Archive for category: News

When you’re trying to raise $2.9 million to rebuild a dharma center destroyed by fire, you need all the help you can get.  One of the Most Valuable Players in Columbus KTC’s fundraising efforts is none other than Dzambhala, the bodhisattva of wealth.

Folks who visited our KTC Center noticed a little more than a year ago that a gold-plated statue of Dzambhala (also known as Namse in Tibetan) had been placed on the second highest shelf on our shrine, among the statues of other gurus and bodhisattvas. The statue has an interesting history.

When His Holiness Karmapa visited our “home” monastery of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in 2015, he blessed dozens of gold-plated statues for sponsorship by individual dharma students. At that time, Columbus KTC member Marcus Casey sponsored a Dzambhala statue and brought it back to his home and displayed it on his shrine.

A few years later, after Columbus KTC was destroyed in an arson fire, Marcus and his family heard about His Holiness Karmapa’s gift of a small new Buddha statue to the KTC as a “seed” for a new KTC shrine and building in the future. Right then, the family decided that Columbus KTC needed their Dzambhala statue more than they did. So they brought the golden statue – along with its golden carrying box – to the KTC’s temporary quarters at Congregation Tifereth Israel and presented it to shrine keeper Julane Goodrich, who installed it on the KTC shrine in the Lower Social Hall of TI. 

Within a few weeks, the Dzambhala was already at work; piles of $1 coins began to pile up around the golden carrying case upon which the statue sat. No one saw where the coins came from; they just appeared around the statue every few weeks. 

Where were they coming from? Who was Dzambhala’s secret helper?

Turns out our helpers were none other than Robin and Sharon, two longtime KTC friends who took to the road a couple of years ago to become long-distance truck drivers. They went to school and learned how to pilot the Big Rigs – 18-wheel tractor trailers – and have been touring the entire United States since then, hauling freight and taking in America’s scenic beauty.  The coins come as change from toll booths – and fit nicely around Dzambhala’s seat.

With the KTC shut down during the COVID-19 emergency, Dzambhala might not be “collecting” dollar coins at the moment, but we know he is working behind the scenes to help us raise the funds we need to rebuild.  We’ll make it yet – with a little help from ALL our friends!

Webcast: Buddha’s Four Noble Truths Dharma Talk by Lama Adam

Sunday, April 12th, 12:00pm   

Two thousand five hundred years ago, a prince in northern India left his palace to find a solution to his people’s sufferings of aging, sickness and death. After six years of arduous spiritual retreat, he was at the brink of death when he discovered a “middle path” of meditation and discipline that brought him a spiritual illumination that showed him the answers he had sought. In that moment, Prince Siddhartha became Shakyamuni Buddha, “The Awakened Sage of the Shakya Clan.”

Today, the Buddha’s teachings are more needed than ever. In these times of fear and difficulty, the Buddha’s middle path of spiritual cultivation can help free us from suffering and its causes and nurture our own inner wisdom and compassion.

As a gift to our dharma friends and followers, Columbus KTC will present an hour-long talk on the Buddha’s first teaching, “The Four Truths Known by the Noble,” given by Lama Adam Berner, who just completed his Three-Year Retreat at Karme Ling Retreat Center in upstate New York.

May it be of benefit to you and your families and friends.  May all beings be free of fear in these difficult times!  

Find it on the Columbus KTC Facebook Live.

*Note: This talk is being presented IN ADDITION TO Lama Kathy’s Dharma Talk, which will be still be held this Sunday, 1pm on her Facebook page – Thanks!* 

Like most people, our Columbus KTC sangha was sad to see churches and meeting places closing down due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

But our resourceful KTC Leadership Team has created a “Virtual Dharma Center” online at the Zoom Conferencing website, and will be opening it for our Sangha THIS coming Sunday for an “abbreviated” version of our Sunday dharma activity schedule.

Sunday March 22 on Zoom:

8:30 – 9:30 AM – Green Tara Chant
10 – 11 AM – Combined Meditation Instruction and Silent Meditation Session
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Introduction to Buddhism Class, “The Meaning of Lineage.” 

Click here to access instructions on how to join the chant, meditation, and Intro Class activities on Zoom.


ALSO – on Sunday March 22 on YouTube & Facebook Live:

1 PM – KTC Resident Teacher Lama Kathy Wesley will continue her Dharma Talk, “Prayers for a Pandemic, Part 2.”

Click here for Lama Kathy’s YouTube Channel.

Click here for Lama Kathy’s Facebook Page. 

We will be meeting virtually until the public health emergency passes and meeting places reopen. 

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