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 2023 to view upcoming programs and please visit Olmo Ling online Bookstore!

Olmo Ling Newsletter | September 11th – Click to Read

Bon Dzogchen Trekcho Teaching

with Tempa Dukte Lama and Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche

9:30 AM – 1:00 PM EST

Teaching will ONLY be available over Zoom.

The teaching will be taught in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish and Russian via Zoom. Please check back soon for updates!

In this weekend retreat, Tempa Dukte Lama and Geshe Tsewang Ngodup Rinpoche will give detailed teaching and practice instruction of Trekcho. The heart essence of Dzogchen is Togal and the foundation of Togal is Trekcho. Without mastering Trekcho, the genuine essence of Togal cannot be experienced. Therefore, this teaching is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning Dzogchen practice and stabilizing the nature of the mind.

Trekcho is the practice of open presence called great non-action. It is the practice of maintaining the spontaneous presence of intrinsic awareness in its genuine naked state without any mental fabrication or modification.

Read More & Register

September 19th | Free Tuesday Evening Talk

with Tempa Dukte Lama

Topic: Ninth Perfection – Skillful Means

Join us Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00 PM EST, for a Free Tuesday Evening Talk ia Zoom & In-Person with Tempa Dukte Lama.

Join the weekly evening talk via Zoom HERE

This spring Tempa Lama gave a series of talks on the causal Perfections of generosity, wholesome conduct, patience, effort, and mindful concentration. This week, Tempa Lama will talk about the Ninth Perfection – Skillful Means.

Through the first five (causal) Perfections we develop the qualities of heart and mind that help us transcend the self and become a compassionate being. These qualities then become the ground on which the Fruition Perfections manifest. The Ten Fruitional Perfections are power, compassion, aspiration, skillful means, and wisdom of discriminating awareness. These awakened qualities are the skillful means through which we accomplish the twofold benefit of helping the self and all beings without distinction.

We are offering Inexhaustible Miracles: The Ten Perfections on the Path of Compassionate Being by Tempa Dukte Lama for 10% off to support our ongoing weekly teaching on the Ten Perfections. Discount is applied at checkout.

The weekly program at Olmo Ling is free! All are welcome!
You can join us via Zoom or In-person at:
Olmo Ling Bon Center & Institute
1101 Greenfield Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Donations to Olmo Ling to Tempa Dukte Lama are deeply appreciated. Your generosity helps us maintain Olmo Ling Bon temple!

Join the weekly evening talk via Zoom HERE

Meeting ID: 143 923 353. One tap mobile +13017158592,,143923353# US (Washington D.C) +13126266799,,143923353# US (Chicago)

The Olmo Ling Humla Project

Tempa Lama has worked with villagers in his home valley Humla for more than 20 years, seeking to preserve Humla’s ancient cultural heritage, support access to health care and quality education, and co-create a sustainable future for the region.

Tucked into the mountains in Nepal’s Northwest close to the Tibetan border, Humla is a land of incredible natural beauty and rich cultural traditions. Many families have been deeply rooted in the Bon tradition for many generations. Humla is also home to Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu practitioners and Shamanic lineages, including through Tempa Lama’s late grandfather, who was a village shaman priest.

Tempa Lama’s work has included annual medical service trips to Humla during 2014 to 2018 that treated hundreds of villagers and building the traditional clinic Sorig Tenpe Menkhang in Humla in 2017/18. The clinic is staffed by a Tibetan doctor (Amchi) and Humla native Tsering Norbu Lama, whose education was sponsored by Olmo Ling. The clinic is an initiative to preserve the native medical practice and bring awareness of traditional practices to Humla’s youth.

To support clinic expenses we need to raise $11,450 for 2023. So far, $900 have been raised. We warmly invite you to read more and consider supporting our work!

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 Bön

Read more and purchase the book here

Help us support flood and landslide repairs at Menri Monastery’s nunnery!

This July, parts of Northern India – including the state of Himachal Pradesh where Menri is located – experienced the highest Monsoon rainfall in decades, resulting in severe flooding and landslides. Multiple buildings across the Menri Monastery grounds have been affected. General Secretary Geshe Tsewang Ngodup and the Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center at Menri have asked for our assistance to carry out urgently needed repairs.

Olmo Ling’s efforts to help focus on the Redna Menling nunnery which is directly affected as the access road to the nunnery has been blocked by a landslide.

Read more and donate towards road repair at the nunnery here

Calm Abiding Meditation with Instruction

Saturdays at 8:30 AM EST | In-Person with Senior Student Andrew Kaiser

Class Schedule:
5 minutes Daily Prayers
15 minutes Talk
10 minutes Meditation
30 minutes Questions

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.

First Phase: Calm Abiding Meditation helps us to free ourselves from the distractions that disturb us. In this class, we will work towards stability of pose and equanimity of mind.

Second Phase: Insight Meditation means to see clearly the way the mind works and to free the mind from grasping at the duality.

Third Phase: Abiding in the nature of mind, the union of emptiness and clarity. These are the Dzogchen teachings.

We are given instruction in many different practices. Zen, Theravada, and other Tibetan traditions all begin with the stability of the mind. Mindfulness is also taught in a lot of different places in today’s world. Understanding Zhine (Calm Abiding) is essential.

Andrew Kaiser is a senior student with Tempa Lama at Olmo Ling. If you have questions about Calm Abiding Meditation, please contact Andrew Kaiser

Weekly Olmo Ling Dzogchen Practice Group

Sundays at 4:00 PM EST | Offered via Zoom & In-Person with Senior Student Bob Marin

• Meditation Practice Group: 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month
• Reading and Discussion Group: 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month

Dzogchen is a path of spiritual realization that guides us to directly recognize our Buddha nature, the qualities, and capacities present in all of us that are realized by enlightened beings. Dzogchen Olmo Ling meets weekly to study and practice Dzogchen according to the Bon Akhrid Dzogchen tradition taught by Tempa Lama.

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.

The sittings are open to all. Practitioners are welcome to attend, regardless of Dzogchen background. Sittings are convened by Bob Marin, a senior student of Tempa Lama and a longtime Dzogchen student of the American-born Tibetan Lama Surya Das. Dzogchen Olmo Ling offers welcoming, informal gatherings that foster collective learning through openness, authenticity, and curiosity. Regular participants are asked to consider membership in Olmo Ling. However, there is no fee for participation in Dzogchen Olmo Ling. If you wish to participate or if you have questions about Dzogchen Olmo Ling, please contact Bob Marin

RECAP: Visit from H.H. 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin to Pittsburgh, PA

in June 2023

Friday, June 2nd – Sunday, June 4th
at Olmo Ling Bon Center and over Zoom

We are deeply honored to announce the second visit of His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche the 34th abbot of Menri Monastery and spiritual head of the Bon tradition to Pittsburgh this June. Please join us for this precious opportunity to spend time with His Holiness. H.H. will offer a public talk on Friday, June 2nd, teaching on The Important and Benefits of the Jang Chok Ritual on Saturday, June 3rd, and perform a Du Tri Su Empowerment on Sunday, June 4th.

Learn more about His Holiness’ June Visit!

Support Olmo Ling Temple Building Renovations!

We have launched Phase II of the Temple Capital Campaign!

On December 9, 2022, we were able to buy the building that houses Olmo Ling temple in Pittsburgh. We would like to thank you all so much for your generous support that has made this possible.

W invite you to join us in supporting the second phase of the capital campaign for renovating the upper two floors. Often, long-term students ask about doing a personal retreat at Olmo Ling. We will therefore offer the second floor for personal retreats and for accommodation during teachings (following necessary renovations). The third floor will be renovated as an apartment for rent. Utilizing the entire building in this way will help us sustain our temple and pay for the building

Tempa Lama’s vision for many years has been to provide a sacred space of refuge where the community can come together to practice and where everyone can have access to well-learned Tibetan Bon masters and Western teachers. Tempa Lama’s deep wish is to support the flourishing of Bon in the West by offering translations of ancient Tibetan Bon texts into Western languages at Olmo Ling. Most of all, Tempa Lama’s profound aspiration is to support Western students who want to train and become responsible Bon teachers and lamas so that Bon can truly grow deep roots in the West.

Our temple space in Pittsburgh is the cornerstone of this work and of our charitable projects in the Himalayas.

We are most grateful to have received the support of His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche and the Menri Monastery community for the temple capital campaign.

We invite you to help us raise $87,500 for building renovations.

Raised to date for Phase II: $55,325.64 – You can donate HERE

Read More and Join Us Here

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!

Origin of the Medicine Buddha by Tempa Lama

Olmo Ling Publications, 2021. Paperback, 188 pp., $16.95

In this first English rendition of the Tibetan Bön Medicine Buddha practice, 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.

The Bön Medicine Buddha practice was first taught in the human realm eighteen thousand years ago by the Awakened One Tonpa Shenrab and his son, compassionate being Che Bu Trishe, in response to a pandemic that threatened the ancient kingdom of Dawa Ruteng and caused widespread illness, conflicts, and famine. Tempa Lama retells the story of how this practice was first taught and how the Awakened One brought hope and healing to Dawa Ruteng. At that time, the king of Dawa Ruteng, Drag Chen Khorlo, had become very ill due to his misguided karmic actions and was going through a deep personal crisis. His son prince Triten Khorlo invited the Awakened One to visit Dawa Ruteng with an assembly of compassionate beings. Tonpa Shenrab’s visit and profound teaching inspired and guided the king back to the light and to forgiveness and healing.

Now available at our online store here. We also carry Medicine Buddha deity cards and Medicine Buddha Mandala cards.

Tempa Lama’s books

• 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.

Olmo Ling monthly Youth Sangha – date to be announced

A new date will be announced soon!

One of the most renowned practices in Tibetan Buddhism and Bon is the making of sand mandalas which represent the impermanence of all things. Although we obviously don’t have time to construct an authentic one in an hour, we will collaborate to construct a nature mandala of seasonal greenery, pebbles, twigs, and seashells in addition to colored sand. After completing this family-friendly community activity, we will brush it away to foster non-attachment.

The Olmo Ling Youth Sangha is offered monthly on Fridays from 6:30-8PM.
Please note that this is a half hour later start time than previous years.

Venue: Olmo Ling Bon Center, 1101 Greenfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. This program is offered free of charge. We appreciate donations to help us cover material expenses.

The Friday evening Youth Sangha is a mindful way to end the school week and begin the weekend. This Program is free and open to all ages birth to teens, and newcomers are always warmly welcome. Children over age 5 may be dropped off, although parents generally stay to share this time with their children and fellowship with other families. For children 5 and under, we request that a guardian remain and participate. Gatherings include a snack, meditation, mantras, and an art activity such as calligraphy, music & literature or discussions and service projects.

Although we are based in the Tibetan Bon tradition, we have been expanding activities to include more traditions and Youth Sangha is appropriate for all Buddhists as well as other wisdom traditions. Dharma is for everyone, so please share this invitation with others, especially if you belong to another Sangha! While there is no charge for any of the activities, contributing to the shared snack (all nut & peanut free) is always appreciated and there is a bowl for donations to Olmo Ling right inside the door, but please never let any of those requests be a hindrance to joining us!

Please make sure to RSVP with the Youth Sangha coordinator Bonnie Weiss at earthmom3@comcast.net to ensure adequate materials are available for class as well as to advise about any food allergies or special accommodations that might benefit your child