Bon A Khrid Dzogchen Transmission and Practice Part I 2015


with Tempa Dukte Lama
Fri. Nov. 13, 10am through Sun. Nov. 15, 2pm, Boswell, PA

Join us for this special retreat to receive the first part of the transmission and instruction of the Heart Essence of the A Khrid Dzogchen teachings from Tempa Lama. This retreat is a special opportunity to attain a deeper experience of meditation and directly recognize the mind’s innate purity. The retreat will combine teachings and dialogue with time spent in contemplation to deepen our experience.

The Bon Dzogchen teachings are the highest teachings of Bon as they offer a means to directly recognize the true nature of the mind and further attain stabilization of this recognition. The Bon A Khrid teachings consist of three retreats. We are excited that Tempa Lama will offer the first retreat this fall. Attendance of this Part I retreat is required to attend the Part II and III teachings in 2016.

This year Tempa Lama will focus on teaching the Nyoshi, the actual practice of the A Khrid Dzogchen through his vivid fresh understanding and experience. During the following two retreats, Tempa Lama will offer instructions on how to distinguish between the ordinary mind and the true nature of the mind and how we can stabilize this recognition through the practice of klong sgom, the spontaneous presence in the natural state.

Bon has three distinct Dzogchen lineages: the lineage of A Khrid, the lineage of Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud, and the lineage of Dzogchen. The present A Khrid lineage is also called the experiential Dzogchen transmission. It has been transmitted without interruption from master to student over many centuries, dating back from His Holiness 33rd Menri Trizin (who gave this teaching to Tempa Lama) to the Great Master rMe’u dGongs-mdzod (1038-1096), and before him to Tonpa Shenrab, the founding teacher of Bon.

This Retreat is for all who would like to deepen their practice of meditation in order to recognize the true nature of the mind. Tempa Lama encourages all his students to attend this retreat. All are welcome – it is not necessary to have attended Ngondro teachings previously.

Tempa Dukte Lama is an ordained Tibetan Bon lama. He studied closely with His Holiness 33rd Menri Trizin at Menri Monastery from the age of six. He is the founder and spiritual director of Olmo Ling Bon Center and Olmo Ling Publications. He is an artist, poet, and the author of Heart Drop of the Loving Mother, Journey into Buddhahood, The Intimate Mind, and Inexhaustible Miracles. He has lived in the US since 2000 and teaches internationally, helping people bring a practice of compassion, healing, and happiness into their lives.



To support our practice, the retreat will be held in the peaceful and tranquil settings of Sequanota Center on 395 acres of forested land with many streams and creeks. Sequanota Lutheran Camp & Conference Center is located in a very secluded location in the Laurel Highlands in Boswell, PA about 90 minutes east/southeast of Pittsburgh on 395 wooded acres (please scroll down for directions). The Retreat is held in the “Enrichment Center” building, where we will also be staying and enjoying our meals. We will be the sole occupants of the Enrichment Center building, allowing us to immerse ourselves deeply into the Retreat experience. The Enrichment Center is directly next to extensive forests with ample wildlife, silence and bird-song.

Registration

Registration Deadline: Friday November 6, 12pm.
We offer single rooms, double rooms, and two spacious rooms with shared accommodation for 4 people (one shared room is women-only, the other is men-only). We have a limited number of single rooms. Please consider taking advantage of the lower fee for a double room. You can sign up for double rooms as a single participant – we will find a same sex room mate for you.

The fee includes two nights of accommodations (Friday night and Saturday night) and all meals beginning with lunch on Friday and ending with lunch on Sunday. All meals are vegetarian. Accommodation on Thursday night and breakfast on Friday are available upon request for a small additional charge.


Retreat fee:
  • Single room: $330 (Olmo Ling members), $355 (non-members)
  • Double room: $265 (Olmo Ling members), $285 (non-members)
  • Shared 4 bed/room: $230 (Olmo Ling members), $250 (non-members) – this option is no longer available.

Payment of half the fee is necessary to reserve your spot. You can register online or by mailing us a check for the appropriate amount.

Registered participants will be emailed further information on the Retreat. If you have any questions or other concerns, please contact the Olmo Ling office at bon@olmoling.org

Directions

From the west (Pittsburgh): Get on the PA Turnpike/I-76 and travel east to Exit 110/Somerset. Follow directions from Somerset below.

From the east (Harrisburg): Get on the PA Turnpike/I-76 and travel west to Exit 110/Somerset. Follow directions from Somerset below.

From the south (Baltimore/DC): Get on I-70 and travel west to Breezewood. Get on PA Turnpike/I-76 and travel west to Exit 110/Somerset. Follow directions from Somerset below.

From the north (Johnstown/Altoona/State College): Get to Rt. 219 and travel south to the Jennerstown/Stoystown/Rt. 30 Exit. Take a right hand turn at the end of the ramp onto Rt. 30 West. Travel about 3 miles until you reach the Dollar General at the end of Jennerstown. As you go down the hill outside of town, you will see a Sequanota sign; turn right onto Willison Road. At the stop sign, take a left and travel for about 1 mile. Sequanota’s entrance is on the left hand side – look for the green and white signs.

From Somerset/Turnpike exit: After you go through the toll booths, travel to the second stop light. There will be a Turkey Hill gas station on your right. Make a left at the light onto Rt. 601 North. Take this through town. At a BP outside of town, Rt. 601 veers right – stay straight and travel on Rt. 985 North. At the light in Jennerstown, turn left on Rt. 30 West. Travel about 1/2 mile until you reach the Dollar General. Continue, and as you go down the hill outside of town, you will see a Sequanota sign; turn right onto Willison Road. At the stop sign, take a left and travel for about 1 mile. Sequanota’s entrance is on the left hand side – look for the green and white signs.

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