Give me a dollar for the number of times I’ve been asked in the last ten or so years, “Is there an app for that?” And the answer’s always been a sad something along the lines of, “Ermm, no, I know it would be so nice, but we haven’t gotten around to that yet.”
Until now, that is. Now I can say, “Yes, there is! And it’s really great. And totally free.”
The New Kadampa Tradition now has a meditation app, and it’s actually pretty awesome. I could add, “About time!”; but instead I’m thinking that now is in fact a great time for this particular app to appear. For one thing, the world needs it more than ever. And for another, it includes all the podcasts that didn’t exist even a year ago, and that have been helping modern Buddhism and meditation to enter the mainstream.
The Modern Buddhism app is already #5 on apps for Buddhism, up from #9 last week.
In an ideal world, we will have memorized all the books and be proficient enough meditators to need no more guidance. Something to aim for, but in the meantime we can now carry a little Dharma with us wherever we take our phones – something to help us calm our minds, lift our hearts, or instill some wisdom into even the busiest, most tiresome, or most awful days. This Modern Buddhism app has made this beautifully easy, not to mention
free. It has a simple, uncluttered interface. It brings together a lot of what we need for a meaningful daily practice: guided meditations, inspiring podcasts, and complete eBooks by Venerable Geshe-la. No subscriptions. No ads. Just Dharma. A friend said this about it to his friends on Facebook:
💬 During these crazy, cruel, and stupid times it’s been very hard to stay positive and hopeful. Some of you know I’ve been a Buddhist for many years and, I can tell you, I think I would’ve gone totally doo-lally without meditation and Buddhist teachings in my life.
These are now available in a completely free app. I’ve had a flick through and it is beautiful, easy to use and a very clear presentation of a very tried and tested tradition. And you don’t need to sign into anything. Completely no-strings. That in itself is refreshing.
If you’re struggling or feeling unpeaceful, or have been wondering about trying meditation, have a flick through. There will be something there that will help, I’m sure. It’s called Modern Buddhism and is in both App & Google stores. May we all be happy and free.
You don’t really need to read the rest of this article, just stop here and get the app. But I’ll continue anyways, you know me.
🧘♂️ New Kadampa Tradition website
📱 App Store (iPhone/iPad)
🤖 Google Play (Android)
What’s inside
🧘♀️ Guided Meditations – Short, clear sessions led by Kadampa teachers. These are great for beginners or anyone wanting to refresh their practice. Even just five minutes of breathing meditation can re-set our day.
🎧 Wisdom Podcasts – Tune into the Modern Buddhism Podcast or Living Clarity Podcast for down-to-earth conversations on topics such as happiness, acceptance, overcoming anxiety, dealing with death, or compassion. Ideal for the morning commute, daily stroll, or evening wind-down.
📚 Free eBooks – Read (or listen to) complete books such as How to Transform Your Life and Modern Buddhism. These are Venerable Geshe Kelsang’s timeless Buddhist teachings on finding lasting happiness, reimagined for our modern world.
🌍 Find a Center – Want to find community? The app connects you to your nearest Kadampa Buddhist Center so you can join classes and retreats or meet like-minded practitioners.
And, very handy – everything is available offline, so you can take your Dharma anywhere, airplane mode included.
Another modern way to live Buddhism
In a world full of distractions, it’s helpful to find an app that’s not trying to sell us something or pull us into more scrolling and swiping. Instead, the Modern Buddhism app helps us pause, breathe, relax, and reconnect with our kind, peaceful nature. This app feels like a gentle nudge back to sanity.
It’s also rooted in an authentic lineage, giving the teachings real depth. We’re not just meditating for stress relief, but training our minds in wisdom and compassion, the very essence of Buddha’s teachings. As it says on the back of the book Modern Buddhism:
Modern Buddhism is a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom that communicates their essence in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.
I would say that this app has made a good start in capturing that essence of Kadampa Buddhism – modern yet authentic, practical yet profound, totally do-able. It is helping to bring ancient wisdom right into our daily lives via our pockets.
A few tips
If you’re new to meditation, here are some ideas for making the most of this app:
🌞 Start small. Try a short breathing meditation each morning – you’ll be pleased how different your day feels.
🎧 Listen on the go. Turn your commute or chores into spiritual time by playing a podcast episode.
📖 Read before bed. Replace doomscrolling with a few pages of How to Transform Your Life – your dreams will thank you.
🕊️ Connect locally. Use the Center Finder to discover classes near you. Meditation practice is even more powerful when shared in community.
What users have been saying so far
🧘♂️ “Free guided meditations to strengthen or begin a mindfulness practice in these stressful times.”
Users love that it offers quick, accessible sessions that calm the mind and reduce stress.
📲 “Meditate anywhere, anytime!”
People appreciate how convenient it is to bring meditation into their day – even during commutes or breaks.
💛 “Such a great resource.”
Many express gratitude for having so much high-quality, tradition-based content freely available, with no ads or subscriptions.
🌊 “So easy to meditate on the seafront now!”
The offline access and simple interface make it perfect for spontaneous moments of peace, wherever you are.
📚 “Lots of great short guided meditations … easy to install.”
Users praise the app’s simplicity and the variety of short meditations, podcasts, and eBooks.
🙏 “Inspired by the profound teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.”
Reviewers appreciate its authenticity and clear connection to traditional Kadampa teachings, presented in a modern, practical way.
In short, users describe it as “a wonderful and practical meditation app” – one that makes ancient wisdom simple, joyful, and readily accessible. 💫
So, to conclude, I think this app has been worth the wait. I also look forward to seeing how it evolves and develops over time.
Try it out
The Modern Buddhism app is available here:
🧘♂️ New Kadampa Tradition website.
📱 App Store (iPhone/iPad)
🎧 Google Play (Android)
4 Comments
Thanks, Luna Kadampa, I read the first paragraph and went straight to download the app. It’s really well done, I’m so impressed! I’ve been practicing in the Kadampa tradition for decades but the last few years have been an embarrassment of riches in terms of the free book downloads and now this app. I am so grateful to Geshe Kelsang and everyone who works on these special projects.
An excellent resource, with a fresh and clean feel, there is something for everyone, be it books or podcasts.
In time I hope the meditations will include more of Buddha’s unique wisdom from the mind-training teachings, such as taking and giving.
I always look forward to the weekly Living Clarity podcast, I have listened to particular podcasts that resonate over and over again. Seems that the Modern Buddhism podcasts have paused for now, they’re also amazing and I shall look out to see if they will be restarting.
Thanks to all the teachers and tech teams who make all this available for us.
Thank you for spreading the good news! I had no idea this app existed.
🙂