HAPPY LOSAR from All of Us at KTC!

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Tashi Delek (Auspicious Good Wishes) to one and all for the Year of the Rabbit – Losar 2023!

Lama Kathy recommends that we try to spend some extra time practicing mantra or meditation of offerings on the Losar holiday (Tuesday Feb. 21) because of the old Tibetan saying, “What you do on Losar, you will do all year long.”

Adding some extra practice on Losar Day will help you get the year off to a good start and help you connect with sentient beings in an auspicious way!

Want to start with an outdoor incense offering of your own? Check out the Short Lojong Smoke Offering Practice here: https://www.dropbox.com/home/SANG%20AND%20SUR%20PUJAS/LHASANG%20SMOKE%20OFFERING%20CLASS%20HANDOUTS

And remember that the first 15 Days of the New Year correspond to the 15 Days of Miracles performed by the Buddha during a debate he engaged in with non-Buddhist scholars. During these 15 days, the positive and negative effects of actions are particularly magnified, so it’s a good time to do lots of virtue and refrain from non-virtue 🙂

THIS coming Saturday Feb. 25 Lama Kathy and Lama Tom will preside over a Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony at 11:30 AM. It will be preceded at 10 AM by a one-hour class on the Bodhisattva Vow and a NEWLY ADDED Refuge Ceremony at 9 AM! There is no need to register for the Refuge Ceremony, but you can sign up for the Bodhisattva Vow class here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taking-the-bodhisattva-vow-teaching-and-ceremony-with-ktc-lamas-tickets-522291567137

The 15 Days of Miracles will culminate at KTC with a 9 AM Morning prayer service on Tuesday March 7, the “official” day to celebrate Chötrul Duchen, the Great Occasion of the Buddha’s Miracles.

May all beings benefit!

“Rescued” KTC Tapes Come Home

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KTC Library Team Lead Tom Turpen (left) is assisted by library volunteers Clare (center) and Austin (right) as they review several dozen cassette tapes brought to KTC this past week.
After KTC’s previous building was heavily damaged in an arson fire on Jan. 31, 2016, quick-thinking volunteers rescued the library tapes before the building was demolished.
The rescued tapes are now back at the library, where they will be reviewed and checked for damage before being sent for digitizing.
It is hoped these teachings, many by distinguished Tibetan teachers, will eventually be available to KTC library patrons online.  May all beings benefit!

Tibetan Buddhist Holidays and Auspicious Days 2023

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As Losar, the Tibetan Buddhist New Year, approaches, we at KTC wish you a blessed holiday. As Lama Kathy mentioned in her Dharma Talk a few weeks ago, the first two weeks of the Tibetan New Year are called “The Month of Miracles” because of their association with an event in the Buddha’s life – when he performed a miracle every day for 15 days as part of a debate with non-Buddhist scholars. (He won the debate, by the way.)
As such, the first two weeks – from Losar Day Feb. 21 to the Miracles holiday celebrated on Tuesday March 7 – are considered a particularly auspicious time to make offerings, perform dharma practice, and practice virtue of all kinds.
But there are other auspicious times of the year, as well. You can read a short list here; https://www.dropbox.com/s/4k4a1s1nu2v1yuv/Tibetan%20Buddhist%20Calendar%20-%20General%20Information.2023.pdf?dl=0
Did you miss the Dharma Talk and want to catch up? You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/3XRIkxKoUYc?feature=share
Here is wishing you an auspicious new year full of great dharma practice!

Did You Create KTC’s Podcast Accounts? We Need You!

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As we continue building out our new KTC website, we find ourselves in a difficult spot – our podcasts (which have been very popular and have reached thousands of people) are suddenly not available to folks who want to hear them on services like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.
To fix the problem, we need to find the person who started our podcast accounts with these (and other) services. Can you help?
Please write to: media@columbusktc.org.

First Refuge Ceremony of the New Year: 12:45 PM Sunday Jan. 8!

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As we welcome the Western New Year, KTC has set its first Refuge Ceremony of the New Year for 12:45 PM Sunday Jan. 8.

The Refuge Vow Ceremony is the initial entry to the Buddhist path for new practitioners. In this short ceremony, the Dharma student takes the Buddha as their teacher, the Dharma as their path, and the Sangha (congregation) as their community. They receive a Dharma name and instructions on how to practice the Refuge Vow in everyday life.

If you’ve been thinking about taking the Refuge Vow, you can read more about it here:

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

To sign up for the Jan. 8 ceremony, contact Lama Kathy here: lamakathy@columbusktc.org

The next Refuge Ceremony will be offered at Losar (Tibetan New Year) in late February.

KTC Goes Virtual for Christmas Day Programs:
In-Person Programs Canceled for Dec. 25

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Thanks to all who have inquired about our plans for Christmas Day. 

With the ongoing winter weather emergency, and the Level 2 Snow Emergency called by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department still in effect, KTC will cancel in-person programs for Sunday Dec. 25, moving them to online programs instead.

You can find Zoom links to our 9 AM Chenrezig chant and 10 AM Sitting Meditation session here: 
https://columbusktc.org/online-programs/

And find the 11 AM Dharma Talk on KTC YouTube and Facebook Live channels here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/KTCColumbus
https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusKTC/live

Please stay safe and warm, and feel welcome to join us with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa in hand.

New Year’s Day Programs for Jan. 1, 2023 are expected to proceed as scheduled.

Blessings to you and all during this holiday season!


Christmas Day Schedule 2022
9 AM Chenrezig puja (on Zoom)
10 AM Quiet Sitting Meditation Practice (on Zoom)
11 AM Dharma Talk with Lama Kathy

Snow Emergency Policy

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Dear all:

Greetings! Hope everyone is staying safe and warm today.

I’m writing to let you know that KTC’s Board is carefully watching the Central Ohio weather situation to make sure that all KTC volunteers and attendees stay safe during the severe winter weather that came with Winter Storm Elliot last night.

You may or may not be aware that KTC has a “Snow Emergency Policy” to help us decide if and when to cancel KTC programs and services.

The policy states that if the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office declares a Level 2 Snow Emergency, KTC will CANCEL its programming to protect everyone’s safety.

Today (Friday Dec. 23) the FCSO declared a Level 2 Snow Emergency for Franklin County.

We will be watching local weather developments, and will make a determination at 5 PM Saturday about whether KTC will be open for its special Christmas Day program on Sunday.

Please watch your email for an update tomorrow after 5 PM.

Meanwhile, if anyone has questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding, and for your service to KTC!

With prayers and good wishes,

Kathy Wesley for KTC

Snow Emergency Policy

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Dear all:

Greetings! Hope everyone is staying safe and warm today.

I’m writing to let you know that KTC’s Board is carefully watching the Central Ohio weather situation to make sure that all KTC volunteers and attendees stay safe during the severe winter weather that came with Winter Storm Elliot last night.

You may or may not be aware that KTC has a “Snow Emergency Policy” to help us decide if and when to cancel KTC programs and services.

The policy states that if the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office declares a Level 2 Snow Emergency, KTC will CANCEL its programming to protect everyone’s safety.

Today (Friday Dec. 23) the FCSO declared a Level 2 Snow Emergency for Franklin County.

We will be watching local weather developments, and will make a determination at 5 PM Saturday about whether KTC will be open for its special Christmas Day program on Sunday.

Please watch your email for an update tomorrow after 5 PM.

Meanwhile, if anyone has questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding, and for your service to KTC!

With prayers and good wishes,
Kathy Wesley for KTC

Seeking the Heart of Wisdom (At Least, a Digital form …)

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Many of our KTC dharma friends know about the Heart Sutra, a famous Buddhist scripture that teaches an ultimate view of the empty and luminous nature of all things.

A few years ago, a KTC friend created a paper copy of the sutra and we got dozens printed, as we received a teaching from Khenpo Ugyen about the sutra and wanted to practice reciting it.

We’ve now run out of books, but cannot find the source document – the digital file containing the book pages and covers for printing.

Do any of our readers have an electronic copy of this booklet? If so, contact Lama Kathy at lamakathy@columbusktc.org and let her know.

May all beings benefit!

Giving Tuesday

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We are just a few days away from the biggest giving day of the year – #GivingTuesday.

On November 29th, KTC will  join the global movement to celebrate giving back. 

 

           Help us reach our goal of $10,800. 

 

Mark it on your calendars!

 

Two Ways to Give:

On Facebook -Visit Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusKTC

On KTC Website -: https://columbusktc.kindful.com/

KTC members and friends celebrate our Flag-Raising in Spring, 2022.