Healing Practices & Ceremonies
Drukpa Mila Center
872 Belmont Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301
For information: Donna Selby, 503-363-3560
By Appointment Only
* Outside city limits we request reimbursement for mileage and travel time.
Venerable Lama Karma Namgyel
Ven. Lama Karma Namgyel was born in Paro, Bhutan. His father’s family is of the Peling Lineage of Pema Lingpa in Bumthang located in east Bhutan. His mother is from Paro, Bhutan. At age seven, he became a monk and attended the Paro Dzong Monastery, which is a Drukpa Kagyu monastery. While attending Paro Dzong, he was taught by his Guru, H.H. Ngawang Thinlay Lhundup, renowned as a great healer in Bhutan. He was instructed in healing mantras, chanting and divinations. Ven. Lama Karma also excelled at sacred dance and still performs the dances of the Black Hat; Invitation to Guru Rinpoche; Mahakala; Lord of the Cremation Grounds and Dakini, with the traditional costumes and music. He became accomplished in playing musical instruments used in observance for spiritual festivals and in-turn taught the monks. The instruments included horns, flutes, drums and damarus. Ven. Lama Karma enjoys playing these instruments and performing sacred chants.
After completing his undergraduate education at Paro Dzong monastery, Ven. Lama Karma Namgyel went to Nepal to study Buddhist Philosophy at the Tharthang Nyingma Institute in 1987, at the age of 21. He studied there for nine (9) years with Khenchen Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche, a Dzogchen Master; Regent of Chatrul Rinpoche and His Holiness Palno Rinpoche, one of the most revered teachers of the Nyingma lineage. H.H. Palno Rinpoche is known for writing the text on the thirty-seven (37) Practices of a Bodhisattva which is taught by his eminence Namkai Nyingpo.
Ven. Lama Karma Namgyel graduated from the Tharthang Nyingma Institute in Nepal, January 1996. Two months later arrived in the United States and attended Washington State University. He has taught the Tibetan language in the United States since his arrival. He speaks five languages: English, Bhutanese, Tibetan, Hindi (India), and Nepalese. He is qualified to teach Buddhist monastic music, chanting, dancing and philosophy.
He currently resides in Longmont, Colorado, where he teaches Buddhist philosophy and meditation of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage at the Drukpa Mila Center, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. In November 2007, Ven. Lama Karma established a second Center in Salem, Oregon and he is especially grateful to His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche from Bhutan, for consecrating both Centers and being involved in other projects with him. The Centers were created to bridge religious cultures East to West. This includes bringing Buddhist teachers from the Drukpa Kagyu and other lineages to share their spiritual wisdom, knowledge and compassion.
On important Buddhist days Ven. Lama Karma Namgyel conducts meditation practices in addition to the weekly practices of Chenrezig and Green Tara. For meditation practitioners, he offers other support activities such as: astrological divinations; healing ceremonies; prayer pujas; house and business blessings; consecrating statues and making tormas. He also performs divination and various healing ceremonies and prayers for land sites, individual people, and ceremonies for people who are near death or have just died.
ABOUT THE DRUKPA KAGYU LINEAGE
About The Drukpa Kagyu Lineage
Drukpa Kagyu is the official lineage of Buddhism in Bhutan. It was established by Tsangpa Gyarey Yeshe Dorji at Ralung Monastery in Tibet and is one of the 8 major sub-schools of the Kagyu lineage. This school originated from the Phagdru School (one of the 4 Great Schools of the Kagyu lineage) which was founded by Phagmodrupa Dorji Gyalpo. Phagomodrupa, a revered Kagyu Buddhist saint, was one of Gampopa’s senior disciples. For more information about Drukpa Mila Center, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, visit Drukpa Mila Center