About Buddhism
Reduce Stress
Experience a calm mind and reduce mental tension and anxiety.
Find Inner Peace
Improve your sense of well-being and experience real happiness.
Benefit Others
Develop a positive outlook and caring attitude to others.
Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.
- Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is the study and practice of Buddha's Teachings, which are methods to be happy and abandon suffering. All living beings have the same basic wish - to be happy and avoid suffering, but very few people understand the real causes of happiness and suffering.
We generally believe that external conditions such as food, friends, cars, and money are the real causes of happiness, and, as a result, we devote nearly all our time and energy to acquiring them. Superficially, it seems that these external things can make us happy, but if we look more deeply, we shall see that they also bring us a lot of suffering and problems. They are not the real cause of our happiness.
Buddha explained that, in reality, happiness arises from peaceful and positive states of mind, whereas problems and suffering arise from confused and negative states of mind. He taught methods for gradually overcoming minds such as anger, jealousy and ignorance, and developing positive minds such as love, compassion and wisdom. Through this we can come to experience lasting peace and happiness.
What is modern Kadampa Buddhism?
Modern Kadampa Buddhism is a special, practical presentation of Buddha’s teachings that is particularly suited to the modern day. It was introduced into contemporary society by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
This new presentation faithfully preserves the original meanings of the lineage of Kadampa Buddhism all the way back to Buddha himself, while presenting them in a clear and systematic way that anyone of any age, gender or culture can easily understand and put into practice.
Above all it is an international presentation open to everyone, not anchored in any specific country or culture. Buddha’s teachings work for anyone, in any country and of any culture, age, gender, etc. The Buddhist way of life – peace, loving kindness and wisdom – is just as relevant today as it was when Buddha appeared in ancient India.
Everyone can benefit from Buddha’s teachings.
Everyone can benefit from Buddha’s teachings because they offer real solutions to the everyday problems of modern living and give practical methods to cultivate the happiness we all want. They are like personal advice that are suitable to everyone, Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Temporarily, they are methods to improve the quality of our life. Ultimately, they aim at purifying our mind completely so that we can become the best version of ourselves - a person who is happy all the time and who make other people happy too.
If you're interested to find out more, why not simply drop in in one of our weekly classes, courses or workshops. These cover a wide range of different practical, profound and inspiring topics.
Start reading on Buddhism today.
Can’t come to a class this week?
Start reading on Modern Buddhism today from the confort of your home, by downloading one of the two FREE ebooks by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
How to Transform Your Life - a Blissful Journey
Modern Buddhism - The Path of Compassion & Wisdom
As you progress in your reading, deepen your understanding by attending one of our weekly classes.
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.
- Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
I've been to five workshops at this centre over the last year and it's completely revolutionized my meditation practice. I'm super grateful to have stumbled across them and recommend them every chance I get. Thanks!
— Andrew
Every time I join a workshop, I go home with valuable lessons that I can live by in daily life. The teachings are logical and cleaned my negativity significantly.
— Sara
I apply many of the teachings in everything I do in my daily life and I can say I am a much happier person and lead a much lighter life. This is my personal experience. I hope that if you get a chance to try them out they’ll be helpful in some way to you as well.
— Bianca
