From June 19 to 22, 2026, Merigar West hosted the most significant and much awaited event in the yearly calendar – Namkhai Yeshi’s teachings entitled “Confidence in Liberation”.
The four day retreat was held in the splendid setting of the Temple of the Great Contemplation. Namkhai Yeshi based his explanations on the transcription of teachings given by his father, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, in 1977, in Lu Cumitoni, Sardinia, in Italian, introducing the structure of the Kunjye Gyalpo and other topics related with the Upadesa series of teachings. In his unique and characteristic style, the teacher gave a modern interpretation of the text, going deeply through all the major topics in order to offer direct experience without any barriers or limits to all those following.
850 people were present at the retreat from far flung parts of the globe, either sitting inside the Temple or in the shaded seating area around the building. Participants had red or blue armbands and took turns to follow the teachings inside or outside the gönpa. Namkhai Yeshi spoke in English, which was translated into Italian, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian and was available to those attending as well as an enormous international audience through different channels.
The Tech Team activated the usual streaming service – webcast.dzogchen.net – as well as zoom.workplace which also hosted the Russian, Chinese, Polish and Hungarian translations, since the regular streaming service is not easily accessible in these countries. In addition the Team also offered a new streaming service – play.merigar.it – with translations into Italian, Czech, French, German, Spanish and Ukrainian. This latter beta test version was offered by the Dzamling Gar working group. In addition here was a replay link that made the teachings available approximately one hour after each session.
The retreat was also accompanied by an unusual cultural happening open to the public – the Espirito World Spiritual Music event – organized by Dynamic Space of the Elements and the Municipality of Arcidosso and held in the evenings of June 19 and 20 in the Piazza della Riconciliazione, at the foot of the evocative medieval castle of Arcidosso. In addition to performances by various ethnic musicians, there was a special performance of Vajra and Khaita dances synchronized with a composition by Namkhai Yeshi and Alessandro di Maio. More about that in another article.
Throughout the retreat there was a full program of events each day including sessions of Khaita Joyful Dances, Vajra Dance and Yantra Yoga as well as explanations by senior students.
On Monday evening an event to support some of ASIA’s projects was held in the gönpa with a sound performance by Alessandro Di Maio and a light performance by Ati Spere for the closing of the retreat.
While the teachings concluded on Monday June 22, there were still two days of study, practices and other activities of yantra yoga and Vajra Dance at Merigar.
It goes without saying that every detail relating to the retreat was seamless and seemingly effortlessly taken care of by more than 150 volunteers – from the registration, to the parking, the seating arrangements, sound management and webcast, child care, breakfast and lunch, the Mandala Room, the cleaning, sessions of vajra dance and yantra yoga, each with its own team under the guidance of project manager Gabriele Siedlecki. Organisation for the event had started in February to ready Merigar for the occasion down to the smallest details which this year included innovations including the installations of modern water coolers in the gönpa and yellow house to avoid the use of plastic bottles and the placement of recycling bins around the Gar to ease the environmental impact of the retreat. The enormous awning at the gönpa which provided shade for participants during the teaching was made to measure and became property of the Gar which means it will not be a financial burden for the future. Thanks to the impeccable organization and dedication of so many, the many activities during the event unfolded in an easy and joyful manner.
As is usual with all major retreats with the master, the weather was an exception – in this case exceptionally hot – throughout the retreat, a fact which those attending past retreats with Namkhai Yeshi and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu are by now quite familiar with.
On the last day of the event, Wednesday June 24, the 10th day of the Tibetan calendar, Guru Padmasambhava day, a Ganapuja was held in the Temple of the Great Contemplation combined with a shitro practice for the 3rd day of the passing of our Vajra brother, translator and Santi Maha Sangha instructor, Jim Valby. As we were about to start, the sky quite suddenly darkened, a mighty peal of thunder shook the gönpa and a heavy rain thundered down to refresh us all from the stifling heat and to seal the end of another remarkable teaching retreat at Merigar.
Featured photo of Namkhai Yeshi by Daniyal Ibragimov
