Sharing the Blessings of Milarepa’s Life: A Reading Transmission Event

When we hear about Buddhist masters of the past, their amazing stories of dedication, devotion, and accomplishment can be stirring and inspiring. Still, we might wonder: how can we who study dharma today possibly connect to their lives and examples?

The Tibetan tradition provides a bridge for these blessings to come to us from ages past - the tradition of Reading Transmission.

As a lama reads the text in its original form in a quick and fluid fashion, students meditate that the words melt into their hearts, purifying negativity, building positive qualities, and uplifting their capacity to manifest wisdom and compassion.

The sound itself can be an object of meditation, inviting listeners to dwell in the practice of Shamatha and Vipassana.

Reading Transmissions also are thought to bring blessing to the places they are giving, steeping them in wisdom written on the pages.

Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling is honored to be hosting its very first long-form Reading Transmission Aug. 29-31 with Lama Karma Drodhul, nephew of KTC founder Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, reading “The Life of Milarepa,” an inspiring story of devotion, compassion, wisdom and redemption by the Tsangnyön Heruka.

Milarepa is universally revered in Tibet as a great yogi who overcame immense evil and obstacles and gained Buddhahood in a single lifetime.

Many of his songs are teachings in themselves, some of them pointing out the futility of worldly life, some pointing out the nature of mind itself.

The transmission will be given in five sessions: four two-hour sessions beginning Friday evening Aug. 29, and continuing Saturday and Sunday Aug. 30 and 31, and one one-hour session given after the Sunday Morning Dharma Talk on Sunday Aug. 31.

Intermixed with the reading, Lama Karma will give short talks and instructions to help participants connect to the blessings of Milarepa and his story.

Ideally participants will attend all sessions, but Lama Karma said there is blessing in attending even just one session. Participants can meditate quietly while listening,

ALL SESSIONS ARE IN-PERSON at the Columbus KTC Center, 645 W. RIch Street, Columbus, OH.

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ZOOM ATTENDANCE will be limited to those who have taken the Buddhist Refuge Vow and commit to attending all sessions.

Lama Karma asks that participants have received the vow of Buddhist Refuge, and must attend all online sessions.

A refuge ceremony will be offered at 6 PM Friday August. 29. See details below.

No audio or video recording is permitted.

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ATTENDANCE IS BY SUGGESTED DONATION. If you lack funds to attend, please send a message to [email protected] and request a free ticket. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

NEED THE REFUGE VOW TO ATTEND? Contact [email protected] to be on the list for the Refuge Ceremony at 6 PM Friday Aug. 29.

We hope you can join us for this special blessing.

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Lama Karma is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and past president of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery in Woodstock, NY. He also is the nephew of KTD’s first Abbot, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, and assisted Khenpo Rinpoche at KTD. As a youth, Lama Karma excelled in all aspects of dharma study at Thrangu Monastery and Thrangu Rinpoche sent him to the United States. to deepen his understanding of the dharma under the tutelage of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche.

In March 2004, Lama Karma completed his first, and in February 2008 his second, traditional three-year, three-month retreat under Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche at Karme Ling Retreat Center. He has traveled to centers throughout North and South America to teach for the past 10 years. He is the author of Amrita of Eloquence: A Biography of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and Siddhas of Ga: Remembered by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. He was appointed as the president of KTD by H.H Karmapa in September of 2018 and completed his term in September 2021

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling, 645 West Rich Street, Columbus, United States