New Kadampa Tradition

A Global Family

The Prajnaparmita Buddhist Center is located in beautiful Santa Monica, California. The center is in a ‘tucked away’ location away from the busy streets of Los Angeles and encompasses a charming little courtyard area.

The meditations and Buddhist practices taught at the Center are suitable for all individuals whatever their level of interest, from those who seek simple relaxation to those who wish to find everlasting inner peace and contentment through following the Buddhist path. We provide an environment in which anyone can come and discover for themselves the techniques of meditation, and the peaceful Buddhist way of life.

Here we can learn to listen to, contemplate, and meditate on the teachings of Buddha, showing us how to control our mind and thus progressively transform our life for the better. In particular, meditation enables us to cultivate a special experience of lasting inner peace which causes harmony, happiness and creates a feeling of deep well-being.

We run a range of programs from introductory meditation classes and courses to systematic study programs.

The Center is open to everyone regardless of previous experience of meditation and Buddhism. Please feel free to visit the Center

Prajnaparamita Buddhist Center is a member of the New Kadampa Tradition, an association of Buddhist Centers and practitioners that derive their inspiration and guidance from the example of the ancient Kadampa Buddhist Masters and their teachings, as presented by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

The Kadampa Buddhism of the NKT is an entirely independent Buddhist tradition and has no political affiliations.

International Buddhist Festivals

Every year Kadampa centers around the world organize major international festivals in different countries.

These Buddhist festivals provide the opportunity for people from all over the world to receive teachings and empowerments from Venerable Geshe Kelsang and senior Kadampa teachers, and to enjoy a spiritual vacation.

People with all levels of experience attend the festivals, from absolute beginners to those who have practiced for many years.

They are a wonderful way to meet with fellow practitioners and to gain a clear understanding and deeper experience of the Buddhist path to happiness.

The International Temples Project

Building for World Peace

The International Temples Project is the unfolding of a profound and compassionate vision to build a Kadampa Buddhist Temple in every major city of the world.

Inspired by Venerable Geshe Kelsang, this project is an extraordinary contribution to world peace.

“We dedicate the creation of these Temples to world peace and to the happiness of all living beings.”
Venerable Geshe Kelsang

The first Kadampa Temple in the West was built in the UK at Manjushri Mahayana Buddhist Centre in England.

Due to its special architecture, based on the mandala of the compassion Buddha Heruka, it is a place of unusual beauty that has profound spiritual meaning.

This Kadampa Temple is not regarded as an ordinary building but as a holy object that will be a place of spiritual inspiration and peace for many generations to come.

The second Temple of this size and detail is now being built in Glen Spey, New York, on 82 acres of beautiful wooded land near the Upper Delaware River.

Our plan is to build a Kadampa Buddhist Temple, dedicated to world peace, in every major city of the world. We pray that we may accomplish this aim.