Name: Buddhist Ethics & Lay Precepts: Teaching & Ceremony with Lama Kathy Wesley
Start: 2025-11-01T13:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-11-01T15:30:00-04:00
Location: 645 W Rich St

Buddhist Ethics & Lay Precepts: Teaching & Ceremony with Lama Kathy Wesley

Learn about the Buddhist Ceremony of Lay Precepts in a short talk, followed by the Lay Precepts Ceremony itself.
About this Event

ONE-HOUR PRE-VOW TEACHING - ONLINE AND IN-PERSON

VOW CEREMONY - IN-PERSON ONLY at Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling

One-Hour Teaching, followed by Lay Precepts ceremony

In response to dharma students’ requests, KTC will offer a teaching on Buddhist Ethics and the Lay Precepts Ceremony in a special program from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM Saturday November 1 at Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling.

The Lay Precepts Ceremony is open to all those who have taken the Vow of Buddhist Refuge. During the ceremony, candidates take lifelong vows to practice one or more of the four root precepts and/or one branch precept of the Buddhist path:

Not Killing (Root Precept)
Not Stealing (Root Precept)
Not Lying (Root Precept)
Not Committing Sexual Misconduct (Root Precept)
Not taking intoxicants (Branch Precept)

Before the Ceremony, those taking the precepts learn the benefits of taking the vows and how to keep the vows once they are taken.

Those Taking Precepts may welcome family and friends to observe their ceremony. A short teaching on the meaning of the Refuge Vow will be given before the ceremony. Those who have already Taken Refuge are welcome to participate again to renew their Refuge Vows.

SCHEDULE

1:30 PM TO 3:30 PM - Preliminary Teaching

2:30 PM to 3:00 PM - Vow Ceremony

3 PM to 3:30 PM - How to Keep the Vows

Pre-Requisites: Before a person takes the Precepts, it is helpful to read about the vows and the ceremony.

At this link, you will find a short article about Taking the Lay Precepts: http://lamakathy.net/resources/pdf/lay_precepts_LKW.pdf

Want to hear the teaching but are not sure about the vows? Feel welcome to come and listen to the teaching and observe the ceremony.

What to Bring: If you wish to make an offering, white offering scarves (katas) and envelopes will be provided at the KTC.

Want to Read More? Here’s a link to Lama Kathy’s article about the Tibetan Buddhist Path, and where the Lay Precepts fit in: http://www.lamakathy.net/resources/pdf/tib.buddhist_practices.pdf

CAN’T ATTEND, but want to help KTC's
Operations Fund?

Hop over to our KTC donations page at this link: https://columbusktc.kindful.com

ABOUT LAMA KATHY: A student of buddhism since meeting Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche in 1977, Lama Kathy participated in the first 3-Year Retreat conducted by Khenpo Rinpoche in the United States. Since graduating from retreat in 1996, Lama Kathy has served as the Resident Teacher of the Columbus KTC.