Soul Retrieval Retreat
Pittsburgh, PA with Geshe Nyima Kunkyap Rinpoche and Tempa Dukte Lama
Friday, March 22, 7-8:30pm, Saturday, March 23, 9:30am-5pm, Sunday, March, 24, 10am-4pm
Olmo Ling Center & Institute, 1101 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15217Join us for this special Retreat on a powerful ancient Bon practice that is rarely taught in the West.
The soul is the pure strength of the internal elements. Its primary function is to support and nurture the connection between our life force and lifespan. The second function is that it strengthens and nurtures the relationship between the physical body and the mind. The soul abides in the mind, and the mind abides in the body. When the soul is weakened, this affects the relationship between our life force and life span and the relationship between the physical body and the mind. When the soul and the life force are weakened or disturbed, we as individuals become vulnerable toward physical, mental, and emotional misfortunes. In some cases, untimely death or major disturbances in different aspects of our life situation can occur. Thus, the Awakened One Tonpa Shenrab taught and implemented a powerful Bon ritual called bLa bsLu ‘Chi bsLu. This ritual is for retrieving the soul and the life force through ritual offerings and the power of meditative absorption, prayers, mantras, and visualization. Since the teaching of this ritual by the Awakened One Tonpa Shenrab, this precious ritual has flourished and has been practiced for thousands of years until now.
In this Retreat, Geshe Nyima Kunkyab Rinpoche and Tempa Lama will
- Perform the full ritual
- Guide us through the process of the ritual
- Give detailed instructions on the chanting, mantra, and visualization
- Give detailed instructions on how to make the offering cake (Torma) and
- Give detailed instructions on the materials required for this ritual.
Geshe Murig Nyima Kunkyap Rinpoche is a master of Sutra, Tantra and Dogchen of Bon tradition. He is the founder of Dolpo Bon Society and the Nepal Bon Religion Association. He is also the head lama of the Nepal Bon Religion Association of Nepal and the Dolpa Youngdrung Committee, which was founded by him. Rinpoche received his Geshe degree (doctor of philosophy) in 1994 from HH 33rd Menri Trizin after many years of studying major philosophical text as well as studying the sciences of Astrology, Astronomy, Poetry, Tibetan language and literature, measurement of Mandala, Thanka painting and stupa, ritual instruments, and performing ritual offerings.
For many years, Rinpoche has been constantly engaged in teaching, dialogue and writing. Rinpoche has traveled widely abroad, giving teachings on preliminary practices, practice of mantra, ritual offering (for the accomplishment of good fortune), Astrology, Astronomy and Horoscope in the USA, Mexico, India and Russia. He previously served as lecturer and head of department at the Bonpo Department, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, India. His past and present activities to benefit others include:
- President of the Nepal Bon Welfare Committee (1991-1994)
- Chanting master of Menri monastery (1990-1993)
- Taught general sciences to junior monks at Menri Monastery (1989-1994)
- President of the Bon Student Welfare Committee in 1995, 1998, and 2002.
- Vice-president of the Nepal Bon Buddhist Federation (2008-)
- President of the Yungdrung Shug Tshal User’s Committee (2010-)
Tempa Dukte Lama is an ordained Tibetan Bon lama and the founder and spiritual director of Olmo Ling Bon Center in Pittsburgh, PA, a Tibetan Bon Center affiliated with Menri Monastery, India. He is an artist, poet, and the author of The Intimate Mind and Inexhaustible Miracles. Tempa Lama trained in Menri Monastery, India, from the age of six under the close guidance of H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin, the spiritual head of the Bon tradition. He has lived in the US since 2000 and teaches internationally, helping people bring a practice of compassion, healing and happiness into their lives.
Registration:
Late registrations (from Friday March 22), please contact the Olmo Ling office to register.
Teaching costs (incl. the talk on Friday) through Sun. March 10: $108 (Olmo Ling members), $120 (non-members). From March 11: $125 (members), $137 (non-members). No one is turned away for lack of funds; please contact Trish at bon@olmoling.org or 412 904 1112 for a scholarship.
If you have questions, have difficulties registering or would like to register on the phone, please contact Trish at bon@olmoling.org or 412 904 1112.