STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Venerable Lama Karma Namgyel, a Bhutanese Buddhist monk, will be at the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art Jan. 3-4 for a weekend of special blessings, teachings, a fire ceremony and dance.

Lama Karma is the founder, spiritual director, and teacher at the Drukpa Mila Center in Boulder, Colo. The center fosters religious exchange between Bhutan and the West. From the age of 7, Lama Karma grew up in the monasteries of Bhutan where he became a chant and dance master and studied for nine years to attain his Buddhist Philosophy degree. He performs rituals and ceremonies from the sacred traditions of the Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist lineage, which have remained in Bhutan, with few outsiders having the opportunity to experience them.

On Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. he will conduct a Buddha of Compassion Fire Ceremony and Dance of Vajrapani. During this special ceremony, certain offerings of food and herb medicines are given to the fire while Lama Karma chants and recites special prayers. Attendees will have the opportunity to offer individual prayers during the ceremony.

The Fire Ceremony offers healing to all types of diseases and imbalances and purifies obstacles and negativity. For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, the power and inspiration of the ceremony is dedicated to world peace and to the spiritual advancement and benefit of all beings.

Following a reception, Lama Karma will perform the Consecration Dance of Vajrapani. In this dance, the monk visualizes the wrathful emanation of the wisdom deity Vajrapani. He performs wearing a ritual mask and a costume that represents tiger skins while holding a flaming piece of wood in each hand. The monk invites Vajrapani to destroy negativity, protect, and heal the area where the dance is performed.

This dance will act as a consecration for the museum and its objects.

At 2 p.m. Jan. 4, Lama Karma will present a teaching on “The Value of Compassion.” In celebration of the New Year, Lama Karma will discuss compassion as a solution to difficulty in our lives and in the world. He will speak about the law of karma as it relates to our choice of actions and will also include the subjects of interconnectedness and an acceptance of humanity to develop a positive focus for the well-being of our planet and all living things.

The Tibetan Museum is located at 338 Lighthouse Ave. For information, call 718-987-3500, or visit www.tibetanmuseum.org.

Bhutanese monk to spend weekend at Tibetan museum – SILive.com