The Five Mindfulness Trainings: Mindfulness retreat at Pardesa

Mindfulness retreat
30 October – 3 November 2024
with Julia Ramanoelina and Bar Zecharya
at Pardesa, comune di Pianoro (BO)

In this retreat we will deepen our understanding and practice of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, the form given by Thich Nhat Hanh to the Five Precepts taught by the historical Buddha and transmitted throughout the centuries. The Five Mindfulness Trainings apply this ancient wisdom to our modern lives, and represent a deep contemplation on our relationship with our own lives, with the people around us, and with the world of which we are part.

A Transmission Ceremony, in which participants will have the possibility of formally receiving the trainings, will take place on the final day of the retreat. Both the retreat and the ceremony will be led by Dharma teachers Julia Ramanoelina and Bar Zecharya.

If you would like to participate only in the Day of Mindfulness on November 3rd, without formally receiving the trainings, see Celebrating the Trainings.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings

If you are someone who has practiced some time with these trainings, the teachings and activities in this retreat will likely offer you new understanding, and will inspire you to deepen and strengthen the way you practice. If on the other hand you are new to them, surely the experience of the retreat will awaken a positive, healing direction within you.

We encourage you to find time before coming to read the text of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, so that you can fully enjoy how we will live together with the group and the land during these days.

Immersed in the natural beauty surrounding Pardesa practice center, we will co-create a daily atmosphere of practice: sitting and walking meditation, mindful meals, moments of silence and reflection, and also time for singing, while we explore the Mindfulness Trainings and the many ways they can bring understanding, transformation and liberation on the path that is our life.

Daily schedule

The schedule may vary. As an example:

6:00 am wake up
6:30 am formal morning meditation
7:30 am breakfast
8:45 am morning circle and service to the community
10:00 am Dharma talk
11:00 am walking meditation
12:30 pm lunch
3:00 pm deep relaxation
4:00 pm community practice/sharing
6:30 pm dinner
8:00 pm formal evening meditation
noble silence (until 8:45 am the following day)

Our teachers

Julia Ramanoelina is a Dharma teacher from the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the international mindfulness practice center Plum Village. She lived as a nun in Plum Village for 12 years and has traveled throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia to help lead retreats and meditation activities for adults, teenagers and children. She is currently active in Montagne du Dharma practice center, located in the national park of the Cévennes in France. Julia cares deeply and concretely about nature and about people; and she focuses her attention each day to embody the spiritual name she received from Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008: true harmony.

Bar Zecharya, Dharma teacher in the zen tradition founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, serves as the caretaker of Pardesa since 2018. Topics dear to him include: how we relate to the Earth and to the climate crisis; practicing in contexts and moments of conflict; understanding and working with the mind, the ego and consciousness; living fully our aspirations; and the art of stopping and healing.

Practical information and retreat cost

The retreat will take place from Wednesday 30 October (arrival at 5:00 pm) until Sunday 3 November (departure at 4:00 pm).

This retreat is sold-out. Thank you to all those who registered

Retreat costs:

• Registration by 30 September: €225, with a reduction of €30 for those under 30 years of age
• Registration after 30 September: €75, with a reduction of €30 for those under 30 years of age

The retreat cost includes the retreat content, organization and all meals. Those who are not yet members of the non-profit association “La Natura della Mente”, the annual membership fee is €13.

Lodging is available on-site, either camping (€5/night), dormitory (€15/night), or double room (€30/night) according to availability.

Registration and more information

Registration is via the online registration form.
For more information: info@lanaturadellamente.it