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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!
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 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.
On May 10-11, 2025 we will host Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche, abbot of the Menri Dialectic School, for a special teaching and transmission of Bon Dzogchen from the Drakpa Kor Sum.
We are delighted that Tempa Lama will give the complete teaching and transmission of the Bon A Khrid Dzogchen this year! Tempa Lama and his brother Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche will also guide a special 22-day Pilgrimage Trip to Tibet in the fall. In addition, Tempa Lama will offer a teaching on The Heart Drop of the Loving Mother Practice, the Teaching and Ritual of Tse Drup Longevity Practice, a 3 weekend training on the Jang Chok Ritual for the Deceased, and Bardo teachings.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR BON DZOGCHEN WITH MENRI SHEDRUP KHENPO RINPOCHE
A KHRID SERIES | PART I – V
A KHRID PART I | Two Weekend Course (3 Days)
Days 1 & 2 | Sat. March 22nd – Sun. March 23rd, 2025
Day 3 | Sat. March 29th, 2025
In-Person at Olmo Ling Bon Center & over Zoom
A Khrid Part I (Session 5): Ngozhi | Teaching & Transmission
The A Khrid Part I teaching covers session 5 from the original A Khrid teaching and transmission given by Bon Dzogchen Master Gongzod Ritrod Chenpo (the first four sessions cover the preliminary practices of Ngondro). In this first part, Tempa Lama will first teach the history of the lineage transmission, Gyudrim and the view of Dzogchen as differentiated from the other two Bon Paths of Liberation, Sutra and Tantra. He will then focus on teaching Ngozhi, the actual practice of A Khrid Dzogchen through his vivid fresh understanding and experience. Through Ngozhi we build the stability of mind that we need to look directly at the nature of mind and recognize it.
A KHRID PART II | Two Weekend Course (3 Days)
Day 1 | Sun. March 30th, 2025
Days 2 & 3 | Sat. April 5th – Sun. April 6th, 2025
In-Person at Olmo Ling Bon Center & over Zoom
A Khrid Part II (Sessions 6-7): Meditation on Essential Nature | Teaching & Transmission
The A Khrid Part II teaching covers sessions 6 and 7 from the original A Khrid teaching and transmission given by Bon Dzogchen Master Gongzod Ritrod Chenpo. Having stabilized our mind through meditation with an object according to the Part I teachings, this second part guides us in cultivating meditative absorption without an object. Tempa Lama will give instructions on spontaneous presence and continuity of meditative absorption of the body, speech, and mind without an object. This is also known as meditation on essential nature or ngang sgom.
A KHRID PART III | One Weekend Course
Saturday & Sunday
April 12th – April 13th, 2025
In-Person at Olmo Ling Bon Center & over Zoom
A Khrid Part III (Sessions 8-10): Spontaneous Presence in the Natural State | Teaching & Transmission
The A Khrid Part III teaching covers sessions 8, 9 and 10 from the original A Khrid teaching and transmission given by Bon Dzogchen Master Gongzod Ritrod Chenpo. Tempa Lama will first give teachings on how to distinguish between the ordinary mind and the true nature of the mind. Based on this, he will offer the introduction to the nature of the mind. Third he will offer instructions on how we can stabilize this recognition through the practice of klong sgom, the spontaneous presence in the natural state.
A KHRID PART IV | Two Weekend Course (4 Days)
Week 1 | Sat. April 26th – Sun. April 27th, 2025
Week 2 | Sat. May 3rd – Sun. May 4th, 2025
In-Person at Olmo Ling Bon Center & over Zoom
A Khrid Part IV (Sessions 11-14): Dream Yoga and the Three Bodies | Teaching & Transmission
In this Part IV teaching, Tempa Lama will explain how we can utilize dreams and vision in order to practice, maintain, and deepen our practice of the natural state during both sleeping and waking. Practicing with dreams and visions offers a profound pathway towards directly self-liberating affliction and delusion as they arise in each moment. Tempa Lama will then give the introduction to the nature of the mind and the Three Bodies of the Awakened One, the truth body, enjoyment body, and emanation body.
Friday, January 24th | Free Evening Talk
All Proceeds Support The Humla Project
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Modern Medical Intervention with Ancient Buddhist Roots
A Free Evening Talk with Bonnie Weiss, a long-time student of Tempa Dukte Lama and currently studying MBSR – Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. All Donations benefit The Humla Project.
Join us at 7:00 PM EST In-Person at:
Olmo Ling Bon Center
1101 Greenfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
On Friday, January 24th, 2025 Olmo Ling student and Family Sangha Coordinator, Bonnie Weiss will present a free evening talk- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Modern Medical Intervention with Ancient Buddhist Roots. All donations will directly benefit the Olmo Ling Humla Project and provide much-needed basic medical supplies for the clinic.
MBSR is the gold standard for using mindfulness meditation techniques in medical settings and is recommended by the CDC for conditions from cancer to high blood pressure. While it is taught in medical- not religious- settings, MBSR is far from a secular practice. It was envisioned by its founder, Jon Kabat-Zinn, as a public health movement and a way to share the dharma.
In this 90 minute program, we will also talk about neuroplasticity and stress psychology and share several meditation practices. Participants will experience some mindful movement, sitting meditations, and walking meditation. (Please note: this program is limited to adult participants)
Bonnie Weiss is a long-time student of Tempa Lama and coordinator of the Family Sangha. She is currently studying MBSR- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction- at Brown University School of Professional Studies.
Registration is not required.
Please attend In-Person at 7:00 PM EST on Friday, January 24th at Olmo Ling Bon Center.
Donate towards this Free Talk in Support of the Humla Project
Support our work in Humla!
We are so grateful to have raised $19,836 to support the temple and clinic in Humla! Help us raise the remaining $2,234.51 to cover the 2024 budget!
Tempa Lama has worked with villagers in his home region, the remote Humla valley for more than 20 years, seeking to preserve Humla’s ancient Bon culture, support access to health care and quality education, and co-create a sustainable future for the region. With generous donations, Tempa Lama has been able to construct a new building during 2017-2018 to house the traditional clinic Sorig Tenpe Menkhang and Pal Samten Due Dul Wosel Ling temple. Geshe Tsewang Ngodup will serve as the resident lama and abbot of Pal Samten Due Dul Wosel Ling Temple and be able to offer Bon prayers, rituals and teachings for the people of Humla. In particular he will train the lay community of Humla in doing rituals and prayers themselves and spending time in retreat. In this way people will be able to continue and revive the ancient Bon tradition and lineage.
With your generous support we are now able to construct the altar and to buy the statues and necessary ritual items for Pal Samten Due Dul Wosel Ling temple. Please help us cover the remaining annual operating expenses of the clinic!Read More About The Humla Project & Make a Donation
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!
January 21st | Free Tuesday Evening Talk
Ordinary Mind and the Nature of Mind
with 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
Please just us on Tuesday, January 21st at 7:00 PM EST for our Free Tuesday Evening Talk. Tempa Lama will continue to explain the ordinary mind and the nature of the mind as viewed in the Bon tradition, how to differentiate between the two, and how to use this distinction to realize our true nature.
The weekly program at Olmo Ling is free! All are welcome!
Donations to Tempa Dukte Lama or to Olmo Ling Bon Center are always deeply appreciated.
A one-time registration is required for attendance. If you registered already for previous talk, you are all set!
Register Here for our Zoom Talks
Wednesday Ngondro & Silent Meditation
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM EST
Offered In-Person with Senior Student Gary Terner
Participants are welcome to join both the Ngondro (6:00 PM EST) and Silent Meditation (6:30 PM EST) or either of the two sessions
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.
Read More
Saturday Calm Abiding Meditation (Zhine) with Instruction
Saturdays at 8:30 AM EST
Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Student Andrew Kaiser
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
Read More
Saturday Chod Session
SCHEDULE UPDATE AND CHANGE!
One Saturday a month at 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Students Jim DelBianco & Andrew Kaiser
- Saturday, January 25th, 2025
- Saturday, February 15th, 2025
- Saturday, March 15th, 2025
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!
Read More
Sunday Dzogchen Practice Group
RECENTLY RESUMED!
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
Read More
Family Sangha
Friday, Feb. 7th, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 PM EST
Offered In-Person with Olmo Ling Community Members
Upcoming Dates:- February 7th, 2025
- March 14th, 2025
- April 19th, 2025
- May 9th, 2025
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
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!
Now Available: Tempa Dukte Lama’s New Book – Jang Chok Ancient Tibetan Bon Ritual
Tempa Lama’s new book on the Du Tri Su Jang Chok ritual is now available for purchase!
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.
“This translation and ritual manual will be of great benefit as a practice resource for all those who want to learn and use the Du Tri Su Jang Chok ritual for the deceased. It will be most helpful to any Western practitioners.”
~ His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal, spiritual head of BönRead more and purchase the book here
Tempa Dukte Lama’s Books
- 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.