Ven. Khenpo Lama Karma Namgyel Rinpoche says the 40-acre retreat land “Is a perfect place to establish peace and harmony in our world.” Mt. Adams, at 12,280 feet in height, rises in the background.
Photos by: Tara Jones, Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel, Donna Selby

Five years after students of Ven. Khenpo Karma Namgyel started looking for retreat land, purchase of a 40-acre site in southern Washington state is nearly done.

The new facility, to be called the Drukpa Mila Retreat Center, is near the town of Lyle, Washington. The site is about 90 miles east of Portland, on the north side of the Columbia River.

Khenpo and Donna Selby offering a Chenrezig Buddha of Compassion fire ceremony in Baker City, Oregon.

Building and construction on the land will begin in 2021, after the land purchase has been completed. However lack of facilities has not stopped Dharma activity, and small groups have gathered for land blessing ceremonies and prayers. Developing the retreat center is an important endeavor for the happiness and peace of countless beings.

However finding this site was not an easy task, as anyone who has been in this position knows.

Khenpo, as we call him, had said the land must have topographical features suitable for Buddhist practice, some of them vital and others preferred. In 2017, after two years of searching, one completely discouraged student, Tara Jones, took Khenpo to Lyle, Washington, for one last trip to look at potential locations.

After Rinpoche had shown disinterest in every affordable option shown to him, on a whim Jones took him to a 40-acre parcel that was beyond our budget. After parking the car nearby, a few ravens appeared and led us to the land border. The ravens would fly a short distance, land on a fence post and caw. When we reached the land border, the ravens flew away.

Khenpo blessing the retreat land with prayers of harmony for beings and the environment.

Khenpo walked up a gentle incline and stopped at the top to survey the view and say prayers. Then he proclaimed the site the best choice for the retreat center.

By 2018 negotiations on the land were concluded, and a two-year lease-option agreement was signed. Khenpo’s vision is to create a place where people can come, individually or in groups, for healing and rejuvenation.

The Drukpa Mila Center will consist of 108 stupas, a meeting space, and individual retreat cabins. The land is zoned “rural” to maintain openness of the countryside, and the site includes wonderful views of three snow-covered peaks: Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood.

This retreat center will offer people a place to get away from samsara, to withdraw from the normal responsibilities of daily life and re-connect with nature, to go within, to quiet the mind and recharge. 

“Energy of the three major mountains surrounding the land multiplies positive energy,” Khenpo said. “There is so much stress in our world today, breaking away and going into retreat brings a multitude of peace and happiness. Having a retreat center is to help oneself and others.  This center will benefit the living and the dying.”

An artist’s conception of the $3.6 million retreat center, including 108 stupas around the perimeter.

As part of fulfilling this vision, Khenpo has committed to completing the 108 stupas. A stupa is a symbolic structure, a manifestation of enlightened mind itself. The blessings of a stupa increase harmony, prosperity, longevity, good health, and peace. Just seeing an image of a stupa plants the seed of enlightenment into one’s mindstream.

A top priority for 2021 is to pay off the balance of the $67,000 loan for the land. Once that is complete, we will need the financial blessing of donations to help fence the property and drill the well. When that is done, we will begin building the stupas.

Ven. Khenpo Lama Karma Namgyel Rinpoche , and American nun Katrina Pruette, hang prayer flags on the retreat land to send prayers of healing in all directions.

Ashes of deceased Buddhist practitioners will be placed next to some of the Drukpa Mila Center stupas, with memorial plaques.   Those interested will be able to have a stupa created for them and their families. After Khenpo has completed the first 108 stupas, his aspiration is to continue to create thousands more. We estimate it will cost $3.6 million to finish the retreat center.

“There has never been a more important time than now to act in ways which promote peace, harmony, healing, and balance with nature,” Khenpo said. “I invite you to participate in the creation of this vision through your donation. May you be blessed with health, peace and happiness.”

Khenpo is the founder, spiritual master, and teacher of the Drukpa Mila Center, a Buddhist center of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.  He was born in Paro, Bhutan, and entered Paro Dzong Monastery at age seven.

Khenpo’s teachers include H.H. Ngawang Thinley Lhundrup, and H.H. Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche. Khenpo His students truly feel blessed by his presence, teachings, and by his multitude of activities.

Despite the Covid19 virus it has been a busy year of Dharma activity for Khenpo.  Now that he has completed 108 Buddha of Compassion fire ceremonies, he has started fulfilling his pledge of 108 Akshobhya fire ceremonies.  The purpose of Akshobhya fire ceremonies are to calm the elements, and to restore harmony and balance in the environment and among living beings.

Khenpo blesses a young family after giving a talk in Ashland, Oregon.

This year the Sangha has hosted three Oregon retreats with limited in-person attendance and unlimited zoom attendance. The next retreat will be in Salem, Oregon, during Losar, February 12, 2021. Planning for this retreat is underway.

Khenpo continues to host Zoom prayers and practices three times weekly, and all are welcome to join. To receive Zoom notification text Ken Webster, (303)819-8427.

Tara practice is on Tuesday evenings, Chenrezig on Wednesday evenings, and requested teachings are on Sunday afternoons. Anyone wanting to join for the first time should text Webster and request a copy of the sadhanas (prayers).

Akshobhya fire ceremonies can be hosted, sponsored, or attended by both Buddhist and non-Buddhist people. Those attending a ceremony can write the names of loved ones on paper, to be offered to the fire at ceremony’s end. People can also email names to be offered during the fire ceremony to donnaselby@comcast.net

Khenpo, Katrina Pruette, Ken Webster, Jessie Christopherson, and Judie Christopherson at a Drukpa Mila Tara retreat.

Any donation for remote offering can be offered to Drukpa Mila Center, 872 Belmont Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97303.  These events are made possible through donations that cover the fire offerings, wood, food, and travel.  Any donations are greatly appreciated.

The journey to the retreat land started in 2004, when His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche came from Bhutan to tour the United States. During this visit he gave Dharma teachings and consecrated the Drukpa Mila Center in Longmont, Colorado. 

The next year we started the Drukpa Mila Center in Salem, with a small group gathering for teachings in the living room of Donna Selby’s home.  Selby and students went with Khenpo to Bhutan in 2006, where she met with His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche.

After returning from Bhutan, Selby had the upper level of her home transformed into a beautiful shrine room.   In 2007 Khenpo brought Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche to the U.S. to consecrate the Drukpa Mila Center in Salem, Oregon. and Selby then began introducing Khenpo throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Webster recites prayers during evening Zoom practice, while playing a double-sided ceremonial drum.

Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche returned to the U.S. in 2010, and offered teachings and empowerments at both centers.  Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche has blessed us by authoring some of our sadhanas, and we have been truly blessed to receive his Dharma teachings.  Due to the Sangha‘s effort and perseverance, the Drukpa Mila Centers have benefited countless beings in the Northwest and around the world.

All newcomers to the Salem center must call Donna Selby (503)997-0263, before attending any events. While normally we welcome all with open arms, we have adopted Covid-19 restrictions to protect dedicated student elders.

Selby for many years has led the Drukpa Mila Center Buddhist prison program, through Oregon State Correctional Institution Prison Ministries in Salem.  Currently the program is on hold due to Covid-19.

Covid-19 continues to restrict some of our activities. Currently Rinpoche has paused his “sutra tour” of the Northwest, which was introducing people to 333 sacred Tibetan texts. Also on hold is a pilgrimage to Butan, which Rinpoche was to have led.

The focus now is learning, studying, contemplating, praying and meditating. We are strengthening our minds, based on a solid foundation of experiential knowledge, faith and wisdom.