From May 22-24, the Unione Buddhista Italiana (UBI) transformed Milan’s Fabbrica del Vapore into a vibrant hub of spiritual inquiry and cultural celebration for Vesak 2026. The main panel discussions and public dialogues centered on the theme “Freedom and Liberation. Two Horizons, One Breath” (“Libertà e liberazione. Due orizzonti, un solo respiro”) and was intentionally interdisciplinary, combining over 60 Buddhist teachers, scientists, philosophers, activists, artists, and religious leaders to explore freedom both as a social reality and as an inner path of liberation. More than 12,000 people attended across the three day event.
Representing Merigar’s culturally significant standing in the union, the Museum of Art and Oriental Culture (MACO) exhibited a selection of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s personal collection of striking black and white photographs captured by the Italian anthropologist and Orientalist Fosco Maraini during his time in Tibet (1937–1948). The series, a small part of a collection of 108 photographs gifted to Rinpoche in 1990 by the photographer, was thoughtfully curated by museum director Alex Siedlecki under the title “Dove il Cielo tocca la Terra” (Where Heaven touches the Earth) and offered attendees a profound window into a Tibet all but lost to time. The stand provided a tranquil atmosphere to converse with MACO’s Gabriele Siedlecki on the nature of the museum’s existence and its upcoming 10 year anniversary. It also provided Merigar an unostentatious platform to communicate its summer program of open activities, supported by the presence of Gakyil members Giuseppe Cammarota and Kirian Regan.
Additionally, ASIA, another fruit of Rinpoche’s dedication to supporting societal awareness of Himalayan cultures, was also present at the VESAK festival, providing attendees with information on the association’s ongoing humanitarian aid campaigns and educational programs.
The festival presented many inspired dialogues including ‘Humanity and Nature’ which discussed ecology, responsibility, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. The talk featured, among others, Italian singer/songwriter and advocate for environmental sustainability, Elisa, who also generously offered a free, intimate piano concert on Saturday night.
Another defining highlight of the festival was the participation of Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche. Her teachings, titled “Come liberare la mente dalle proprie illusioni” (How to free the mind from its own illusions), emphasized that the mind is freed from its illusions when it directly recognizes the interdependent nature of reality; from this recognition, wisdom and compassion naturally develop together, leading to a stable form of inner freedom dedicated to the welfare of all beings.
UBI’s Vesak 2026 served as a testament to the rich diversity within the Italian Buddhist landscape. The festival concluded with a powerful final ceremony celebrating the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha, where representatives from all present traditions, including Theravada, Zen, and Vajrayana schools, gathered in collective practice. This moment of unity, characterized by shared gratitude and intention, served as a reminder of the collective strength of the Buddhist community in Italy and its commitment to contributing to a more compassionate society by way of the Dharma.
The Dzogchen Community’s understated yet impactful participation through the presence of both the MACO and ASIA fortified a valuable bond with UBI (Unione Buddhista Italiana) and further transmitted the precious gifts of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu’s cultural legacy. A special thanks to all those who contributed to making this possible.
Kirian Regan
