About Us

The Buddhist Center of Steamboat Springs was founded by Timothy Olmsted....

Tim had been deeply interested in the spiritual life from an early age. However, it wasn't until 1977, when he first met the great meditation master and teacher, Chôgyam Trungpa Rinpoche, that his path clearly revealed itself.

For the next 5 years, Tim studied with Trungpa Rinpoche, whose extraordinary presence and teaching brilliance deeply affected him and many others.

In 1981 Trungpa Rinpoche hosted a visit to Boulder by the great Dzokchen master, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Tim, who had just finished a long retreat, made a very close connection with Tulku Urgyen and his son, Tulku Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.

Upon their invitation, Tim, along with his first wife and daughter, moved to Kathmandu. For the next 12 years, Tim studied closely with Tulku Urgyen and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, and many other of the great lamas who were in residence in Kathmandu.

While in Kathmandu, Tim continued his work as a psychotherapist to the wildly diverse community of Kathmandu, and as a consultant to The Peace Corps and other international aid organizations.

In 1994 Tim returned to the States, at which time he settled in Steamboat Springs, and started the group that has become our Sangha.

In the year 2000, Tim married our dharma sister Glenna Clark. They moved to Gampo Abbey, at Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

For the next 3 years, Tim was the director of Gampo Abbey, the largest and oldest Buddhist monastery in North America. He had been invited to take that position by his dear friend, Pema Chôdrôn, the resident teacher and founder of Gampo Abbey.

In 2003, Tim and Glenna returned to Steamboat. In the following months, a new, permanent home was established for the Sangha. The community has since blossomed, both in terms of size and activity.

When not involved in his own practice, study and teaching, Tim continues his private mental health practice, and will continue to lead groups to Nepal, Tibet and other parts of Asia.

Tim's closest spiritual influences are Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Chôgyam Trungpa Rinpoche, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.

Our Sangha is greatly to honored to have such a fine teacher and mentor: Tim Olmsted.