With the arrival of the warm season, Merigar is preparing to experience some intense months. Like every year, the sun and longer days offer the perfect opportunity to intensify activities at the Gar, creating a calendar that includes teaching, culture and moments of authentic community sharing.
The beating heart of this season will undoubtedly be the Dzogchen Teachings retreat that Namkhai Yeshi will lead from July 2 to 8. An event of particular importance not only for Merigar, but for the entire Community, which has already seen the workers at the Gar busy for weeks in the careful preparation of the buildings and spaces. Under the coordination of Gabriele Siedlecki, confirmed as Project Manager, and with the support of Davide Boni who is training to take on this crucial role next year, every detail is being taken care of to best welcome participants.
Among the new features of this year will be the opening of a new panoramic path connecting the Longsal Square to one of the Sangkhang, continuing to the Stupa of Complete Victory to join the Path of Awareness. In addition, visitors and practitioners will be able to benefit from completely renewed, more functional and complete signage, which will make it easier to orient themselves through the paths and structures of the center.
The structure of the July retreat, established through the experience of the last two years, will maintain its fundamental characteristics, enriched with improvements suggested by practice. A particularly joyful event will be the coincidence with Namkhai Yeshi’s birthday on July 3. The program of the day has not yet been established, but it will still be a source of joy and happiness for us to share this day with him.
Summer activities at Merigar opened in June with an event of particular institutional importance: on June 7, the center hosted the Annual Assembly of the Italian Buddhist Union. Starting on the afternoon of the 6th, Merigar welcomed the Board of Directors and representatives of the more than seventy Italian Buddhist Centers associated with the UBI, many of whom had the opportunity to visit the Gönpa, the Stupa, the library and the MACO Museum in Arcidosso for the first time. The day of the 7th was dedicated to the work of the assembly, representing an important opportunity to show Merigar’s hospitality and strengthen the bonds of collaboration within the Italian Buddhist panorama.
The Open Day on June 21st deserves special attention, a day that coincides with the international celebration of Yoga. It will be an opportunity to present Merigar, its community and the various activities that take place there to the wider public, opening the doors to anyone interested in learning more about our activities.
The summer program is structured with a rich variety of events. Two Teacher Trainings are planned, one of the second level Vajra Dance and one of the Eight Movements of Yantra Yoga, the latter divided into two parts between August and September, and for those who already know Yantra Yoga at the end of June we will have an intensive weekend on the Fourth and Fifth Series.
For those looking for a relaxed but meaningful experience, the appointment with Yoga Holidays is back, a format that in past years has received considerable appreciation from both regular practitioners and new visitors. There will also be the possibility of participating in a weekend dedicated to the Khaita Joyful Dances, open to all participants regardless of their level of experience.
Events intended for practitioners will include a seminar on Rhythmic Breathing and kumbhaka, the Contemplation retreat in early August, the viewing of a retreat by Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in the middle of the month, two weekends dedicated to the Vajra Dance and a seminar on Zernga.
Cultural activities will continue with the “Library Talks” series that will touch on different themes, from the voices of birds to the recent archaeological discoveries of San Casciano dei Bagni, from musical communication to mathematics, to the profound meanings of Sanskrit and Tibetan terminology. Furthermore, on August 1st we will be happy to host once again a concert organized by the Clazz festival in the Gönpa.
The season will end in September with a weekend dedicated to collective practices on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the passing of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, scheduled for the weekend of September 26-28.
Although the calendar is full of events, there is always the possibility of changes and adjustments. For updated and detailed information on each individual event, we suggest you consult the official website of the center or directly contact the office, the point of reference for confirmation and clarifications on a program that promises to be full of opportunities for growth, meeting and sharing.
June
June 14-15, Theoretical seminar on the basics of traditional medicine, with Aldo Oneto
June 21, Merigar OPEN DAY and International Yoga Day
June 28 Library Talks – The voices of birds
June 28-29 Intensive Weekend on the Fourth and Fifth Series of Yantra Yoga
July
July 2 – 8, Dzogchen Teachings with Namkhai Yeshi
July 11-13, Vajra Dance Practice Retreat
July 12-13, Explanation and practice of Ganapuja (online only)
July 18-27, Vajra Dance Teacher Training of the 2nd Level, with Adriana and Prima
July 19-20, Practical application seminar of Tibetan ku nye massage on the chair, with Aldo Oneto
July 26, Library Talks. New discoveries at the sanctuary of San Casciano dei Bagni
July 28-31, theoretical-practical seminar on Rhythmic Breathing and kumbhaka, for all practitioners
August
August 1, Clazz Concert in the Gönpa
August 1-5, Contemplation Practice Retreat
August 4, Ganapuja (Guru Padmasambhava Day) and Padmasambhava Anniversary
August 7-12, Teacher Training of the 8 Movements of Yantra Yoga – Part I, with Fabio Andrico
August 9-10, Khaita Joyful Dance course, open to all
August 14-18, Viewing of a retreat by Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, in person and via webcast
August 16, Library Talks. How we communicate music. A journey into the Western tradition on how music is passed down: oral tradition, writing and recordings.
August 19-23, Yoga Holidays
August 21, Library Talks. Beyond Words: Deep Meanings of Sanskrit and Tibetan Yogic Terminology
August 19-31, Tibetan Translator Training
August 23-24, Zernga Explanation and Practice
August 29-31, Vajra Dance Practice Retreat
August 31, Children’s Day
September
September 5-7, Deepening and Practice of the Dance of the Three Vajra
September 12-14, Breathe Seminar, with Fabio Andrico
September 15-21, Teacher Training of the 8 Movements of Yantra Yoga – Part II, with Fabio Andrico
September 26, Library Talks. The Twenty-One Faces of Compassion: A Journey into the Iconography of the 21 Taras
September 26-28, Practices and Events for the Seventh Anniversary of the Passing of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
October
October 4 Library Talks – Dialogue with Nature: Visiting Japan between ikebana, bonsai and gardens.
