One of the first things you see if you Google the New Kadampa Tradition is that the three Reddit r/Buddhism moderators are highly critical of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). This is because they believe the NKT is sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party.
They allow people to post as many critical posts against the New Kadampa Tradition as they want to – such as calling us a “cult”, a puppet of the Chinese, and demon worshippers – but with a couple of recent exceptions they won’t allow Kadampa Buddhists to post anything at all on r/Buddhism, including replies or comments to this criticism. (Scroll below for some examples.) One poster did manage to sneak this comment in, in response to a question by a new poster asking if the New Kadampa Tradition is a cult:
I don’t really think that you are going to get the full picture of that question in a subreddit that actively prohibits any positive talking about NKT in the first place.
Why did Reddit r/Buddhism ban the New Kadampa Tradition?
This situation with Reddit r/Buddhism has been going on for years. I for one have not been allowed to post a single comment, let alone Buddhism in Daily Life article, on there in a very long time. Yet the moderators are not interested in discussing this ban with me or any other Kadampas because they are very set on their own agendas. Kadampa Buddhists have simply accepted that Reddit r/Buddhism is hostile to us and that we cannot join in with any Buddhist discussions. It is a shame and a waste because there are many wise and kind Kadampa practitioners with a deep understanding and experience of Buddha’s teachings who could really contribute something helpful to this group if they were allowed to.
This is actually what they displayed on Reddit some years ago when they first issued the ban. There is not a shred of evidence that the NKT was then, is now, or ever has been backed by the Chinese Communist Party, so the ban is completely unjustified:
“Why is content related to the New Kadampa Tradition now banned?
Following recent news confirming conspiracy theories and speculation for years that the NKT is financially backed by the Chinese Communist Party, we are making an executive decision. While we understand that many who participate in NKT-led events are largely unaware of the political drama, we cannot comfortably ignore the substantial amount of evidence uncovered by international journalism that the CCP is not only financially backing the NKT, but actively using the controversy to sow dissent and employing espionage tactics in the Buddhist community.
Our position is the Buddhist religion has an ancient history, and we cannot permit a totalitarian regime to interfere with our legacy, sabotage our traditions, and destroy our institutions.
As such, any content that is directly related to and in support of the NKT will be considered from here on out to be political propaganda for the Chinese Communist Party and swiftly removed. We welcome participants of the NKT to engage in discussions, but please refrain from making comments disparaging the Dalai Lama or relating to Dorje Shugden. An exception to this might be in the case of a newbie asking for information on the controversy–explanatory expositions of what is going on is tolerable; only direct support of the NKT will be viewed as a post with a political agenda and subsequently removed.”
The NKT has not received a penny from the Chinese government, nor had any dealings with them at all. This is a fairly common accusation, including fabricated claims that Reuters found links between Chinese operatives and the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), but it is not true. Not a shred of evidence has been produced in support of this claim. In the Internal Rules it says:
The New Kadampa Tradition shall always be an entirely independent Buddhist tradition and the NKT-IKBU shall have no political affiliations.
The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) has never had, nor ever will have, any political affiliations with the Chinese or Tibetan governments; or any other government for that matter. Mixing religion and politics is the cause of huge problems. It is common for anyone who criticizes the Dalai Lama to be labelled a “Chinese sympathizer” or to be accused of being on the payroll of the Chinese Government, but in the case of the NKT-IKBU this is an entirely false claim. (For an explanation why we criticized the Dalai Lama, see this article: Dalai Lama, please give religious freedom.)
This much I knew already, but there was no talking to the moderators, they didn’t want to know.
And another reason for the r/Buddhism moderators’ censorship became clearer a couple of years ago, when a student from Madhyamaka Centre contacted me to say that he thought he was the reason my blog had been censored in Reddit all those years ago. He had asked the moderators to ban me. This was during a dark time in his life when deep depression had resurfaced, a depression that had nothing to do with Buddhism or the New Kadampa Tradition.
L told me that he was trying to reach out to the moderators or r/Buddhism to explain his situation, to see if they would reinstate me and lift the censorship on the New Kadampa Tradition in general. It does appear that they have removed the extraordinary notice saying that no one in the New Kadampa Tradition is welcome on r/Reddit; so perhaps his reaching out to them has had some effect. But they still don’t allow any Kadampa Buddhists to post, discuss, or comment.
This is what L sent me more recently. Because he still really wants to do something to improve this situation, I am including his words in this article, with a hope and a prayer that the Reddit r/Buddhism moderators change their attitude. L wanted me to include his full name but I will not because the Internet has a long half-life.
I am a Kadampa. I am a very unlikely Buddhist given my personal circumstance and history. I have known despair. I have known hell. These situations have taught me that we are all the same. Surely not from the point of our life’s standing? To which I have to agree. But from the point that we all wish to be happy and we all wish to avoid even the slightest suffering. If any of you have been searching of or the great equaliser – this is it. In the past I blamed my spiritual guide for my problems. I fed on the discontent of those who wished his tradition harm, and I fomented that. It is to my deep shame that I admit this and I wish, naturally, to make things better.
Most of the anti New Kadampa Tradition postings originally on Reddit came from one of my many fake accounts. In fact, you could say I was instrumental in bringing about the NKT ban. I deeply regret that.
In the past there were mistakes made by certain NKT teachers. Our minds are very hard to tame. We have been getting it wrong for countless lifetimes in the past – why should we automatically become saints now that we have the path? And the fact that these same teachers have learned and moved on? Even become shining examples? Well, that is Buddhadharma – the immensely healing balm of these teachings that do so much to soothe our existential conundrum.
Fifteen years ago I was a suicidal wreck with no hope but the asylum. Thanks to an emanation I was introduced to the book Eight Steps to Happiness which transformed my life completely. Now I own my own business and am the happiest of all my friends. I am not a yogi, I am not a saint, but I am a decent practitioner. Now when the world, and we ourselves face so many hardships and uncertainty, I feel myself going in one direction and I see the world going in the direction I want to leave behind. It is only because I have tasted the sweet fruit of Buddha’s teachings that I wish to stand as a warning and an inspiration.
My name is L** and I was instrumental in bringing about the anti New Kadampa Tradition Reddit ban. The NKT saved my life. The teachings saved my life. The Sangha showed me a kindness and example I strive to follow. How can I sit back and let this wrong go unfixed?
Examples of Reddit r/Buddhism posts calling the New Kadampa Tradition a cult, etc
“The NKT is a Chinese government entity that exists with the express purpose of destroying Tibetan Buddhism, as part of facilitating their conquest of Tibet as a whole. They particularly target the Gelug school and it’s head, the Dalai Lama since he is important in maintaining the resistance of ordinary Tibetans to Chinese occupation of Tibet.”
See above. There is not a shred of truth to this.
“The NKT is indeed a cult and they receive funding from the CCP.”
Again, there’s no evidence for either of these claims. For a reply to the cult accusation, see this article: Is the New Kadampa Tradition a cult?
In response to someone asking if the books are ok:
“No, do not read the books, Geshe Kelsang tends towards incorrect views that are subtle, so not recognisable by someone not already familiar with the topic. He is very sectarian, claiming his tradition is the only valid Buddhist tradition and that it must not be mixed with any other buddhist tradition that is not his own.”
Geshe Kelsang’s books are in fact highly acclaimed by masters in all schools of Buddhism. During his life, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso authored 23 books that cover all aspects of Buddhism, providing practical and scholarly guidance on how to enter the path to liberation and enlightenment, how to progress along it, and how to complete it. Some of these books are introductory texts, some are commentaries to major works of past Buddhist masters, some are commentaries on Buddhist philosophy, and some are lucid commentaries to advanced Tantric practices. These books are generally well regarded in the Buddhist world, and also form the basis of the three New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) study programs that are followed by thousands of students worldwide.
Although Geshe Kelsang has been criticized for “breaking away”, and his motivations for opposing the Dalai Lama’s ban of the Dharma Protector have been mistrusted and mischaracterized by some Tibetans and their followers in the West, this was the right thing to do. It has made Dharma more available to people all over the world without any cultural or political requirements. Venerable Geshe-la has all the while not moved even a millimeter away from the lineage of Buddhadharma passed from Buddha Shakyamuni via Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa – all his books are based entirely on their texts. Anyone who reads these books, attends teachings at Kadampa Centers, or practices this Dharma knows this to be the case.
Here’s a relevant comment from a Kadampa left on another website:
My early interest in Buddhism was partly through reading books by the Dalai Lama. I just went to Manjushri Centre in 1996 and had read that the NKT would not allow people who followed the Dalai Lama to join their teachings. So I took a book by the Dalai Lama with me, it had a big picture of him on the front. I briefly met Geshe-la as he was entering the main building and I was holding this book very visibly. Geshe -la greeted me happily – with a beautiful smile, a “hello” And a little wave.. Through the week I was there, with that book, not one negative comment or suggestion was made. This gave me much more confidence that not everything you read is true. It’s a small story, but over time I had many other opportunities to ask questions and understand from my experience that Geshe-la and the New Kadampa Tradition were not against anyone. But I did and do agree that it was right to protest the Dalai Lama’s pronouncements on Dorje Shugden and stand up for the rights of Shugden Buddhists – especially in the Tibetan community, for their freedom to practice this ancient tradition in safety and with respect.
“The ordination of their “monks” and “nuns” is made up, they are not real buddhist monks and nuns.”
The system of ordination in the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) follows Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings on ordination interpreted by Geshe Potowa (1031-1106 CE), and, since this contains the essential meaning of all ordination, it is entirely valid.
As with all Buddhists, NKT practitioners try to practice Buddha’s teachings as they were traditionally transmitted to them without imposing their own interpretation or omitting anything; however, there is a flexibility at NKT Centres around the world to compromise with the norms of society and local culture as necessary to benefit others. One example of this flexibility is the NKT ordination. The ten commitments of NKT ordination provide the flexibility to function in the modern world – such as being able to support oneself by having a job, handling money, and freely meeting with people to help them – but they also provide the necessary restraint from inappropriate actions that Buddha taught in the Sutras to make progress on the spiritual path. The NKT ordination is therefore generally more suited to living in the modern world than the traditional ordination based on the Vinaya.
Here is a comment from one practitioner:
I am saddened to hear that Reddit publishes criticisms without checking on key facts regarding the complaint or the New Kadampa Tradition. My personal experience of the NKT, the people and teachers that I have met and my own journey to improvement in my quality of life has been profound. I started from a position of distrust of organised religions and the social and environmental harms done in the name of religion. Our histories going back into the mists of time is on war, marginalised people, hatred and discrimination all in the name of religion. Gradually my own mental health improved, I believe that I am a kinder person and I know that I am a happier person for finding Buddha’s teachings through the NKT. Geshe Kelsang teaches that we should remain in our normal lives, and learn to have compassion and kindness for others, starting with our family, friends and colleagues.
My own wish for ordination was respected, not expected, nor disrespected. I had many conversations with my teachers and friends both within the NKT and outside about this wish, encouraging me to consider deeply before becoming ordained. I did it in my own time and it has been the most meaningful and profound experience. In the process I have come to respect other faiths more and to understand that these conflicts are driven by much more basic human distress and fears, not religion, but that religion is used as a tool by leaders to justify their actions. I have also made internal peace with my own family coming to understand and have compassion for them, letting go of anger and resentment that caused me harm in the long run. Outer peace comes from inner peace.
“Plus, he is a demon worshipper, and the unholy influence of that entity shows very well by how his students behave, for example towards the Dalai Lama.”
The practice of relying upon the enlightened Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden (to help us increase our Dharma realizations and overcome delusions) was taught extensively by Je Phabongkhapa and Vajradhara Trijang Rinpoche, the greatest Gelug Lamas of the 20th century, the latter being the Dalai Lama’s own root Guru. It was a practice which the majority of Tibetan Buddhists throughout most of the 20th century engaged in, including some of the greatest Lamas to come to the West. To name but a few, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, founders of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT); Geshe Rabten and Gonsar Rinpoche, founders of Rabten Choeling Monastary in Switzerland; Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT).
The Dalai Lama himself engaged in this practice, but later changed his mind and started calling Dorje Shugden practitioners sectarian spirit worshippers who were causing the degeneration of Buddhism into spirit worship and undermining the cause of Free Tibet and his own long life. He formally banned the practice of Dorje Shugden in the Tibetan community through the sanctions of being expelled from one’s monastery (hundreds of monks were expelled), losing one’s job, being deprived of basic social services, being denied access to teachings, being viewed as a national traitor, and facing complete social ostracism. The Dalai Lama’s followers further expanded his denunciation of the practice on a global scale, embarking on international forced signature campaigns and trying to destroy the credibility of all those who spoke out against this ban.
By declaring that Dorje Shugden is a worldly spirit or evil demon, the Dalai Lama was saying that his spiritual lineage Gurus Trijang Rinpoche and Je Phabongkhapa were spirit-worshippers.
There is so much more that can be said in reply to the Reddit r/Buddhism accusations, but hopefully this is enough for this article! You can find more answers to the posts on Reddit r/Buddhism here:
Is the New Kadampa Tradition a cult?
Dalai Lama, please give religious freedom
Criticism of the New Kadampa Tradition: a response to Dr Michelle Haslam.
Reviews and testimonials of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT)