Soul Retrieval Retreat


Olmo Ling Bon Center, 1101 Greenfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

With Geshe Nyima Kunkyap and Tempa Dukte Lama

Public talk: Friday, February 26, 7-8:15pm.
Saturday, February 27, 9:30am-5pm, Sunday, February 28, 10am-1pm.
Olmo Ling Center & Institute, 1101 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15217

Join us for this special Retreat on a powerful ancient Bon practice that is rarely offered in the West. This retreat is for anyone looking to restore, heal and nurture the strength and vibrancy of the soul and life force. If you cannot attend the full retreat, we also offer a public talk (which serves as introduction to the soul retrieval retreat) on Friday, February 26, 7-8:15pm.

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 has the power to retrieve and heal our soul and life force through ritual and the power of meditative absorption, prayers, mantras, and visualization. Since the time of its teaching, this precious ritual has flourished and has been practiced for thousands of years until now, benefiting countless beings.

Sponsoring the prayers for this ritual

We offer the opportunity for anyone to sponsor part of the ritual prayers for the healing, strengthening and wellbeing of their family and friends. Sponsoring the preparatory prayers for the ritual is a powerful way to support the ritual and partake in its great merit and benefit. For many thousands of years, laypeople have supported lamas and monks to help them offer special prayers that in turn benefit many beings. You can donate securely online here or by sending a check marked “Soul Retrieval” to Olmo Ling, 1101 Greenfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Proceeds from the retreat will benefit the Bon School which Rinpoche founded in the remote Nepali district of Dolpo, and the repair of the Stupa of the Dolpo Bon Society, which was damaged during the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

Geshe Murig Nyima Kunkyap Rinpoche is a master of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen of the 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. He is the founder and spiritual director of Olmo Ling Bon Center in Pittsburgh, PA and co-founder of Humla Fund, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the Bon culture and traditions in the Humla region of Nepal through access to quality education, healthcare and sustainable economic development. Tempa Lama is an artist and poet and author of four books with Olmo Ling Publications, the first Bon publishing house which he founded in 2011. 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 teaches internationally across the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Through his teachings and writings, Tempa Lama is dedicated to making the ancient teachings of Bon available and accessible in the West, helping people bring a practice of compassion, healing and happiness into their lives.

Registration

Retreat costs through Monday February 15, 6pm: $108 (Olmo Ling members), $120 (non-members). Thereafter: $125 (members), $137 (non-members). Suggested donation for the public talk only (for those who are not attending the full retreat): $10. No one is turned away for lack of funds; please contact us at bon@olmoling.org for a scholarship.

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