Starting at 1:30 PM Tuesday April 8! Columbus KTC Statue Consecration Puja

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The day of celebration has come for members and friends of Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling – our new shrine is installed, and the statues filled.
Now all that remains is to consecrate the statues and sertok spire. The puja, led by Lama Tashi Dondup, Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin and Khenpo Sangye Trinley will start at 1:30 PM Eastern Time at the KTC, 645 W. Rich St., Columbus.
The 90-minute session will be in Tibetan, but all are welcome to observe and recite mantras.
It will be webcast live on the Columbus KTC YouTube Page and Columbus KTC Facebook page.
May all be auspicious! May all beings benefit!

KTC Programs Taking Place as Usual THIS Sunday – Shrine Room Seating To Be Adjusted for Construction

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We’re sure you’ve been following our story this week as our long-awaited Shrine Installation began this past Monday.

As the installation winds down this weekend, we wanted to let you know that all our regular Sunday programs will take place as usual this coming Sunday, April 6.

That means we will have our usual Introduction to Meditation class and First-Sunday Chenrezig chant at 10 AM; and our Introduction to Buddhism class, Children’s Program, and Dharma Talk at 11:30 AM.

We will even have a free all-sangha lunch for everyone after the Dharma Talk ends at 12:30. Consider it a celebration of community for the benefit of all beings!

The only adjustment we will have to make will be in the seating arrangement for the 10 AM Open Meditation in our Shrine Room.

Due to preparations for the Statue Filling and Consecration activities next week, the north part of the shrine room will be occupied by tables and statuary, necessitating a seating shift toward the center and south ends of the shrine room.

We hope this one-week inconvenience will be well worthwhile when we unveil the new statues and shrine NEXT Sunday, April 13.

Exciting Times at KTC!

Meanwhile, if you’d like to contribute to our Shrine and Spire pledge drive, you can sign up here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fulfilling-the-Vision-of-Khenpo-Karthar-Rinpoche.html?soid=1102656873809&aid=mwEbR-f75Go

Fulfilling Khenpo Rinpoche’s Vision

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Dear friend of Columbus KTC,

Three years ago, our community celebrated the joyous opening of our new home. The center has flourished beautifully since that time, but our building journey is not yet complete.

Before his passing in 2019, our beloved founder Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche entrusted us with a sacred task – to build a shrine that would house the three statues he had carefully selected, and place the golden sertok spire atop our building.

These projects will expand KTC’s ability to connect with all who seek the wisdom of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

We’ve made great fundraising progress, but need to raise a total of $85,000 to complete this crucial phase.

Today, we are calling on you to make a gift that will bring this project to life. Your contribution, of any amount, will have a profound and lasting impact.

To get started click here to fill out the pledge form and then visit Kindful to make your donation online.

Together, let us honor our founder’s legacy and create a sacred space that will be a blessing for generations to come. Thank you for your support!

May all beings benefit.

Sincerely,

The Columbus KTC Board

Don’t Worry – Parking at KTC is OK!

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Some of you may have noticed the signs that were placed on our parking lot this week by the Ohio department Of Transportation.
While KTC owns the land underneath our parking lot, the use of the parking lot is controlled by ODOT, which holds the right way.
Recently, we had problems with junk cars being left on our parking lot, so ODOT, trying to be helpful, place these no parking signs on our parking lot.
However, this may be confusing for our Sunday and Saturday attendees.
Despite what the signs say, you are allowed to park on our parking lot when you attend KTC programs.
We will begin working directly with ODOT next week to see if we can arrange a different location for those signs, or different signs all together.
Meanwhile, please be assured that it is OK for you to park in our lot.
Thank you for your understanding; may all be benefit 🙂

Tag Sale to Benefit Lama Karma’s Rescue Animals (This Weekend!)

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During this weekend’s Dharma Teaching by Lama Karma Drodhul, be sure to take a look at the amazing items in a special Tag Sale and Silent Auction to benefit Lama Karma’s rescue animals.

Some years back, as part of a Tibetan spiritual practice called Life Release, Lama Karma purchased some farm animals that were being raised for slaughter and placed them at the Red Robin Song Animal Sanctuary in upstate New York. Proceeds from the Tag Sale and Silent Auction will provide food and lodging for the rescued animals – allowing us to share in the merit of their rescue!

Look for the Tag Sale in our downstairs Community Room before teaching sessions and during meal breaks at the Saturday and Sunday teaching sessions. May all beings benefit!

Image Credit: Jim Chute, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Losar Special Event: Have a Heart for the Homeless

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Wednesday 1/1/2025 – Sunday 2/2/2025

Compassion In Action! Just as Tara is stepping off the cushion to rescue beings, KTC is stepping up to collect winter wear and supplies for our homeless neighbors here in Franklinton, to start the New Year off right!

Declutter Your Closet, Used and Thrifted OK

  • Warm Clothing / Coats
  • Sleeping Bags / Tents
  • Insulated Gloves
  • Hats / Wool Socks
  • Hand Warmer Packets
  • Granola Bars

Have Questions? Reach out to to Winie Wirth (wirthwitte@att.net)

KTC’s Snow and Weather Cancellation Policy

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If the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office declares a Level 2 or Level 3 Snow Emergency, KTC will CANCEL its programming.

KTC will monitor these alerts and try to get the word out quickly if events need to be cancelled.  Prior to regular Sunday events, we will make a determination by 5 PM Saturday about whether KTC will be open the next day.

We’ll follow a similar course of action for other special events.

Please keep a look out for weather alerts and monitor conditions for your own safety. Information about alerts issued by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office can be found at the link below:

https://sheriff.franklincountyohio.gov/Information/Snow-Level-Emergency

Annual Election Nomination Period Open

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In accordance with KTC elections policy, the board has opened nominations for the offices of Columbus KTC Director (2 yr term), Secretary (2 yr term), and Member-at-Large (1 yr term). 

 

Nominations

Any KTC member in good standing may be nominated for the position, but it is wise to check with the person first before nominating them. Nominees must receive two nominations from members in good standing to become eligible candidates for the office.

Nominations will be received by election chair Justin Fitch at

communications@columbusktc.org, or in writing to Columbus KTC, Attn: Justin Fitch, 645 W. Rich Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You may also call Columbus KTC at (614) 228-6546 to nominate someone by phone.

All nominations–whether by email, phone, or postal mail–must be received by 11:59pm on December 29th, 2024.

If you are curious about the duties of a board member, what each positions entails, etc . . . you are invited to talk to any of our current board members about their work. Here are our current board members: https://columbusktc.org/our-organization/

 

Membership

We also invite people who are considering membership in Columbus KTC to take this opportunity to become members and join us in this process; we welcome your input. To become a member, please visit our pledge page.For more details on the election policy, please see this document: Columbus KTC Board Elections Policy 14.1-1.

MATCHING Gift Opportunity for Giving Tuesday Next Week!

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We’re entering into the “giving season” this week, and KTC has an exciting giving opportunity to share with you.

An anonymous donor has offered to MATCH any donations given to Columbus KTC in honor of #Giving Tuesday, the international day of generosity and service that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

This year, any gift given to KTC from 12:01 AM on Thanksgiving Day through Midnight on Giving Tuesday will be eligible to be MATCHED, dollar for dollar, for a total of up to $10,000.

This is an amazing opportunity to double your impact and help KTC. 

As we look toward 2025 and the 3rd Anniversary of opening our new building, we are hoping to complete our shrine room with new shrine cabinets and add the golden buddhist spire (“sertok” in Tibetan) to the top of our building. If you give during this period, your gift will help us kick off fundraising for these two amazing projects.

IT’S EASY TO GIVE: 

To participate in the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge, you can use the one-time donation option “Donation to the Operating Fund” on our KTC website from 12:01 AM Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28) through Midnight on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Here’s that link: https://columbusktc.kindful.com/

Tell your family and friends that if they would like to donate the KTC during this Season of Giving – and accumulate some positive karma – they can donate during our Giving Tuesday Fundraiser.

Thanks in advance for your generosity, and May All Beings Benefit!

Sunday, May 19: Last KTC Kids Program before a Summer Break!

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On the First and Third Sundays of the month, five to six youths ages 5-10 practice meditation together, hear stories told by the Buddha (called Jataka Tales) about virtuous actions, do yoga poses, make crafts, play games and light candles on the special Youth Shrine.

The KTC Kids’ Program will be taking a summer vacation. We will be on summer break June – August and resume in September. 

Last class before break will be this Sunday, May 19th!

Register your child for Sunday’s class here.