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Welcome to Olmo Ling
Olmo Ling is a religious educational non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the ancient teachings of the Bon tradition of Tibet and making them available and accessible to lay practitioners.
Olmo Ling offers weekly meditation practice and teachings, prayers, meditation instruction and private interviews, and a study program that includes regular retreats with Tempa Dukte Lama and visiting lamas of the Bon tradition.
Learn more about Olmo Ling or Subscribe to our Mailing List.
Visit the Olmo Ling Teaching and Retreat Schedule for 2025 to view upcoming programs and please visit Olmo Ling online Bookstore!
Thank you, Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche!
Three Weekend In-depth Jang Chok Ritual Training
With Tempa Dukte Lama, via Zoom and in person
Week 1 | Sat. June 7th – Sun. June 8th, 2025
Week 2 | Sat. June 14th – Sun. June 15th, 2025
Week 3 | Sat. June 21st – Sun. June 22nd, 2025
This teaching and training is a special opportunity to learn the Jang Chok ritual from the Bon Du Tri Su cycle. Jang Chok is a powerful skillful means to guide the consciousness of the deceased and protect it from the terror of the Bardo experiences – the in-between state where the consciousness has left the physical body at the moment of death and has not yet taken on a new body. The ritual has been practiced for thousands of years since having been taught by the Awakened One Tonpa Shenrab.
Tempa Lama is offering this training based on his intensive work with the Jang Chok ritual over the last several years and his long-term experience with Bon teachings and practices for death and dying.
We have received many requests for offering this special teaching on an important Bon ritual again. The training is recommended for Bon practitioners who would like to deepen their knowledge of Bon rituals and be able to accompany and help lead the Jang Chok ritual for the deceased at a Bon temple or center. It will also be very helpful for those who would like to offer prayers for the deceased and anyone who feels drawn to studying Bon teachings on death and dying, Bon rituals, and the Du Tri Su cycle.
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Update on the Olmo Ling Temple Building!
Thanks to the generous support of our community we were able to acquire our temple building in Pittsburgh in December 2022. Our temple is the cornerstone of our work in offering Bon teachings and carrying out charitable projects in the Himalayas. Following His Holiness’ visit in July 2023 we began work on obtaining a residential-use permit for the two floors above the temple so that we can rent them out to community members and help cover the monthly mortgage payments.
The upper two floors are currently linked with a communicating stairs. There is little fire separation between all three floors. We anticipated that we would need to remove the communicating stairs, install a separate heating and cooling system for the second floor (to close off a possible fire pathway from the basement boiler room), and install a fire alarm system. However, we learned that we additionally needed to construct either external fire stairs for all three floor or a sprinkler system with a new water main line connecting across the road from Olmo Ling. Iris worked with our architects over several months to appeal to the City Board of Appeals twice to request an exemption to these extremely costly requirements. We are delighted to share that in December we were granted an exemption given our building’s small size!
While this is very welcome news, some fire safety requirements still have be met. We ask for your help in covering these cost so that we can soon rent out the two upper floors.
Budget for Fire Safety Requirements:- $35,000 for removing the stairs between the upper two floors (for fire safety) and installing a separate heating-cooling system on the second floor. This has the additional benefits of expanding the narrow hallways on both upper floors and replacing a very old furnace.
- $5,914 in professional services from the architects and engineer
- $5,000 for better sound proofing between the temple and residential floor above
- $881 in permit fees
- $328 for smaller items
- Fire alarm system (costs not yet known)
Total Budget: $47,123
Raised So Far: $10,033
To Be Raised: $37,089
We grateful acknowledge the generosity of a dear community member whose substantial gifts enabled us to bridge the time while we waited for the permit. We also thank our architects Greg and Ee Ling Marin for offering their skillful work at a discounted rate.
We sincerely thank you for your support and prayers. Your generosity allows us to manifest Tempa Lama’s deep aspiration to make the Bon wisdom teachings widely available in the West through teachings, practice, translations, and community gatherings.
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H.H. 34th Menri Trizin Will Visit Pittsburgh, PA
in August 2025!
Saturday, August 30th – Sunday, August 31st, 2025
at Olmo Ling Bon Center and offered over Zoom
Read about H.H. 34th’s Menri Trizin’s visit to Olmo Ling in June 2023
We are most honored to host His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal for a Teaching and Longevity Empowerment on August 30-31, 2025.
There will be updates soon on this exciting and blessed event!
24-Day Pilgrimage | Mt. Kailash & Central Tibet through Upper Humla Simikot
September 22nd – October 16th, 2025
with Tempa Dukte Lama and Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche
Tempa Lama has 25 years experience leading and co-leading pilgrimage trips to Tibet, Nepal and India (Menri Monastery) as well as medical service trips to Humla, Nepal.
Tempa Dukte Lama and Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche will be offering a 24-day pilgrimage from their home valley of Humla, Nepal, to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarowar in Tibet.
Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred places on Earth. In the Bon tradition, Mount Kailash is viewed as the center of the universe. It is the soul mountain for the ancient kingdom of Zhang Zhung, where the Tibetan Bon religion originated. Mount Kailash is the citadel of the celestial deity Gekhöd, the patron deity of Zhang Zhung. The area surrounding this sacred mountain is home to many Bon and Buddhist yogis and yoginis who live in long-term retreat. The pilgrimage will include daily teachings, meditation and Bon rituals with Tempa Lama and Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche.
Please Contact Olmo Ling with Any Questions!
If interested in joining us on our 2025 Pilgrimage to Tibet, please email us at bon@olmoling.org and we will provide you with our itinerary and other necessary documents.
Click Here to View the Itinerary and Pictures of Previous Trips!
Family Sangha
Friday, May 30th
7:00 – 8:00 PM EST
Offered In-Person with Olmo Ling Community Members
Upcoming Dates:- May 30th, 2025
Topic will be updated soon for May Family Sangha!
The program is designed for children to experience personal familiarity with Bon teachings and for families to deepen their connections with Bon and with each other. Each Family Sangha meeting will include a snack (families are welcome to contribute to the snack table), meditation, a story/lesson, and a related craft/activity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FAMILY SANGHA
Wednesday Ngondro (6:00 PM) & Silent Meditation (6:30 PM)
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM EST
Offered In-Person with Senior Student Gary Terner
Participants are welcome to join both the Ngondro / Preliminary teachings of Bon Buddhism (6:00 PM EST) and Silent Meditation (6:30 PM EST) or either of the two sessions. You do not need to practice Bon Buddhism to attend Silent Meditation starting at 6:30 PM EST.
The Wednesday evening practice at Olmo Ling Temple is free and open to all. This practice will offer the experience of meditating in a group. Group meditation is helpful in establishing a regular, stable meditation practice.
Silence will be observed throughout (from the second ringing of the bell following the opening chant). There will be two 20-minute sitting sessions separated by a 10 minute walking meditation. We will attempt to start on time so that we will not finish too late.
Ngondro practice is offered at 6:00 PM ET for those who have previously received Ngondro instructions and would like to practice in a group.
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Saturday Calm Abiding Meditation (Zhine) with Instruction
Saturdays at 8:30 AM EST
Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Student Andrew Kaiser
- May 10th: Cancelled for Bon Dzogchen Teaching
- May 17th, 24th, 31st: Cancelled
- June 7th & 14th: Cancelled
- June 21st & 28th: Sessions Continue
- July 5th – Cancelled for Holiday
- July 12th – 19th: Sessions Continue
- July 26th – August 30th: Summer Break (no sessions)
This class will provide instruction in the first phase of meditation, known as Zhine or Calm Abiding. It is important to be able to understand the full succession of meditation phases so that we know what we will learn – and just as important, what we will not be practicing.
Join us In-Person or Zoom HERE Meeting ID: 967 9436 8181
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Saturday Chod Session
One Saturday a month at 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Students Jim DelBianco & Andrew Kaiser
- June 21st, 2025
- June 28th, 2025
- July 12th, 2025
- July 19th, 2025
- Cancelled from July 26th – August 30th for Summer Break
Once a month, we will practice elements of the drumming and chanting, followed by performing the Chod ritual as a group. The longer practice session will benefit us all as we learn the fundamentals of the drumming and have more time for practice. Jim and Andrew are both senior students of Tempa Dukte Lama.
Join us In-Person or Zoom HERE Meeting ID: 970 0641 9095 In-Person is recommended, however, we know that is not possible for everyone!
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Sunday Dzogchen Practice Group
Sundays at 4:00 PM EST
Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Student Bob Marin
- Meditation Practice Group (IN-PERSON & ZOOM): 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month
- Reading and Discussion Group (ZOOM ONLY): 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month
Dzogchen Olmo Ling holds a Meditation Practice sitting and a Reading and Discussion group on alternate weeks. Weekly announcements provide brief readings and indicate whether the meeting will be online or in-person. In-person meetings permit online participation as well.
If you wish to participate or if you have questions about Dzogchen Olmo Ling, please contact Bob Marin
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May 13th | Free Tuesday Evening Talk
A Special Talk on the Four Immeasurables
with Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche and Tempa Dukte Lama
Join us at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom or In-Person at:
Olmo Ling Bon Center
1101 Greenfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Join us this Tuesday at 7:00 PM EST for a special talk on the Four Immeasurables with Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche and Tempa Dukte Lama.
In this Talk, Rinpoche will explain how we can cultivate the four immeasurable qualities and why they are so important on the path of compassionate beings. The Four Immeasurable Qualities of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity
This weekly program at Olmo Ling is offered free of charge.
Donations to Menri Shedrup Khenpo Rinpoche, Tempa Dukte Lama, or to Olmo Ling Bon Center are always deeply appreciated.
We now require a one-time registration for the weekly Tuesday evening talks. If you registered already previously, you are all set!
Register Here for our Zoom Talks
Olmo Ling Daily Prayers
We recite the prayers below at the start of each weekly community practice on Tuesdays. Feel free to download for your own daily practice!
Tempa Dukte Lama’s Books
- Jang Chok Ancient Tibetan Bon Ritual The Jang Chok ritual from the Du Tri Su cycle is a powerful skillful means to guide the consciousness of the deceased and protect it from the terror of the Bardo experiences. This book offers the first complete English translation and transliteration of the Du Tri Su Jang Chok liturgy (with the original Tibetan included). In the first part of the book, Tempa Dukte Lama explains the different sections of the ritual and their meaning and purpose as well as how to make the required torma offerings and prepare for the ritual. The liturgy in the second part of the book is annotated throughout and images of ritual arrangements and torma offerings are included to assist practitioners in performing the ritual.
- Origin of the Medicine Buddha Tempa Dukte Lama illuminates the history of how the Medicine Buddha was first taught. He offers a translation of the short Medicine Buddha practice composed by 14th century Bön master Nyamed Sherab Gyaltsen along with a detailed explanation of the liturgy, visualization, and altar preparation.
- Thrul Khor: Ancient Tibetan Bon Yoga Step-by-step instructions for 85 practices according to the A Khrid, Ma Gyud (Mother Tantra), and Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud cycles of Bon Thrul Khor, supported by 499 photographs.
- Heart Drop of the Loving Mother Tempa Lama offers detailed instructions on the Heart Drop of the Loving Mother practice and on how we can become a Loving Mother in our lives.
- Journey into Buddhahood: The Five Paths and the Ten Stages of Compassionate Beings Tempa Lama offers a profound guide to attaining full liberation according to the Bon Sutra path, the path of compassionate beings.
- Inexhaustible Miracles: The Ten Perfections on the Path of Compassionate Beings The Ten Perfections are the heart practices of compassionate beings through which we bring the Bon teachings into our lived experience: generosity, wholesome conduct, patience, effort, concentration, power, aspirational prayers, skillful means, and discriminating awareness. Tempa Lama explains how we can cultivate each Perfection and use these practices to transform every moment of our lives.
- The Intimate Mind: Illuminating Emotion and Transformation Tempa Lama explores how we can use the Bon teachings to better understand our mind, be intimate with it, and ultimately transform it.
Sidpa Gyalmo practice resources
- Recording of Tempa Lama chanting the Sidpa Gyalmo Healing Practice liturgy
- Recording of Tempa Lama chanting the Sidpa Gyalmo Healing Waters Practice liturgy
- Recording of Tempa Lama chanting the Sidpa Gyalmo Longevity & Prosperity practice
- A booklet by Tempa Lama with an explanation of the symbolic meaning of the Sidpa Gyalmo and Yeshe Walmo visualization, detailed instructions of the healing practice, an explanation of the Bon approach to healing, color pictures of Sidpa Gyalmo and Yeshe Walmo, and the practice liturgy of both the Healing Practice and the Healing Waters Practice is available from our store here. We are able to ship quickly and now offer lower First Class shipping rates for domestic and international orders.