Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, born in Tibet in 1931, was a Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, scholar, and prolific author who established the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). After fleeing Tibet in 1959, he spent years in intensive meditation and study in India. In 1977, he moved to the UK to teach at the Manjushri Institute. He later founded the NKT as an independent organization, distinct from other Tibetan Buddhist traditions, emphasizing what he described as the pure teachings of Je Tsongkhapa. His teachings focus on Lamrim, Lojong, and Mahamudra, aiming to make Buddhist philosophy accessible to Westerners through structured study programs. He also promoted the worship of Dorje Shugden, a practice that led to controversy and his expulsion from Sera Je Monastery. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso passed away in September 2022.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso established the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) in 1991 as an independent Buddhist organization. Emerging from the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the NKT aims to present Buddhist teachings in a way that is accessible to modern practitioners, particularly in the West. Under his spiritual direction, the NKT developed structured study programs, including the General Program, Foundation Program, and Teacher Training Program, which he viewed as a Western adaptation of the traditional Geshe degree. The organization has grown significantly, with affiliated centers in numerous countries worldwide. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso served as the spiritual director until his retirement in 2009.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's teachings emphasize core Buddhist principles such as Lamrim (stages of the path), Lojong (mind training), and Mahamudra (great seal). He developed a distinct approach to Buddhist practice, advocating for an exclusive focus on the teachings and lineage he transmitted, which he believed represented the pure essence of Je Tsongkhapa's tradition. This exclusivist stance, intended to preserve the potency of the teachings for Western practitioners and avoid syncretism, led to criticisms of sectarianism from some scholars and Buddhist communities. His extensive writings aim to provide a comprehensive guide to Buddhist theory and practice.

A significant aspect of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's later career involved his strong advocacy for the worship of Dorje Shugden, a Buddhist protector deity. He presented Dorje Shugden as essential for spiritual progress and particularly helpful for practitioners of the NKT. This devotion became a central tenet of the tradition, incorporated into its rituals and practices. However, the Dalai Lama advised against this worship, leading to a public schism. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the NKT engaged in activism related to Dorje Shugden, which resulted in his expulsion from Sera Je Monastery and the revocation of his geshe degree in 1996.