Building for World Peace

At the NZ Kiwi Festival, we have the special opportunity to enjoy teachings, spiritual friends, a serene environment – and at the same time contribute to the International Temples Project (ITP). Profits raised by the Festival are dedicated for public benefit to the ITP and used for the development of the KMCs and Temple Projects throughout the world.

The International Temples Project was established by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche with the vision to build a Kadampa Buddhist Temple in every major city in the world.

These Temples are dedicated to world peace and everyone is welcome to visit them and enjoy the peace and tranquility they provide.

“Just looking at a Temple with a happy mind places good imprints on our mind and brings inner peace.Through the power of this special object, problems such as anger and attachment are reduced.” — Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

Kadampa Temples

A Kadampa Buddhist Temple is a special, holy place, where we can receive blessings and powerful imprints on our minds that lead to deep inner peace in the future.

Kadampa Buddhist Temples take many forms. Some are custom built according to a special design developed by Geshe Kelsang based on traditional Buddhist architecture, such as the Mother Temple at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England and the Temples in New York; Grand Canyon, Arizona; São Paulo, Brazil; Sintra, Portugal and Malaga, Spain.

Others are adapted from existing buildings acquired for Kadampa Meditation Centres around the world, such as the Temples in Toronto, Le Mans, Berlin, Zurich, Texas, Florida, Washington DC, Paris, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne to name a few.

Whatever form they take, Kadampa Temples are holy places open to everyone to enjoy. They are Pure Lands in our troubled world – offering doorways to inner peace for all who visit them.

Many more Temples are planned throughout the world as part of the International Temples Project.

Support for the International Temples Project

The International Temples Project is funded by donations and by profits from:

  • Dharma Centres
  • Kadampa Meditation Centres
  • Dharma Celebrations
  • National Festivals
  • International Festivals

All International and National Festivals and Dharma Celebrations are hosted by KMCs and KBCs and many are held in the Temples for World Peace. All profits from these events are dedicated to public benefit through the ITP. Simply by attending them you are helping to bring peace into the hearts of this and future generations.

Each year there is an International Temples Day on which Kadampa Centres worldwide celebrate the International Temples Project.