His Holiness Karmapa: “Columbus KTC will be very large.”

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In September 2020 the Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling will observe its 43rd Anniversary. In September 1977, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche visited Central Ohio for the first time with translator Ngodrup Burkhar and gave a series of talks in Columbus and Newark, Ohio, speaking on “The Thought of Enlightenment.” He also gave the Refuge Vow to a group of Western disciples, who then formed the nucleus of the dharma center that would become Columbus KTC.


Tibetan masters – such as His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche – had only left Tibet 18 years before, escaping over the Himalayan mountains after a failed Tibetan uprising prompted a violent government crackdown on Buddhist temples and monasteries. 

From their new homes in exile in India, Tibetan teachers such as Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche eventually traveled to all the continents of the world, teaching Buddhism to all who had the karma to see and hear them. 

Columbus was the first major city Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche visited outside the West and East coasts; His Holiness Karmapa was said to have been delighted after hearing the name of the city, remarking, “isn’t Columbus the name of the person who is supposed to have ‘discovered’ America? Ah, this is auspicious!”


Three years after the founding of Columbus KTC, His Holiness visited Ohio’s capital city, meeting Mayor Tom Moody and giving the Vajra Crown Ceremony in the East Ballroom of the former student union at The Ohio State University. Hundreds of people saw and heard His Holiness.

As His Holiness prepared to leave Columbus on the final day of his 1980 visit, he gave an interesting prophesy to the assembled dharma students.

It was surprising to His Holiness that in a city of Columbus’ size, the KTC had more members than centers that had been around a lot longer. In the future, His Holiness said, “Columbus KTC will be very large.”  

With the Columbus KTC rebuilding project beginning this summer, we hope you will donate to help us create a new home for KTC’s future meditation, dharma practice, and growth. Every dollar you invest will provide a refuge for future meditators and those seeking dharma wisdom.

Before departing KTC, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa led a Mahakala protector puja in our shrine room in the home of Jerry and Kay Adams in Columbus’ Linworth neighborhood.

Before His Holiness Karmapa’s Vajra Crown ceremony at The Ohio State University, KTC founder Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, assisted by translator Ngodrup Tsering Burkhar, gave a talk about the significance of the ceremony. Jerry and Kay Adams and Lama Kathy, who sponsored the ceremony, are pictured to the right. 
Mahakala puja at Columbus KTC Shrine Room in the Adams’ home.

Words of Support from Lama Karma

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Many of our KTC friends will recognize the spokesman in this week’s Columbus KTC video – it’s Lama Karma Drodhul, president of our “home” monastery, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock, NY. 

Lama Karma came to the United States two decades ago to assist his uncle, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, who was the abbot of KTD Monastery. In his years living with and serving Khenpo Rinpoche, Lama Karma came to know the affection Khenpo Rinpoche had for the Columbus KTC, and learned about us first hand during several visits to Columbus KTC over the years. 

Now that our KTC is entering the last phase of fundraising to complete Basic Construction of our new center, Lama Karma wants us all to know we have his support – and to know how this project will carry out Khenpo Rinpoche’s wish for our center.  Hope you enjoy the video, and will consider sending a contribution today in Khenpo Rinpoche’s honor. 

Thank you, and may all beings benefit!

Columbus KTC Auction Returns!

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KTC Rebuilding Fund Auction Resumes!

As part of our emergency fundraising campaign to raise $325,000 in the next four weeks– so we can begin building on our new center this summer – we are relaunching the final round of our KTC Rebuilding Fund Auction!

To find items, simply go to the Columbus KTC Ebay page!

New items will be added daily.

One featured item for today is an opened but unused The Truth Ohm & Journal Set – Tibetan Singing Bowl from the Ohm Store!

Check our listings on Ebay daily to combine getting a fun gift for yourself or someone else with helping Columbus KTC rebuild its center!

Thank you and may all beings benefit!

Spreading the Good News of Mindfulness and Kindness: KTC Dharma Short Films Series

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Although Columbus KTC hasn’t had its own building since the arson fire of January 2016, we’ve made use of our “nomad” period to look at our core mission and values and how to bring those to the larger community. 

Our KTC Mission Statement says our aim is to provide, for all levels of practitioners, a respectful and open community for the study, practice, and activities of Buddhism of the Karma Kagyu tradition under the guidance of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra and His Holiness the Seventeeth Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje. 

And our KTC Values Statement affirms that our sangha sees all beings as having basic goodness (Buddha Nature) and that we believe in practicing kindness and service to nurture our Buddha Nature and create an uplifted community.

In this spirit, KTC actually increased its outreach activities following the fire. We continued providing Free Meditation Instruction for the Central Ohio community at our temporary location at Congregation Tifereth Israel on the Near East Side, but we also began offering Free Meditation Instruction every Wednesday from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Columbus on Capital Square. In addition, we offer an eight-week “Introduction to Buddhism” course each Sunday at 11:30 AM, as well as a “Dharma Book Study” session, also at 11:30 AM on Sundays.

A full list of our weekly virtual events can be found in our Virtual Shrine Room.


Now that our in-person meetings have gone virtual due to the COVID-19 epidemic, KTC continues its outreach on Facebook Live, presenting Dharma Talks by our resident lamas at 1 PM Sundays on our Columbus KTC Facebook page.

This past month, KTC rolled out yet another means to benefit beings in Central Ohio and beyond – the KTC Dharma Short Films series.


Created by Columbus KTC Meditation Instructor Marcus Casey, the series is meant to help illuminate points covered in our “Introduction to Buddhism” classes. We’re incredibly excited by the work Marcus has done, and look forward to sharing more of these Dharma Short Films for you in the coming months!

Fun fact: KTC is an all-volunteer organization funded 100 percent by donations. We are seeking to rebuild our center, destroyed in an arson fire in early 2016; all donations for rebuilding are appreciated!