FAQ
About Events & Participation
Do i have to be buddhist - or want to be Buddhist - to join your classes?
No. Everyone can learn learn and benefit from these meditation practices. How much you want to use and how deep you want to go in your own practice is entirely up to you. We respect and welcome everyone regardless of gender, race, faith and predisposition.
Do i have to have prior experience to join your classes?
No*. The only thing you need is a wish to grow as a person and to improve your quality of life.
(Exceptions are clearly marked on the event page.)
Do i have to bring anything?
Possibly warm socks and cozy sweater. If you’d like to take notes we recommend to go old school: pen an paper, to allow yourself to be fully offline for once.
How much are your classes?
Contributions for General Programm Classes during the week vary, from 6 EUR bis 9.50 EUR. Weekend events like Workshops and Day Retreats start at 29.50 EUR. Multi day events and other special events vary widely, depending on content and duration.
We also offer monthly memberships for broad access to our program as well as to our Livestream (when available).
for your weekly general program series, do i have to be there from the beginning or even for all classes?
No, these are drop-in classes - join us as and when you can. Of course it is helpful to be there throughout so that you can build up a thorough understanding and deepen your experience as we go along, but each class is self-contained and no matter how often you come, you will find something beneficial and useful to take home with you. Don’t overthink it, just give it a go :)
Do i need to wear special clothes?
No. If you run cold maybe bring warm socks and a cozy sweater.
do I need to pre-register for classes and if so, how?
It is very helpful if you pre-register as we are a nonprofit and pre-registration reduces work for our volunteers. If an event is full, you can join the waiting list (see below for how that works).
Registration information is posted on class and event pages. We use Eversports as our booking system, if you have their app you can also find us there directly.
do you offer online classes?
We livestream our main classes and events. However, the livestream is only available with membership.
Is it possible to get recordings of classes and events?
Not at the moment. We are a nonprofit and don’t have enough helping hands to support the necessary sell & send processes. If you are keen to make this happen, by all means get in touch :)
However, we do regularly make recordings of classes and events, e. g. to help our teachers improve their teaching skills. The only person recorded is the teacher, unless you engage in a conversation with the teacher while they are on the teaching throne.
Can i cancel or change a booking?
Special Events with special conditions aside, you can cancel until up to two hours before class begin.
To cancel yourself, log back into your Eversports account via our calendar or directly through the Eversports site or app. Navigate to your bookings and cancel. A refund is issued automatically. You can then go ahead to book and pay anew for another event, if you wish.
If we cancel for you, e.g. when you call or send us an email, the refund is not automatic and the product remains active in the system for your next booking. If you wish a refund you have to let us know as part of your cancellation / change request.
how does the waitlist work?
If an event is fully booked, Eversports will offer you to join a waitlist.
If you get lucky and somebody else drops out, Eversports will notify you within 30 mins of their cancellation. For most classes, people can cancel until up to two hours before class, you´d know 90 mins before class begin at the latest. So please keep an eye on your email inbox, incl. your spam folder just in case.
If you don’t get lucky, the refund should happen automatically but please give it 48 hours. Send us an email if there are any problems.
About Meditation & Kadampa Buddhism
Can anybody learn to meditate?
Yes, absolutely. It is simply a matter of practice. Regardless of whether you meditate on your own at home or in a group - the main thing is meditating regularly.
If at first it feels like meditation makes your mind even more agitated, please understand that you are merely becoming aware of how restless your mind actually is all the time. Don’t let restlessness deter you - keep going, it will get better!
Many find it helpful to join a group like ours. Not only because the atmosphere in a Buddhist Center is especially conducive to meditation, but also because you can get an inspiring top for maintaining motivation and you can ask questions.
What kind of meditations do you teach?
Our transmission lineage contains a broad spectrum of meditation techniques - from basic breathing meditations through contemplative meditations all the way up to the most sublime completion stage meditations of Highest Yoga Tantra.
There’s something for everyone to discover and practice - simply get going and start learning.
What relevance does Buddhism have to my life in the 21st century?
Although Buddhism first appeared in India over two and a half thousand years ago, it has a timeless and universal relevance. In a nutshell, Buddha explained that all our problems arise from confused and negative states of mind. He taught methods for ridding the mind of these destructive states and thereby realizing true happiness and fulfillment. These methods work for any mind, in any country, at any age.
why do your classes contain Teachings rather than just guided meditations?
In Buddhism, we don´t just use meditation to relax, but also to drive personal transformation. For that we need to know what we are doing and why: How to meditate for change? What is our mind and how does it work? How do we, our experiences, and our world exist? How do we cultivate states of mind that generate happiness, and how do we get rid of those that generate suffering?
Buddha gained the deepest insights into the nature and function of the mind and thus attained lasting happiness and complete freedom from all suffering—and we can all do the same by first understanding his insights, then internalizing them in meditation and putting them into practice in our daily lives.
What does it mean to be a Buddhist?
Being a Buddhist means finding refuge in the Three Jewels–Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—as the true and reliable protection from suffering. Going for refuge is the foundation of the Buddhist path and the essential step that marks the beginning of someone’s life as a Buddhist.
Going for refuge means gradually developing trust in:
Buddha as our guide and perfect example
Dharma (Buddha’s teachings and our own inner experience of them) as the actual protection from suffering
Sangha (the spiritual community) as our companions and support on the path
In our tradition, we train in this inner refuge by learning to turn inward for solutions to our problems, relying on the wisdom and methods taught by Buddha to transform our mind. We gradually let go of external objects or conditions as our main source of happiness or protection, and instead turn to Dharma practice to find real peace and freedom.
For those who wish to formally become Buddhist, there is the opportunity to take the Refuge Vow—a beautiful and meaningful ceremony in which one makes a conscious decision to rely on the Three Jewels and commit to living in accordance with Buddhist principles. This vow marks the beginning of a new life, one based on spiritual practice, ethical conduct, and the intention to progress toward liberation and enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
ARE You part of tibetan buddhism?
No, this is global Kadampa Buddhism. Just as the Tibetans faithfully adopted the practices taught to them by the great Indian masters and adapted those to their own culture, so do our founder encourage people from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds to adopt the wisdom and compassion of Buddha and put it into practice in a way that suits their particular culture.
What is KAdampa Buddhism then?
Kadampa Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the 11th century Indian Buddhist master, Atisha, who skillfully arranged all of Buddha’s teachings (Dharma) into a clear and sequential presentation, known as Lamrim in Tibetan. Atisha’s followers became known as Kadampas. Ka refers to all of Buddha’s teachings and dam to Atisha’s special Lamrim instructions, known as The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. A Kadampa is a practitioner who regards Buddha’s teachings as personal advice and puts them into practice by following Atisha’s Lamrim instructions.
In the 14th century, these teachings were further clarified by the fully realized Tibetan scholar and meditation master Je Tsongkhapa, who emphasized the union of wisdom and compassion, Sutra and Tantra.
Kadampa practitioners up to the time of Je Tsongkhapa are known as Old Kadampas, and those after the time of Je Tsongkhapa are known as New Kadampas.
Today, our tradition by the name of New Kadampa Tradition (NKT-IKBU) follows this lineage, making the essential practices of Kadampa Buddhism available to people around the world through based on the modernized presentation of our founder, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche (1931 - 2022).
What is the purpose of Kadampa Buddhism?
The purpose of Kadampa Buddhism is to help people develop wisdom and compassion in order to transform their minds and their lives.
By applying the teachings of Buddha in everyday situations, anyone—regardless of background—can learn how to reduce suffering, develop inner peace, and cultivate positive qualities like love, patience, and wisdom. This practical integration of Dharma with daily life is known as the union of Kadam Dharma and daily life, and it lies at the heart of the NKT’s approach.
Ultimately, the purpose is to enable everyone to make progress on the path to liberation and enlightenment, while also finding deeper happiness and meaning right now, in the midst of modern life.
What is the new kadampa tradition (NKT)?
The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) is a global Buddhist community founded in 1991 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. Its aim is to uphold and make available the authentic teachings of Kadampa Buddhism for the benefit of all.
Through its international network of affiliated centers - like this one in Hamburg - and community-based initiatives, the NKT shares the practical benefits of these teachings with people of all backgrounds and walks of life.
We are an independent Buddhist tradition with no political affiliations. Legally registered as a non-profit charitable organization in England under the name New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU). Its main office is located at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center in Ulverston, UK.
You can find more information about our tradition here.