Archive for category: News

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!

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.

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.

Our recent Sangha Meeting gave all of us an opportunity to catch up on news about the new building and talk about our plans for KTC’s future. 

Among the items discussed was a suggestion that KTC find a way to fund a full-time pastor to take care of the KTC congregation.

For the last 25 years, Lama Kathy has provided KTC with full-time care, but she has done so through the support of her husband Mike, who funded Lama Kathy’s health insurance and living expenses. 

For the last 25 years, KTC has provided a modest monthly housing allowance to Lama Kathy, and she has indicated she does not wish to have her housing allowance increased. Likewise, Associate Resident Teacher Lama Tom Broadwater has let us know that while he welcomes gifts from students, he does have a retirement income and does not require a housing allowance from KTC at this time.

But to ensure that KTC has full-time pastoral care far into the future, Lama Adam asked that the KTC membership consider funding a living wage for its resident teachers. 

At the meeting, several members expressed support for KTC funding a full-time pastorate, while others expressed concern that with steep increases in KTC building costs coming with the opening of the new building, KTC will need to increase its revenues and pledging membership to be able to fund a full-time pastorate and KTC’s other spiritual activities. 

In the coming months, the KTC Board, Lama Kathy, Lama Adam and KTC volunteers will meet and work together to design a way to raise funds to help provide a living wage to Lama Adam so he can assist Lama Kathy and Lama Tom full-time. 

Meanwhile, here are some things you can do to help Lama Adam right away:

• In general, KTC welcomes your ideas and input on how we can fund our lamas, our pastorate.  If we think our resident teachers are essential to our mission, we must support them as other faith communities routinely do.  So, please let us know your ideas on how we might budget for this expense.
• Specifically, there is an immediate need to fund Lama Adam’s work. The KTC Board recently expressed its support for Lama Adam by increasing Lama Adam’s monthly housing allowance from $250 to $750. But more is needed. You can use the “Donate” button on Lama Adam’s website—www.lamaadam.com – to help provide support for his ministry.  The best option is to select a monthly, recurring “membership” in his website, as this provides him a dependable, predictable source of income.  But there are other options, as well, including making one-time donations, and paying for special items such as his food, healthcare or other expenses.  

KTC’s future begins now. We look forward to working with our sangha to help our lamas thrive and help our practice and our community.