KTC is one of the largest American groups of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. They even have their own resident Lama, Lama Kathy (who is very sweet). I have been on their yahoo group for some time now, and this is my first impressions of these two groups before actually entering: KTC is community-oriented whereas the Zen group, which takes place at the local UU church, is far less community-oriented. If you are not interested in a Buddhist community, and just want bare bones zazen, something that can compliment other belief systems easily, then the Zen group is best. If you are drawn to mantras, community, “smells and bells,” the Dalai Lama (he is the head of the Galug school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Karmapa is the head of the Kagyu school which the KTC is a part, which is the largest school of Tibetan Buddhism), meditating on Compassion Buddha, then go to the KTC.

I don’t know what is best for me, so once my life dies down in a couple of weeks, I plan on going to both.

Namaste, Kristen