Happy Year of the Tiger to All! Join Us Next Week for Special Prayers

Each year we celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year in the Tibetan Calendar with special prayers to bring blessings into our dharma practice and our lives. 


This year, we will welcome the Year of the Tiger, according to the Tsurphu Lunar Calendar, on Wednesday Feb. 2.

Monday evening Jan. 31 at 7 PM – To clear away the obstacles of the old year we will have a special EVENING Green Tara Chant online through Zoom. Lama Kathy will preside and our regular Green Tara Umdze (chant leader) Marilyn Stephen will lead the chant, which will last about 80 minutes.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88616696341?pwd=eFdlMzk3MDUrRkhNUVlKc0c3eUo4dz09
Meeting ID: 886 1669 6341Passcode: 515800

Tuesday evening Feb. 1 at 6:30 PM  – We will add the Smoke Offering of the Mountains to our usual Chenrezig sadhana. Both will be on the same Zoom channel; you can join at any time. Want to do a smoke offering of your own? Simply light a stick of incense and place it outdoorsin a flowerpot filled with sand (or an incense burner). We will offer the smoke to the awakened ones and all the local deities and protectors, asking for blessings in the New Year.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87564734195?pwd=OGV3NnlPZ3JuNWV5ZUg2N2o1ei9FQT09
Meeting ID: 875 6473 4195Passcode: 262197

Wednesday morning Feb. 2 at 9 AM – We will welcome the New Year and start our year off right – with special prayers for blessing and auspiciousness. Bring a candle – electric or natural – because we will recite the Lamp Offering prayers, along with aspirations and blessings.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89302115616?pwd=NEtWZ0VkV2dZcXFGdUV4cXR0WW1idz09
Meeting ID: 893 0211 5616Passcode: 670215


And there’s even more opportunities to accumulate merit. Read on!

The first two weeks of Losar coincide each year with the Great Occasion of the Buddha’s Performance of Miracles (Chötrul Duchen, in Tibetan) on, one of four Sacred Days on the Karma Kagyu tradition’s yearly calendar. This means that the benefit and blessing of any practice we do during this “Waxing Moon of Miracles” (sometimes called “The Month of Miracles”) is multiplied millions of times. This year, Chötrul Duchen will take place on Wednesday Feb. 16. So this is a good time to plan in extra dharma offerings and practice!

LOSAR MATCHING FUND CAMPAIGN
Since it is so meritorious to give offerings to dharma causes during the first 15 days of the Tibetan New Year, we are offering our dharma friends the opportunity to donate to KTC in a special “Matching Funds” campaign. Since we are working on closing out our construction accounts and beginning repayment of our $200,000 construction loan, the funds raised in this special campaign will be dedicated to KTC’s area of greatest need, whether that is construction, loan repayment, or operations.

Each donation will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous donor up to $5,000. Campaign will begin on Wednesday Feb. 6 conclude on Wednesday Feb. 16.

You can give through our website:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YMTXX46F2X7AG&source=url

Or on our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusKTC

Either way, you’ll be benefitting all sentient beings with the blessings of dharma.

May all beings benefit!

Reading Transmission Unites KTC’s “Distance Sangha”

This past weekend on a warm spring day under the cover of swiflly moving clouds, Lama Adam and Lama Kathy gave a socially-distanced Reading Transmission to more than a dozen people at Scioto-Audubon Park in downtown Columbus.


The event was organized by Lama Adam, who is helping facilitate an upcoming class on the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd – an offering practice aimed at reversing ego-clinging and developing wisdom. The class will be taught via Zoom this coming Saturday by Lama Tsultrim Gyaltsen, men’s retreat master at the Karme Ling Retreat Center in upstate New York.

The class is unfortunately sold out, but will be repeated later this year.
Included in the group were several dharma students from central Ohio, as well as dharma friends from outside the city – and Tonya Kowalska, our KTC Zoom Team Lead, who drove from Lawrence, Kansas to attend. Tonya said she enjoyed seeing her KTC dharma friends “in person” and was delighted to see the new KTC building go up in downtown Columbus.

Losar Celebration 2021

After celebrating the Gregorian calendar New Year on Jan. 1, Columbus KTC is preparing to welcome the Tibetan New Year (known as “Losar”) on Friday, Feb. 12.

As the “old year” comes to a close, it is a Tibetan cultural tradition to clean one’s shrine and home in preparation for the “new year.” 

In that same way, it is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition to purify one’s thoughts and mindstream in the days before Losar (New Year) to bless and release the old year and prepare for the new year ahead.

At Columbus KTC, we will gather as a community for three nights before Losar to bless and purify the old year and make offerings toward goodness and auspiciousness in the new year.

Then, on Losar morning, we will offer lamps and recite prayers to bless ourselves and the community and start the new year with auspicious energy and blessings.

And, as Losar occurs on a Friday this year, we will be able to host a 2-hour Saturday morning Shamatha Meditation Retreat on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 13. 

The first two weeks of Losar coincide each year with the Great Occasion of the Buddha’s Performance of Miracles (Chötrul Duchen, in Tibetan), one of four Sacred Days on the Karma Kagyu tradition’s yearly calendar. This means that the benefit and blessing of any practice we do during this “Waxing Moon of Miracles” (sometimes called “The Month of Miracles”) is multiplied millions of times. 

We hope you can join us for these programs, all of which will be webcast on Zoom.


Registration is not needed for the pre-Losar and Losar Day events, but registration will be required for the Saturday Shamatha Retreat.

Celebration Schedule:

  • Pre-Losar Chenrezig chant – Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – Time: 7 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern Time
  • Pre-Losar Green Tara chant – Wednesday, February 10, 2021 – Time: 7 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern Time 
  • Pre-Losar Smoke/Incense Offering – Thursday, February 11, 2021 – Time: 7 pm to 8:00 pm 
  • Losar Morning Chants – Friday, February 12, 2021  Time: 8:00 am to 9:00 am Eastern Time
  • Losar Shamatha Retreat – Saturday February 13, 2021 Time: 10 am to 12:00 pm Eastern Time

Please visit our Virtual Shrine Room for details on accessing the Zoom meetings.

Registration is not needed for the pre-Losar and Losar Day events, but registration will be required for the Saturday Shamatha Retreat.

[wpi_designer_button text=’Register Online’ link=’https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-saturday-morning-meditation-retreat-tickets-137096309753‘ target=’self’]

Registration Fees (cost per session, empowerments, materials, meal, etc): All evening prayer sessions free of charge; Saturday Shamatha Retreat by donation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; contact lamakathy@columbusktc.org to request fee-free registration.

Chant with Us This Sunday to Observe 5 Years Since the Fire

This coming Sunday, January 31, is the 5th Anniversary of the Columbus KTC Fire – the arson blaze that destroyed our center and made us “dharma nomads,” conducting our meditations and classes in rented spaces all over town. 

To commemorate the event and make powerful aspirations for the future of our community, KTC will sponsor a special “Look to the Future” Chenrezig chant on Zoom at 10 AM Sunday Jan. 31, 2021.  We hope you will join us! 

Our goal is to have as many people as possible in the “Virtual Shrine Room” for this puja. We don’t think we can “break” Zoom, but it would be gratifying to “fill” the room.   

There will be brief introductory remarks by KTC Director Kim Miracle and then the chanting of Chenrezig/Amitabha prayers. You can find the prayers on the KTC Dharma Downloads page.

Sponsorships – if you would like to sponsor our “Look to the Future” Chenrezig chant, you can go to our PayPal Donation page.

Donations of any amount are welcome and will be MATCHED as part of our “$25,000 Matching Challenge” rebuilding campaign.   

Our new building is going up rapidly at the site of the old, and we rejoice together at what our sangha has accomplished.

May all beings benefit!

Beam Signing Postponed due to Stay-at-Home Order

We regret to report that due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Central Ohio, the Franklin County and Columbus Departments of Public Health have advised all residents of Columbus and Franklin County to stay home beginning at 6 PM Friday Nov. 20. As part of the order, county residents are advised to only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, and picking up food.


This means that as much as we would like to host our dharma family at our construction site this weekend, it is the wisest course of action for us to follow the advice of our public health leaders and stay at home to protect our family and community health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Rest assured that when the emergency orders are lifted, we will joyfully gather to place our signatures on other building materials that will go into our new meditation center.


Meanwhile, please join us on Zoom on Tuesday Nov. 24 at 7 PM for our weekly compassion chant, as we pray the Chenrezig and Amitabha sadhanas for the protection and blessing of all beings.


Please take care during these difficult days and stay home when you can. Remember to wear a mask when you’re out and about, and remember to wash your hands. We love you and treasure you and look forward to seeing you in the coming months.  

May all be auspicious and may all beings benefit!

Columbus KTC’s Virtual Dharma Center Activities for Sunday, March 29th

Welcome to the Columbus KTC Virtual Shrine Room. We are using the Zoom conferencing service to help us practice together during this time of public health emergency. 


We appreciate your participation, and hope you enjoy your time with us. 
Please remember to mute your microphone so sounds from your home will not disturb the practice or teaching session.


We hope you will come visit us again. If you’d like to donate to help us with costs, please click here.

Instructions for Joining Columbus KTC Zoom Meetings

Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Download Center. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a Zoom Meeting Link.

For information on how to call in to a Zoom meeting, please click here. Otherwise, feel free to use the quick-links below to join a session.  


Green Tara on Sunday at 8:30 am EST

Time: Mar 29, 2020 08:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://zoom.us/j/2796283530

Group Meditation Practice on Sunday at 10:00 am EST

Time: Mar 29, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://us04web.zoom.us/j/512465844

Introduction to Meditation on Sunday at 10:00 am EST

Time: Mar 29, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://zoom.us/j/127257542

Pujas/Ngondro on Sunday at 10:00 am EST

Time: Mar 29, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://us04web.zoom.us/j/333116511

Introduction to Buddhism on Sunday at 11:30 am EST

Time: Mar 29, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://zoom.us/j/2796283530


Dharma Talk – Lama Kathy to Continue Sunday Dharma Talks on Facebook Live and YouTube

Please use the links to join Lama Kathy Wesley’s Sunday 1pm.

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

Losar Activities 2018

Pre-Losar Mahakala Puja

Sunday, February 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

In Tibetan Buddhist religious communities, it is customary to conclude the year with a protector puja to clear away obstacles from the “old year” and prepare for Losar. By reciting the Mahakala puja and making offerings of torma and tea, we ask for Mahakala’s blessings to help us through the year.


Sang Puja

Sunday, February 11 @ 11:15 am

The day before Losar,Tibetan Buddhists traditionally make an outdoor incense offering called “Sang.” During Sang Puja, we offer fragrant wood and incense outdoors. After making the outdoor offering, we go indoors to chant. We then imagine the outdoor incense offering to be offerings as vast as space that please the enlightened ones and benefit sentient beings.


 Losar Sacred Day Retreat

Friday, February 16 @ 8:00 am

Tibetan New Year, or Losar, marks the start of a new Lunar year. Virtuous acts done during this time are multiplied many thousand-fold because of its connection with events in the life of the historical Buddha. Losar festivities always include morning and evening prayers. Join us at 8am for the Green Tara Puja to start the year with prayer and meditation.


Shabbat Supper & Prayers
with Tifereth Israel Congregation

Friday, February 16 @ 6:00 pm | Register Online

At 6 p.m. that evening, we will have a joint Shabbat (Sabbath) prayer service and meal with our Tifereth Israel spiritual friends. They would like to host us so we can help them wish farewell and good luck to Rabbi Ungar, who is retiring. Meal Registration is Required; deadline for Meal Registration is Feb. 13.


Losar Sunday Celebration

Sunday, February 18 @ 11:30 am

Our main KTC Tibetan New Year celebration takes place on Losar Sunday – the first Sunday after the Losar holiday. Members, friends, families and the Sangha are invited to meet the Sunday after Losar to light lamps, acknowledge volunteers, swear in new officers, and make offerings to a representation of His Holiness Karmapa, the head of our lineage.


Losar Sangha Lunch

Sunday, February 18 @ 1:00 pm | RSVP here

You are invited to join our regular Third Sunday Sangha lunch to celebrate Losar. We will meet Peking Dynasty Restaurant, 2210 E. Livingston Ave.  (Participants will pay for their meal.)

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Columbus KTC Online Auction

Tuesday, August 1 – Thursday August 10, 2017

Thank you so much for all the help you have given our center as we’ve recovered from the fire that destroyed our dharma center in January 2016.

We continue to raise money toward our newly revised $1.4 million rebuilding goal. To support this effort, we’ve organized a FABULOUS ONLINE AUCTION of dharma and everyday items.

Items include statues and thangkas, including rare items donated by sangha members around the country. Some are even blessed by His Holiness Karmapa, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and other great masters.

The Online Auction will be 10 DAYS ONLY: Aug. 1 through 10

Starting Tuesday, August 1st, please visit us on eBay here and enter seller’s user ID: columbusktc

Questions? Contact our auction team at auction@columbusktc.org

You also can simply donate to the Columbus KTC Rebuilding Fund at this link: https://columbusktc.org/rebuild/

Losar Activities 2017


Pre-Losar Mahakala Puja

Saturday, February 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Register Online

In Tibetan Buddhist religious communities, it is customary to conclude the year with a protector puja to clear away obstacles from the “old year” and prepare for Losar. By reciting the Mahakala puja and making offerings of torma and tea, we ask for Mahakala’s blessings to help us through the year.


Sang Puja

Sunday, February 26 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

The day before Losar,Tibetan Buddhists traditionally make an outdoor incense offering called “Sang.” During Sang Puja, we offer fragrant wood and incense outdoors. After making the outdoor offering, we go indoors to chant. We then imagine the outdoor incense offering to be offerings as vast as space that please the enlightened ones and benefit sentient beings.


Losar Sacred Day Retreat

Monday, February 27
Green Tara @ 8:00 am & Chenrezig @ 7:00 pm

Tibetan New Year, or Losar, marks the start of a new Lunar year. Virtuous acts done during this time are multiplied many thousand-fold because of its connection with events in the life of the historical Buddha. Losar festivities always include morning and evening prayers. Join us at 8am for the Green Tara Puja and again at 7 pm for in the Chenrezig Puja.


Losar Sunday Celebration

Sunday, March 5 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Our main KTC Tibetan New Year celebration takes place on Losar Sunday – the first Sunday after the Losar holiday. Members, friends, families and the Sangha are invited to meet the Sunday after Losar to light lamps, acknowledge volunteers, swear in new officers, and make offerings to a representation of His Holiness Karmapa, the head of our lineage.


Losar Sangha Lunch

Sunday, March 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Register Online

You are invited to a vegetarian lunch to celebrate Losar. There is no charge for the lunch but donations will be appreciated to cover the cost of this meal.  


 

Interviews with Lama Karma

During the upcoming teaching weekend at the Thurber Center, Lama Karma Drodhul will be offering 10 minute private interviews during the following times:

  • Saturday, June 4th from 9 am to 10 am
  • Sunday, June 5th from 9 am to 10 am
  • Sunday, June 5th from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm

The Thurber Center is located at 91 Jefferson Ave Columbus, OH 43215.

This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about your practice, the weekend teaching or other topics related to Buddhism.During an interview, it is traditional to offer a khata scarf and to make a monetary donation. The amount of the donation is up to you. Khata scarves will be available for sale during the teaching weekend.

To schedule an interview, please contact Anne at grimsbyagirl@gmail.com