Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation: Reading Transmission & Teaching

Since the 12th Century, students of Karma Kagyu teachings have relied on Gampopa’s “Jewel Ornament of Liberation” to describe and guide their Buddhist path. 

This short but powerful book (also known as “Ornament of Precious Liberation”) describes in simple terms how ordinary sentient beings can become Buddhas through practices of ethics, compassion, and wisdom.

Karma Thegsum Chöling Columbus is honored to offer students a profound connection to this text by offering a Reading Transmission of the text itself as well as teachings about the life and writings of the meditation master Gampopa, by Lama Karma Drodhul.

A reading transmission, in which a lama reads a spiritual text in its original form in a quick and fluid fashion, is said to connect one spiritual generation to another through the blessings of the lamas’ words.

Starting Friday evening, Lama Karma will give four short sessions of teaching about Gampopa, his life and his dharma, as well as short sessions of Reading Transmission of the “Jewel Ornament” text.

On Saturday afternoon June 6, Lama Karma will bestow the empowerment of White Tara, the feminine aspect of compassion, as a blessing for the long life and excellent health of dharma students. 

It is our hope that by receiving this transmission, you will experience a profound connection to the teachings and a blessing to study Gampopa’s dharma and use its principles in your everyday life.

About Lama Karma Drodhul

Lama Karma Drodhul is an accomplished lama and teacher who has taught in the United States for almost 20 years. He and his wife Cherry and their young son live in upstate New York. 

Lama Karma is the nephew of, and was principal attendant for the late Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, the founding abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery. 

Lama Karma has a gift for expressing ancient teachings in ways that apply to modern life.

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Reading Transmissions have been part of Tibetan Buddhism since the dharma came to Tibet from India in the 7th Century.

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 given, steeping them in wisdom written on the pages.

The transmission will be given in four two-hour sessions beginning Friday evening June 5, continuing Saturday and Sunday June 6 and 7, including one one-hour session given during the Sunday Morning 11:30 AM Dharma Talk on Sunday June 7..

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

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ALL SESSIONS ARE IN-PERSON at the Columbus KTC Center, 645 W. RIch Street, Columbus, OH. Ideally participants will attend all sessions, but Lama Karma said there is blessing in attending even just one session.

ZOOM ATTENDANCE will be by registration only. Lama Karma has asked that participants must have received the vow of Buddhist Refuge, and must attend all online sessions. 

No audio or video recording is permitted.

ATTENDANCE IS BY 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 June 5, 2026

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

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