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 | December 4th – Click to Read

Teachings on the Noble Eightfold Path

via Zoom & In-Person with Tempa Dukte Lama

Sat. December 16th – Sun. December 17th, 2023

from 9:30 AM -1:00 PM EST

Simultaneous translation will be available in Spanish/Español, Polish/Polski, and Russian. Please check back for updates!

Registered participants will receive the recording after the teaching.

In this weekend’s teaching, Tempa Dukte Lama will explain the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by the Awakened One of Bon, Tonpa Shenrab. The Noble Eightfold Path is the path that leads to freedom from suffering. It consists of the threefold training in wisdom, conduct, and mind through the practices of wholesome view, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Wholesome views and thoughts are training in wisdom. They are wisdom and insight, as well as the path itself. Through wholesome speech, action, livelihood, and effort we manifest wholesome conduct. Through this training, we make the wellbeing of others our priority and manifest true love and compassion. Finally, we train the mind through wholesome mindfulness and concentration. Wholesome mindfulness enables us to become familiar with the true nature of reality. Through wholesome concentration, we abide single-pointedly in the recognition of the true nature of reality.

READ MORE & REGISTER

December 5th | Free Tuesday Evening Talk

Series Conclusion! Journey into Buddhahood

with Olmo Ling’s Co-Founder, Iris Grossmann

Join us Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 PM EST, for a Free Tuesday Evening Talk via Zoom & In-Person with Iris Grossmann.

Join the weekly evening talk via Zoom HERE

This will be the final talk in the Journey into Buddhahood series. Iris will talk about the transition into the final Path – Path of No More Learning or Buddhahood and explain key aspects of this final Path.

Journey into Buddhahood (offered 15% off for this teaching. Please click the link, it will be applied at checkout!) is Tempa Lama’s book on the journey of compassionate beings – the view and practice that begins with the aspiration to attain awakening in order to help all beings and that ultimately takes the compassionate being to full awakening. Iris helped edit this book and has spent a lot of time studying Bon and Buddhist teachings on this path. She previously gave talks on Journey while Lama la traveled and Lama la suggested that she continue the series of talks this fall in order to cover the complete path. Iris has practiced with Tempa Lama since 2004. In her free time, Iris is grateful to be able to support Tempa Lama’s work, including his writing and planning of Olmo Ling Bon Center.

The journey of compassionate beings consists of five paths, the Path of Accumulation, Path of Application, Path of Seeing, Path of Meditation, and Path of No More Learning (Buddhahood). We hope you can join us for this special series of Bon Sutra talks!

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 are deeply appreciated.

Join the weekly evening talk via Zoom HERE

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, $3,639.52 has been raised. We warmly invite you to read more and consider supporting our work!

Calm Abiding Meditation with Instruction

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

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

Join us In-Person or Zoom HERE

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

Interested members, please fill out our quick survey!

The Family Sangha Program at Olmo Ling Bon Center (formerly known as Youth Sangha) is open to individuals of all ages, from infants to teens, and we extend a warm welcome to newcomers!

This survey is ONLY for families interested in joining or learning more about the Family Sangha Program. This survey was made to help Olmo Ling establish a schedule and create teaching itineraries. Family Sangha will be in-person only and designed with both guardians and children/teens in mind. Guardians of younger children are asked to stay, however, children 10 and up may be dropped off.

Our gatherings feature a snack, meditation, mantras, and an art activity—such as calligraphy, music & literature, or discussions and service projects. We are rooted in the Tibetan Bon tradition and mindfulness. Families from various Buddhists and other wisdom traditions are warmly invited!

Thank you for participating in this survey, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Please Click Here for our Family Sangha Survey

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

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.