states or 'virtuous minds'.
Then in meditation we overcome our delusions by becoming familiar with virtuous minds. Out of meditation we try to maintain the virtuous minds we have developed and use our wisdom to solve the problems of daily life. As our mind becomes more positive our actions become more constructive, and our experience of life becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others.
Anyone can learn basic meditation techniques and experience great benefits, but to progress beyond basic meditation requires faith in the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Usually people find this develops naturally as they experience the benefits of their meditation practice.
The spiritual path
The teachings of Buddha reveal a step by step path to lasting happiness. By following this path anyone can gradually transform his or her mind from its present confused and self-centered state into the blissful mind of a Buddha.
As Geshe Kelsang says in his popular book Eight Steps to Happiness:
Every living being has the potential to become a Buddha, someone who has completely purified his or her mind of all faults and limitations and has brought all good qualities to perfection. Our mind is like a cloudy sky, in essence clear and pure but overcast by the clouds of delusions.
Just as the thickest clouds eventually disperse, so too even the heaviest delusions can be removed from our mind. Delusions such as hatred, greed, and ignorance are not an intrinsic part of the mind. If we apply the appropriate methods they can be completely eliminated, and we shall experience the supreme happiness of full enlightenment.
Having attained enlightenment we shall have all the necessary qualities - universal love and compassion, omniscient wisdom and boundless spiritual power - to lead all living beings to the same exalted state. This is the ultimate aim of Mahayana Buddhism.
To find out more about basic Buddhism, read Introduction to Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Buddhism Today
With the fast pace and high stress of modern life many people are becoming interested in the peaceful philosophy of Buddhism. In particular there is a very deep interest in learning how to meditate, both to overcome stress and anxiety, and to deepen one's spiritual experience. In response to this growing interest Kadampa Buddhism offers many different ways of learning about Buddhism and practicing meditation.
Kadampa Buddhism was first introduced to the West in 1977 by the renowned Kadampa Buddhist Master, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatsowhen he moved to and started teaching at Manjushri Centre. Since then he has worked tirelessly to provide all the conditions necessary to support contemporary practitioners. He has written nineteen authentic books on Buddhism that are now being translated into many different languages.
A worldwide network
From his home at Manjushri Centre, Geshe Kelsang has established over 800 Kadampa Buddhist centers and study groups in many countries around the world where people of all cultures can train in meditation and other Buddhist practices.
These centers all have qualified local teachers and offer introductory classes, structured study Programmes, and meditation retreats . All Kadampa Buddhist Centers are open to the public.
Every year Kadampa Buddhists from around the world gather for meditation festivals where they receive special teachings and empowerments and enjoy a spiritual holiday. The principal Spring and Summer Festivals are held at Manjushri Centre, other festivals occur worldwide. In Australia there is the Australian Dharma Celebration and the Australasian Dharma Festival.
Visit www.kadampa.org to find our more about Kadampa Buddhism and it's development in the modern world.