Venerable Khenpo Karma Namgyel
Biography
Karma Namgyel Rinpoche was born in Paro, Bhutan in 1964. Shortly prior to his birth, the f16th Karmapa of Tibet (head of the Karma Kagyu lineage) traveled to Bhutan where Karma Rinpoche’s mother met Karmapa and received his blessing. While Karma Rinpoche was still in her mother’s womb, he was named Karma (Magyel?) Namgyel by the Karmapa, a truly auspicious occurrence. The Karmapa told his pregnant mother she was caring a very special baby”.
Khenpo Karma Namgyel Rinpoche
Karma Namgyel Rinpoche was then born on Chokhor Düchen, the anniversary of Buddha's first turning of the Wheel of Dharma. When his astrological birth chart was investigated, it was revelaed that his was a birth of significance. His birth chart was then sent to the Je Khenpo of that time (head of the Drupka Kagyu lineage in Bhutan and a monk of vast accomplishments) who proclaimed Karma Rinpoche was an emanation or reincarnation of Je Kunga Peljor who was the 2nd Drukchen or incarnation of the progenitor of the Drupka Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism, Tsangpa Jyare. Further, Rinpoche's parents were informed he needed to enter monastic life at a young age or he would risk an early death.
The 1st Shabdrung was the spiritual giant and 5th Drukchen who left Tibet to create Bhutan with its signature culture rooted in Buddha Dharma. In Karma Rinpoche, these two lineages with their great spiritual wealth and responsibilities come together. At the age of seven, to honor Je Khenpo’s recognition of his life stream and his mother’s bloodline, Karma Namgyel entered the Paro Dzong Monastery in Paro, Bhutan to begin his study with his then Root Lama, H.H. Je Ngawang Thinley Lhundup, who was known as the greatest healer in Bhutan.
Je Kunga Peljior
Pema Ling Pa
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel
While at Paro Dzong, Karma Rinpoche excelled at sacred dance and became a Dance Master, teaching and performing for festivals and religious ceremonies. He still performs various dances… each, powerful rituals, such as the Black Hat, Invitation to Guru Rinpoche, Mahakala, Lord of the Cremation Grounds, and the Dakini Dance with traditional costumes and music. During his training at Paro Dzong (also known as Rinpung Dzong, known as the home of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu School in Paro)
While at Paro Dzong, Karma Rinpoche excelled at sacred dance and became a Dance Master, teaching and performing for festivals and religious ceremonies. He still performs various dances, each, powerful rituals--such as the Black Hat, Invitation to Guru Rinpoche, Mahakala, Lord of the Creamation Grounds, and the Dakini Dance with tractional costumes and music. During his training at Paro Dong, Karma Rinpoche also served as Umdze (Chant Master), and learned other traditional arts such as torma making, healing mantras, and divination.
H.E. Khenchen Rigzin Droje Rinpoche, Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche, Karma Rinpoche
(left to right)
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H.H. Je Ngawang Thinley Lhundup
Karma Rinpoche performing sacred Black Hat Dance
In 1987, after completing his preliminary monastic training, Karma Rinpoche began advanced study in Buddhist philosophy of the Nyingma tradtion at the Nyingma Shedra in Nepal to honor his father's bloodline. He studied there for nine years with H.E. Khenchen Rigzin Dorge Rinpoche-- Nyingma lineage holder, revered teacher, and regent for Chatral Rinpoche and H.H. Penor Rinpoche. He also received Dzogchen transmission from H.H. Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche--an accomplished Dozgchen Master. In addition, during this time, he received advanced teachings from Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche--both, much revered Nyingma Masters
Notably, Karma Rinpoche became an active assistant to Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche, sponsor of the Nyingma Shedra, and in 1989, participated in organizing the Menlom Chenmo World Ceremony in Bodhgaya. Today, more than ten thousand monks regularly attend this annual world event.
Karma Rinpoche came to the United States in 1996, shortly after his graduation form the Nyingma Shedra. However, when Karma Rinpoche first came to the U.S., he knew little to no English. So, prior to initiating his teaching mission here, he spent many years working various mundane jobs to remedy this situation and in time his understanding of English improved. When time had ripened Karma Rinpoche founded the Drupka Mila Center. He now resides in Longmont, Colorado with his wife and children.
H.H. Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche
Mission
The mission of The Drukpa Mila Center is to help spread authentic Buddhist teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage to benefit sentient beings around the world. The Drukpa Kagyu is a subsect of the Kagyu tradition, one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Drukpa Mila Centers are presently located in Longmont, Colorado, Salem, Oregon, California, Canada, and Vietnam.
The Drukpa Mila Center has organized and sponsored several visits by Karma Rinpoche’s present root teacher, HH Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche who is the official sponsor of the Drukpa Mila Center worldwide. On tour, His Holiness has traveled from Bhutan to give teachings and empowerments to Drukpa Mila students throughout Colorado, Oregon, and the United States at large. The Drukpa Mila Center aspires to bring His Holiness and other Bhutanese teachers of note back to the United States for a further series of special teachings and empowerments.
H.H. Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche
H.H. Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche, retired Dorje Lopen of Bhutan’s Drukpa Kagyu lineage, is a highly reverend teacher, scholar, and meditation master. He has studied under many of the most accomplished Masters of the 20th century. Beyond this, he has spent more than 28 years in retreat. H.H. Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche’s blessings and great accomplishment are tangible to all who have the good fortune to be in his presence. We of the Drukpa Mila Centers are deeply honored to receive his sponsorship.
Karma Rinpoche believes that practice is the essence of Dharma, therefore he has established regular weekly practice at his Drukpa Mila Centers. The sadhanas, recited in Tibetan and executed in traditional fashion include Green Tara and Kurukulle “Red Tara” spiritual practices. Also offered are the Chenrezig Sadhana with an offering ritual of Mahakala. The Chenrezig Sadhana, “A Short Accomplishing Practice of the Buddha of Compassion”, was compiled by H.H. Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche specifically for The Drukpa Mila Centers.
Karma Rinpoche also offers classes for individuals or groups at The Drukpa Mila Centers. Such classes include Tibetan language, Shrine Meditation, introductory instruction for setting up a shrine, lama dancing, torma making, and ritual musical instrumentation. Rinpoche also is available to answer student’s questions regarding their sadhana practices.
Devoted to the well-being of others--individuals, students, and the broader community--Karma Rinpoche offers his time, resources, wisdom, and generosity of heart by providing many services, such as, divinations, astrological readings, blessings and clearings for the home and office, pet blessings, purifications through water blessings, and fire ceremonies.
Shrine Room - Drupka Mila Center- Longmont
Torma Making
Sadhana Recitation with Ritual Musical Instruments
The fire ceremonies which Rinpoche frequently preforms, bless, heal, purify, and protect the environment and its inhabitants from disaster, disease, imbalance, and all negativities. For people who are dying or are deceased, the fire ceremony brings peace and comfort. In 2017, Karma Rinpoche completed his 108th Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara) Buddha of Compassion Fire Ceremony in fulfillment of his vow to accomplish such benefit in the United States.
108th Buddha of Compassion Jinsek--Oregon, USA
Phajo Drugom Zhigpo
Currently, beyond Ven. Khenpo Karma Rinpoches teaching and other duties related to the Drukpa Mila Center, he took upon himself quite a few additional projects of crucial significance. Highlighting one of these endeavors, is the substantial and costly Thangka Conservation and Replacement Project for the Paro Dzong Monastery. This entailed the recreation of 35 nine-foot Thangkas (sacred iconographic paintings set on brocade) of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage relating to the Paro Dzong. The original Thangkas, hundreds of years old needed to be preserved and replaced. The Thangkas maintain the lineage through ritual implementation. The paint incorporated in the Thangkas is natural pure paint with 24 caret gold highlighting. The Thangkas are surrounded with high quality silk brocade along with silver and gold ornamentation. The Thangka paintings are living icons which are carry the embodiment of the Nirmanakaya masters. Therefore, as you stand in the presence of the Thangkas you are in the presence of the masters. The people who have donated for this special project have gained a vast amount of merit through their generosity. That merit will continue daily through the prayers and aspirations of the lamas and high Rinpoches as they pray in the presence of the Thangkas. The people who helped make the Thangkas possible and their family lineage will be blessed for generations to come. The Thangka Consecration Ceremony was held in Paro, Bhutan at the Paro Dzong Monastery on November 4, 2023 along with Karma Rinpoche, his family and friends in Bhutan and Drukpa Mila Center students from Colorado, Oregon, California, Canada, and Vietnam.
Druk Vajrayana Foundation in Thimphu, Bhutan is a center founded by Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel Rinpoche to help laypeople, tourists, pilgrims, and Bhutanese learn about Vajrayana Buddhist meditation and sadhana recitation. Further, there are two temples in Bhutan for which Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel Rinpoche carries considerable responsibility. Through his mother’s bloodline Rinpoche bears responsibility for the Phajo Drugom Zhigpo Temple in Paro, Bhutan which is an important historical and sacred site to the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. Through Rinpoche’s father’s bloodline, he bears responsibility for the Tamshing Nyingma Lhakhang located in Bumthang for which Bhutanese Terton, Pema Lingpa built. Both of these sites are suffering extensive disrepair and need dedicated funding to accomplish essential repairs, maintenance, and artistic preservation.
Tamzhing Monastery--Bumthang, Bhutan
In addition, here in the United States, the Drukpa Mila Center Temple project in Longmont, Colorado will be undergoing various stages of development in early 2024 by selected Artisans from Bhutan accomplished in the traditional sacred arts. These structures will prove critical to our growth and development of Dharma in America.
70th Je Khenpo
On September 4, 2022, Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel was presented with a newly created official position by the 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, Tulku Jigme Chhoeda. Rinpoche was appointed representative of Je Khenpo, the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Bhutan, the Bhutanese embassies, and communities worldwide. The two-fold intent is to express the deepening Drukpa Kagyu lineage as a longstanding light of Vajrayana Buddhism and to acknowledge the growing number of Bhutanese people living outside of Bhutan.
Karma Rinpoche's Entitlement Ceremony
with 70th Je Kenpo
This appointment by Je Khenpo is a highly significant spiritual appointment in recognition of the accomplishments of Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel Rinpoche. While living in the United States, establishing the presence of Bhutan’s profound and precious Drukpa Kagyu lineage, and caring for his American students, Rinpoche continued to attend to the needs of his birth country, international reach into Canada, Vietnam and beyond. We pray for the success of Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel’s accomplishments. May all beings’ benefit!
Universally renowned Dzogchen Master of the Tibetan Nyingmapas (red hat) and Mountain Yogi, Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche is a Great Exemplar for practitioners of the 21st century. Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel’s Nyingma teachers, H.E. Khenchen Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche was Chatral’s regent.
Chatral Rinpoche
H.H. Gyalse Rinpoche Mipham Tenzin Wangpo with Karma Rinpoche
In a previous life, H.H. Gyalse Rinpoche was the brother of our present-day H.H. Ngwang Tenzin. It was he who built the Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) Temple in Paro, Bhutan, at the site of a cave where Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, meditated. It is popularly accepted the he will be a future Je Khenpo of Bhutan's Drupka Kagyu.