Three Weekend | Jang Chok Ritual Teaching and Training

via Zoom & In-Person with Tempa Dukte Lama

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

Saturday’s Teaching Hours:

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST

LUNCH BREAK

2:00 – 4:00 PM EST

Sunday’s Teaching Hours:

9:30 AM – 1:00 PM EST

This teaching will be offered in person and via Zoom. Simultaneous translation will be available in Spanish/Espanol over Zoom. Please check back for updates on possible additional languages!

To complement this three weekend course, an advanced in-person training in conducting the Jang Chok ritual will be offered at Olmo Ling, November 15-16, 2025.

Course fees and registration

We offer a discounted rate for participants who attended and paid at least half of the fee at the previous training offered in 2023.

$225 Olmo Ling members
$250 Olmo Ling non-members
$130 discounted rate for repeat participants (see details above)

Limited scholarships are available. Please contact Joanna at joanna@olmoling.org if you are unable to pay the full fee and would like to request a scholarship. At least half of the course fee ($125) must be paid to receive a printed copy of the book.

About the Training

This teaching and training is a special opportunity to learn the Jang Chok ritual from the 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 Bardo is 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 of Bon, Tonpa Shenrab. Through the power of the ritual and one’s meditative absorption, the practitioner aims to close the doors of rebirth in each of the six realms of cyclic existence on behalf of the deceased and protect the deceased’s consciousness from wandering.

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. The training can complement and deepen Bon teachings on the Bardo and on compassionate care for the dying that participants may have received previously (but prior attendance of such teachings is not required!). The training is also a special opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Bon rituals and their role for the Path of Transformation (Tantra).

We have received many requests for offering this special teaching and training 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.

About the Jang Chok ritual

The Jang Chok ritual is an important Bon ritual that is traditionally offered when a Bon practitioner passes away to guide the consciousness through the Bardo and towards liberation or a favorable rebirth. The ritual is part of the Du Tri Su cycle with key components that are common with other Du Tri Su rituals (in addition to parts that are unique to the Jang Chok). Tonpa Shenrab taught the Bon Du Tri Su cycle of rituals to help beings clear unwholesome karmic conditioning and the resulting obstacles and challenges.

During the ritual, the consciousness of the deceased is summoned from each of the six realms and the bardo and invited to abide within the prepared name inscription. Through an elaborate offering the wishes of the deceased are fulfilled, helping the soul listen with openness. The ritual lighting of the Sur wisdom fire helps clear defilements and obstacles that prevent the deceased from finding liberation or a good rebirth. If a lama is present, he or she will offer the Du Tri Su empowerment as a powerful blessing for the deceased and for all those assembled. Then the lama burns the seed syllables on the name inscription and the assembly offers the aspiration prayer ritual of guiding the deceased through the Ten Stages towards liberation. This is followed by Powa (transference of consciousness) for the deceased and concluding prayers.

Participants Will Learn:

The meaning and purpose of the various sections of the Jang Chok ritual
How to prepare the ritual, including making the required tormas
The Du Tri Su mandala deities and how to meditate on the mandala
How to conduct the ritual and chant the different ritual sections and melodies. This includes the preliminary ritual practices, building the Du Tri Su mandala and consecrating the vase, inviting the deities of the Du Tri Su mandala, freeing the entities causing death (Shetral), hymn of praise of the deity mandala, dedication prayer of the six realms to guide all beings towards Buddhahood, ritual service of burnt food offering for the deceased, and aspiration prayers of guiding the deceased through the Ten Stages

Registered participants paying the full fee will receive the following:

A copy of Tempa Lama’s Jang Chok ritual manual book by mail (retail price $32.95)
A recording of Tempa Lama chanting the different melodies of the Jang Chok ritual
Recordings of all teaching sessions.

Participants outside the US please register promptly to receive your copy of the manual on time for the teaching

About the Jang Chok Manual

Tempa Lama’s Jang Chok manual offers the first complete transliteration and English translation 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 to guide the practitioner while chanting and performing the ritual. The book also includes images of ritual arrangements and torma offerings as well as notes for the accompanying drum, bell, and cymbals.

“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 Bon.

Read more about the Jang Chok manual here.

About Tempa Dukte Lama

Tempa Lama is an ordained Bon lama and the founder and spiritual director of Olmo Ling Bon Center and Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. Tempa Lama is an artist, poet and author of eight books and several Bon practice manuals. Through his teachings, writings, and translations, he works to make the ancient Bon wisdom teachings available and accessible in the West. Tempa Lama studied at Menri Monastery, India, from the age of six under the close guidance of the late H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin, the worldwide spiritual head of the Bon tradition until 2017. Tempa Lama has lived in the US since 2000 and teaches internationally, helping people bring a practice of healing and happiness into their lives.

Donations for Tempa Lama

Your generous teaching fees help us maintain Olmo Ling temple and continue to offer teachings, Bon practice, and translations at Olmo Ling. We invite you to offer a donation to Tempa Dukte Lama to thank him for sharing his knowledge and giving the transmission. YOu can donate here

Donations to the Translators

Julián Moguillansky (Spanish / Español): HERE

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