Ready for Refuge? Pop-up Refuge Ceremony THIS Saturday, March 19!

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If you’ve been thinking about Taking Refuge in the Buddhist tradition, your opportunity is coming up fast. 
To answer a request from an out-of-town dharma student, KTC will have an indoor pop-up Refuge Ceremony at the KTC at 3:30 PM THIS Saturday.


The Refuge Vow Ceremony is a person’s formal entrance to the Buddhist path. During the one-hour (or less) ceremony, the student sits in front of a Dharma teacher and takes refuge in the Buddha as their teacher, the Dharma as their path and the Sangha as their community. They receive a Dharma name, a picture of the Buddha, and brief instructions for daily practice.


Want more information? 

Here’s a link to a short article about Refuge by our founder, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8rg7zcftnpzerl6/TakingRefugeWithKKR.pdf?dl=0


Here’s an explainer for what to bring to the ceremony:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o81bo5n40zuou3u97vlfo/Information-sheet-about-KTC-Refuge-Ceremony.docx?dl=0&rlkey=cs0am9m8f8t8275optrxw21x5


For questions, or to sign up, write Lama Kathy at lamakathy@columbusktc.org

Our COVID Guidelines!

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Columbus KTC created a few guidelines to help ensure the safety of everyone inside our building. These guidelines were developed by local medical professionals in conjunction with CDC recommendations and local mandates and will be adjusted as conditions related to COVID change. 
Here are the guidelines:

  • Columbus KTC offers programs both in-person and virtually. If you wish to attend an in-person program, please pre-register ahead of time. We’ll keep a few spots available for walk-ins but can’t guarantee a spot will be available without pre-registration. 

If you arrive and a spot for the program you hope to attend is not available, we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and hope you will join the program virtually and come back to attend a future program some other time.  

  • While inside the building, everyone must wear a mask including children. The CDC recommends wearing masks that completely cover your nose, mouth and chin. 
  • We ask that children under the age of two stay home until the COVID situation in central Ohio improves. 
  • No food or drinks other than water will be served in the building. When drinking, please put your mask back on right away. 
  • Weekly and special event pujas offered virtually only. Please check our website for links to our virtual programs. . 

If following these guidelines for in-person programs creates a hardship in any way, we recommend you attend our programs virtually. Please find links for our virtual programs here: https://columbusktc.org/schedule/virtual-shrine-room/
Thank you again for your cooperation with following these guidelines and helping to keep everyone safe. We will provide updates to these guidelines as they are developed.

KTC Opens for Regular Sunday Programs March 20!

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Pre-registration for March 20 and 27, and April 3 and 10

After six years of waiting – after an arson fire moved us into borrowed spaces for four years, and a pandemic kept us from meeting in person for two years more – Columbus KTC will at last be open in its new location on Sunday March 20, 2022!


We know everyone would like to attend on opening day, and we would like to accommodate as many people as possible, but with Franklin County still listed as an area of “medium spread” of COVID cases on the Centers for Disease Control website, we will be limiting attendees for the first several weeks and asking our dharma friends to take turns, using a pre-registration system on the EventBrite platform for the first four Sundays: March 20, 27 and April 3 and 10.


In Person, Except for Chant Practices


Also, due to advice regarding the high risk of COVID transmission through choral singing, our “Regular Sunday Program” for these first four weeks will consist of three non-chanting programs:
1. “Regular Sunday Programs,” consisting of Quiet Meditation in the shrine room from 10 AM to 11 AM, followed by a conversation break at 11 AM and the weekly Sunday Dharma Talk at 11:30 AM.2. “Introduction to Meditation” class from 10 AM to 11 AM in the Classroom3. “Introduction to Buddhism” class from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Classroom
Weekly Sunday chant programs will remain virtual (webcast on the Zoom platform) until further notice.
Pre-Registration “Tickets” are free, and we will post a new “Regular Sunday” signup on Sunday evenings, March 20, 27, and April 3. 


How Many Can Attend?


Each of our three Sunday programs will have limited attendance for the first four weeks.
The KTC shrine room can accommodate 174 people in chairs, but considerably less on meditation cushions, so we will limit attendance for the “Regular Sunday Programs” in the shrine room to 75 people each week for the first four Sundays.
The Classroom can seat 75 people in chairs, but far less on meditation cushions. We will limit attendance at both “Introduction to Meditation” and “Introduction to Buddhism” to 25 attendees.


How Do We Sign Up?

Here’s the link to our “Regular Sunday Program”  for March 20th Signup. All tickets are for the in-person program: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/columbus-ktcs-regular-sunday-morning-program-march-20-2022-tickets-292141823057


Here’s the link to the “Introduction to Meditation” Signup. Choose the “in-person” tickets to attend in person: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-meditation-tickets-232616812147


And here’s the link to the “Introduction to Buddhism” Signup. Choose the “in-person” tickets to attend in person: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-buddhism-the-three-vehicles-tickets-232620493157


Oh, and Smile – You Will Be On Camera!

Although we’re returning to in-person programs, we will still be serving our Zoom and livestream audiences. So you might see signs in the Classroom and Shrine Room reminding you that by entering the room, you agree to be seen on camera for the folks watching from home. 
If you have any concerns, let us know: info@columbusktc.org.

KTC Has a New Dream Flag!

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Six years ago, on Jan. 31, 2016, an arson fire destroyed the Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center at the southwest corner of West Rich and South Grubb streets in Columbus’ Franklinton neighborhood. 

While fire was leaping from the roof of the burning building, KTC’s symbolic prayer flag, flying from a pole attached to the top of the building, was in danger of being destroyed by the fire. 

However, the flag, known as the Namkhyen Gyaldar or “Dream Flag,” appeared to wrap itself around its pole during the fighting of the fire, and when the fire was out, the flag unfurled itself and fluttered gently in the breeze. 

Amazed that the wind-battered flag was untouched by fire, KTC leaders eagerly agreed when crews from the Columbus Division of Fire offered to retrieve it for them. Firefighter Mark Foster, a veteran with decades of service, climbed up Ladder 1 and unhooked the flag, presenting it to KTC Director Kim Miracle. The flag then became a symbol of the small congregation’s resolve to rebuild after the fire, and today’s ceremony is a testament to what one community can do to care for their own.

On Saturday March 5, Firefighter Foster repeated his flag task in reverse, climbing up the ladder to attach a new Dream Flag to the new pole on top of the KTC.

It’s an honor to do this,” Mr. Foster said.  Usually, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel see people “on the worst day of their life,” so it is always good when they get to participate in a joyful occasion.

About 50 people from all over attended the March 5 flag-raising ceremony in the KTC Parking Lot. The flag-raising is of several opening events planned for the coming week.
Channel 4 WCMH news covered both the fire and the flag-raising. Here is their coverage from this past weekend: https://youtu.be/eFNCf7wrLkw

Extra thanks to the Columbus Division of Fire, KTC Ron Hess (who donated a new hand-sewn flag from the Flag Lady’s store) and representatives from the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, who attended the flag-raising on behalf of their organization.
May all beings benefit!

Columbus KTC Needs Help Moving!

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We’re ready to move our cushions, texts, books, shrine bowls and related items into our new home! Volunteers are needed on Saturday, February 19th at 10:30 am to meet at the downtown storage unit site, load up the truck and then bring items into the meditation center. If you can help, please complete this form.

KTC Forms Karma Kagyu Home Study Course Group

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Ken Holmes
Khenpo Ken Holmes

Khenpo Ken Holmes, a well-known Karma Kagyu teacher from Scotland, compiled a three-year Karma Kagyu Home Study Course which he has offered for the last twelve years.  It is based primarily on teachings given at Kagyu Samye Ling by such lineage masters as Tai Situ Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, and Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Lama Adam completed the course in 2014, and has found what he learned immensely valuable.


Khenpo Ken will be accepting new students for the course in February, and several of our Columbus KTC family have already signed up to take the three-year course. Though the course itself is administered by Nangi Shedra, the Columbus KTC’s lamas would like to offer a monthly study group where students from KTC can come together via Zoom to discuss what we’ve learned and share any questions.  Khenpo Ken has also offered to assist us however he can.  


If you’d like to take the course, you can learn more about it and sign up at www.tinyurl.com/KarmaKagyuCourse.  There is a yearly tuition fee which can be paid via the website.  


If you’d like to join Columbus KTC’s study group, fill out and submit this form to be included in scheduling and communications.  A regular monthly meeting time has not been set, but once we know who is participating, we can compare schedules to come up with a time that works for the most people.

KTC Reopening Events Announced! “Meet Your KTC” Events in March; Sunday Programs Start March 20!

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After six years of planning and 16 months of construction, the time we have waited for has finally arrived. Our new KTC building will be opened for Sunday Programs March 20!

Columbus Building and Zoning inspector issued the certificate of occupancy for the new building in late January. Now the building officially belongs to Columbus KTC! The next step is to put finishing touches on the new building.

The month of February will be devoted to moving in furniture and appliances, and installing the new A/V system that will enable us to broadcast programs virtually as well as offer them in person. We will also develop systems for cleaning and maintaining the new building. It’s one thing to have a brand-new building and another thing to learn how to operate it. Lots of new skills to hone!

Volunteers Needed!  

Speaking of skills, when KTC opens for in-person programs, we will need some helping hands! 

Please consider signing up to:

* Greet

* Help as a Meditation Umdze

* Join the Building Team  

If you would like to help, please fill out this online form. 

More details about KTC’s Reopening are below!

Questions? Write to us at info@columbusktc.org.

COVID Precautions and KTC’s Reopening Plan

As we prepared for our next phase, the Reopening Committee was formed to help Columbus KTC develop a plan to safely reopen.

Members include physicians, medical professionals and, and epidemiologists knowledgeable about pandemic precautions and familiar with CDC and other healthcare guidelines.

Here’s the plan, developed by the Reopening Committee and approved by the KTC Board.

General Participation

* Recommend but not require full vaccination for all members, friends and visitors to attend in-person programs.

* Masks will be required for all members, friends and visitors when they are inside the building. CDC guidelines should be followed regarding recommended masks to wear

* Members, friends and visitors are asked to pre-register for in-person programs. A percentage of spots for all in-person programs will be reserved for walk-ins.

* Limited beverages such as water but no food will be permitted when the building is open for in-person programs. 

Children’s Participation

* Masks required for children over 2 years of age

* Children under two years of age will not be permitted to come inside the building until COVID-19 situation improves

Volunteers

* Columbus KTC volunteers will be required to provide proof of vaccination.

Chant Programs To Remain on Zoom

* As chanting spreads the droplets and aerosols that spread COVID, weekly and special event pujas will be offered virtually only for now.

Limited Food and Beverage Service

* Recommend but not require everyone wear masks and practice social distancing when gathering outside for Columbus KTC related events and programs. 

What’s Next?

The guidelines presented here will not last forever; they will evolve and change as conditions related to change. 

Reopening Schedule:

Train Volunteers — February 28th – March 6th

“Soft Opening” Events — March 7th – March 20th

Open for In-Person Programs — Sunday, March 20th

Annual Nomination Period Still Underway

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In accordance with KTC elections policy, we have opened nominations for the offices of Columbus KTC Assistant Director, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large. 

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 Justin Fitch at communications@columbusktc.org, or in writing to Justin Fitch, c/o Columbus KTC, PO Box 14946, Columbus, Ohio 43214. 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, 2021.

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 and/or contact acting Treasurer, Chuck Drake, at treasurer@columbusktc.org.

For more details on the election policy, please see this document: Columbus KTC Board and Elections Policy 14.1-1.

Special Election: Announcement of Nominee for Secretary

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Dear Sangha Members:  You were recently informed that Secretary Marjorie Hill Langston stepped down from her position and that a special election would be held to elect a new Secretary for the remainder of her term. 


In accordance with Columbus KTC election policy, a nominating period of one week was held and a nominee—a member in good standing receiving two or more nominations from other members in good standing—has been put forward: Bethany Dwinnell.

Nominee’s Bio:
Bethany Dwinnell has been a psychotherapist in private practice for over 20 years. She first became interested in Buddhism when she became aware of the parallels between cognitive behavioral therapy and Buddhist philosophy. As a member of KTC, she and her family have attended since 2006. In her spare time, she enjoys rowing, violin and reading. While she has volunteered in varying capacities through the years, she looks forward to serving as secretary for the board. 

Members in good standing are invited to vote in the election. There are two ways to cast your vote: electronically or by mail-in ballot. Below are details on each voting method. 

Electronically To vote electronically, please use this link.

By Mail
To vote by mail, please mail to our PO Box a hand-written or typed note in which you identify yourself and your vote for the nominee for secretary. Our address is
Columbus KTCPO Box 14946Columbus, OH 43214

All votes—whether cast electronically or by mail—must be received two weeks from today by Sunday, December 19th, 11:59pm.

For more details on the election policy, please see this document: Columbus KTC Board and Elections Policy 14.1-1.

Best wishes in Dharma,
Election Chair: Justin Fitch

Losar Election for New Columbus KTC Board Members

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In accordance with KTC elections policy, we have opened nominations for the offices of Columbus KTC Assistant Director, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large. 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 Justin Fitch at communications@columbusktc.org, or in writing to Justin Fitch, c/o Columbus KTC, PO Box 14946, Columbus, Ohio 43214. 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, 2021.

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 and/or contact acting Treasurer, Chuck Drake, at treasurer@columbusktc.org.

For more details on the election policy, please see the attached document: Columbus KTC Board and Elections Policy 14.1-1.