KTC’s “next-to-last” move!

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It’s been 5 1/2 years since an arson fire destroyed the Columbus KTC building, and now, with the end of the construction project in sight, we can see “signs of life” on the horizon!


The latest harbinger of good things to come was our “next-to-last” moving party on Monday July 26. Just before 9 AM, a dozen volunteers gathered at our temporary location at the Congregation Tifereth Israel synagogue, and In just a matter of hours had packed all of our shrine items, cushions, prayer books and other materials into a rental moving truck for a short trip to a downtown storage locker. 

The Bardo of the Storage Locker: Bill Miracle, left, and Ron Hess, center, deliver folding tables to KTC’s downtown storage locker, where they will stay until relocated to our new building later this year. 


It was the end to a long sojourn for KTC and Tifereth Israel that had begun in the spring of 2016, when synagogue leaders, touched by the story of the arson fire that destroyed KTC’s building, invited KTC to use its Lower Social Hall for its weekly meditation sessions. From Spring 2016 until Spring 2020, the KTC conducted its Sunday morning dharma programs and Tuesday night Chenrezig pujas at TI. The synagogue permitted us to use its Lower Social Hall as well as an upstairs classroom, and over the four-year period, dozens of new people met the dharma in the social hall and classroom at TI. 


After the closure of TI in March 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown, KTC moved its weekly classes and meditations to the Zoom platform, where they will remain until KTC fully moves into its new building later this year.


KTC Director Kim Miracle described the relationship between KTC and TI as being “close,” and said she had a warm conversation with TI Executive Director Laura Moskow Sigal and Maintenance Coordinator Juan Pineda during the moving party this week. Kim said the two congregations may continue their cooperation in other ways in the future. “We are very grateful to Tifereth Israel for their kindness in hosting us these past few years,” she said. “We will miss them, and look forward to working with them again in the future.”

KTC’s Dharma Center Treasure Chests: Volunteers Tim Wagner (left) and Shrine Keeper Julane Goodrich (right) help stack plastic storage tubs holding shrine objects and supplies in the KTC storage locker. The items will “rest” in the locker until it’s time to move them into the new center. Thanks to everyone who helped on moving day!


Thanks to all who helped us with our “next-to-last” move. We do appreciate all you do for KTC!


PLEASE DONATE TO KTC’S REBUILDING FUND! We are still about $150,000 short of full funding for our rebuilding project. You can donate to the Rebuilding Project here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YMTXX46F2X7AG&source=url

Can’t Start Too Early for THIS Party!

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The question we hear most these days is “When will the new KTC open?”

The simple answer is “we don’t know,” and there are lots of reasons why this is so.

When construction on the new KTC center began on Sept. 8, 2020, the projected completion date was in March, 2021.  Since then, the date has slipped, month by month, mostly due to lack of availability of two important materials – steel and wood – and delays in completing vital areas of the building  – wood framing, to be precise.

But we are confident that Hanlin-Rainaldi Construction Co. will be able to complete the structure sometime this fall – possibly by Sept. 8, 2021!  We don’t know for sure, but we’re praying and hope you will pray along with us!

Although our opening days are still unscheduled, some of our stalwart Sangha members are already planning the decorations.  Paul Volker, a longtime friend of KTC and visual artist, is preparing do-it-yourself prayer flags for us to hang during our first week. 

Paul, a painter and illustrator who works in pixels, paper, wood, and found objects, has created hand-dyed blank prayer flags, that he will donate to KTC for the Opening – whenever it is!

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP to get to opening day.

First, we need a SEAMSTER – someone who has a sewing machine and knows how to use it. Paul has the flags and material to string them, but we need to sew them together. Estimated time for the job is an hour or less. Contact Paul at paul@paulvolker.com.

Second, we’re still raising funds toward a $125,000 goal for our KTC Shrine. Want to help? Here’s the link to make a donation. May all beings benefit from your generosity!

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YMTXX46F2X7AG&source=url

KTC’s New Shrine Revealed – Cabinets!

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The centerpiece of KTC’s new shrine room will be its shrine cabinets, with glass doors and rich cherry wood surfaces. This drawing from KTC friend Shaun Goodfellow depicts the shrine cabinets at an angle, from the south to the north along the East Wall of the shrine room. The large image of the Buddha in the center is just a place-holder; the actual statue will be of the Buddha Vajradhara, the primordial Buddha and the nature of mind for all beings.

Our shrine is beautiful on paper, but it needs funding to become a reality. Donations of any size will help create a shrine that will bless our sangha (and everyone who sees it) for generations. May all beings benefit!

To donate:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YMTXX46F2X7AG&source=ur

Please consider a small monthly donation to help us realize our goal.