Find your Community
Central Ohio is home to over a dozen communities that practice in the footsteps of the Buddha. Because human needs are diverse, communities are diverse. Each has its own traditions, leadership, and practice of the Dharma. Look over the list to the right to find a sangha that’s right for you.
Do you have more info about your group, or have you found that the information here is outdated? Please send a message through the contact page! We’re always trying to keep this list updated and accurate.
Bliss Run Sangha
Bliss Run practices in the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Zen is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
Bliss Run meets every Thursday from 7-9:00 PM. Newcomer orientation is at 6:45. They meet at the Unity Church in the North Linden neighborhood of Columbus at 4211 Maize Road, Columbus, OH 43224.
Find out more at blissrun.org/home/meetings
Blue Heron Sangha
Blue Heron practices in the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Zen is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
The sangha meets virtually on Tuesday evenings at 7:15 PM via Zoom and on the first Saturday of each month for a morning of mindfulness.
Find out more at blueheronsangha.org and facebook.com/BlueHeronSangha/
Ching Ter Meitreya Temple
Ching Ter Meitreya Temple was founded under the umbrella of the World Maitreya Great Tao (WMGT) organization, based in Taiwan. Maitreya, the future Buddha, here depicted as the popular chubby, happy Bodhisattva, is the focus of this community’s practice. The Maitreya Great Tao lineage is a relatively new one (formed in the 1980s). With roots in multiple schools of Mahayana Buddhism and in Chinese folk traditions, it works to carry out the very timely mission to “love and to respect all life and nature” and “make an earthbound Pureland”(2). The Ching Ter Temple holds classes in English and Mandarin Chinese.
The Temple is located at 2891 E Dublin-Granville Rd., 43231. The community supports itself and promotes respect for all life through its temple store, It’s All Natural! and by hosting regular vegan pop-up markets. See what’s coming up at the website www.chingtermaitreya.org and at facebook.com/chingtertemple
Grove City Zen
Grove City Zen practices in the Sanshin Community Network founded by Okumura Roshi, a Sōtō Zen lineage in the Mahayana School. Grove City Zen meets at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism (at 3166 W Broad St) on Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Find more information at www.grovecityzen.com
Jungto Society, Columbus
The Columbus Jungto Society practices in the tradition of Korean Zen master and peace activist, Pomnyun Sunim, who founded the Jungto Society with the mission of cultivating “a pure heart, good friends, and clean Earth”(1). Zen is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism. The Columbus Jungto Society practices in the Korean language.
Columbus Jungto Society is located at 173 Oak St, 43235 North of Worthington (Note: This is not the Oak St. in downtown Columbus) Columbus Jungto meets Sundays at 10:00 AM. Contact them at columbus@jungto.org or learn more about the international Jungto Society at jungto.org or jungtosociety.org
KTC (Karma Thegsum Chöling), Columbus
Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling, one of the oldest Buddhist communities in central Ohio, was established in 1977 under the supervision of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche in the Karma Kagyu lineage (a Tibetan lineage within Vajrayana school of Buddhism). KTC is led by teachers Lama Kathy Wesley, Lama Tom Broadwater, and Lama Adam Berner. Meetings are held in English.
Columbus KTC is located at 645 West Rich Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Meditation and other events are held regularly. The full schedule can be found at columbusktc.org/schedule/
Linh Son Pagoda of Ohio
Linh Sơn Pagoda of Ohio primarily serves the Vietnamese community and practices in the Mahayana school with Zen and Pureland influences. The temple is located at 4045 Cleveland Ave and is currently being lead by Thich Trilong.
Mud Lotus Sangha
The Mud Lotus Sangha was founded in 2016, by Seth Josephson and Sara Provenzale to support the cultivation of “Stillness, Belonging, and Engagement.” The community draws on multiple traditions for inspiration but it is most indebted to the Plum Village lineage founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) master and peace activist. Pre-pandemic, Sara and Seth were also regularly leading meditations with inmates at the Pickaway Correctional Institution. Zen is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
The Mud Lotus Sangha meets on Thursday mornings at 9:00 AM for meditation and Dharma sharing at ILLIO Studio, 17 E. Tulane in Clintonville, and on Zoom. For more information, contact seth.josephson@gmail.com.
Pragmatic Buddhism, Central Ohio Center
The Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism was founded in 2014 by Glenn Gustafson Sensei. Glenn was ordained under Eubanks Sensei in the Order of Pragmatic Buddhism a secular philosophy with roots in Chinese Chan (Zen) lineage. Zen is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
Pragmatic Buddhism’s summer hours are Sunday from 9:00 AM to Noon as well as a Recovery Dharma meetings on Monday and Friday evenings at 7:00pm; meditation practice on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm and Grove City Zen practice on Thursdays at 6:30pm. Sunday 9:30 am practice will be held in-person at the Center as well as on Zoom. They meet at 3166 W Broad St #101, Columbus, OH 43204. Find more information at cocpb.com
SGI-USA Columbus Buddhist Center
SGI Columbus is affiliated with the Sokka Gakki International organization, a Japanese origin organization in the Nicheren lineage of Mahayana Buddhism. This diverse, English-language community is located at 3626 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026. Find more information at dove-scarlet-zzak.squarespace.com and at facebook.com/sgiusaohioregion/
Shambhala Columbus
Columbus Shambhala meets for meditation Sundays at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (the First Sunday of the month includes a beginner session for newcomers), followed by a book discussion from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and then Free Tai Chi instruction provided by Sifu John Carnes. Meditation is available in-person at Tai Chi Corner, 5082 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 or on Zoom. Shambhala practices in a secular Vajrayana tradition founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Find more information at columbus.shambhala.org.
Tzu Chi Foundation Columbus
A Buddhist chariatable organization based in Taiwan, the Columbus Service Center is located at 2200 West Henderson Road, Columbus, OH 43220. Tzu Chi follows the humanistic Mahayana Buddhism of it’s founder, the nun and activist, Cheng Yen. Tzu Chi Foundation Columbus primarily serves the Taiwanese community affiliated with Ohio State Univeristy. Find more updates at .facebook.com/OSUTC/ & instagram.com/osutzuching/
Wat Buddha Samakidam
A Theravada temple at 3296 Watkins Rd. Probably the largest Buddhist community in central Ohio due to the large size of the local Lao-American population. Wat Buddha Samakidam primarily serves the Lao & Thai community with holidays, festivals, and by hosting monastics. The temple is open most mornings, but especially on Sunday, for food offerings and services.
Wat Lao Buddhamamakaram
A Theravada temple at 3624 Bexvie Ave. Wat Lao Buddhamamakaram primarily serves the Lao & Thai community. The temple is open most mornings for food offerings and services. It is known locally for the shrine building in bright decoration in traditional South East Asian style.
Wat Ohio Dhammaram
A Theravada temple at 4080 Cleveland Ave serving the Lao & Thai community.
Wat Pa Thavone Dhammaram
A Theravada temple at 5810 Shannon Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 serving the Lao & Thai community.
Zen Columbus Sangha
Formerly the Columbus Zen Corner, Zen Columbus Sangha is one of the oldest local Buddhist groups. They meet at the UU Church at 93 W. Weisheimer, Columbus, OH 43214, and on Zoon, on Saturday Mornings from 8:30 - 9:45 and Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 - 8:15. ZCS is community-led and has no formal affiliation or resident teacher although it was started by students of Daniel Terragno Roshi, and the Diamond Sangha lineage (founded by Robert Aitken). They practice in the Japanese Zen tradition (with elements of both Sōtō and Rinzai schools) which is in the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Find more information at zencolumbus.org.