About us
Pardesa is a practice center in the Dhyana (zen) tradition founded by the Venerable Thích Nhất Hạnh, that integrates the practice of mindfulness in daily life, in light of the interconnection between all phenomena: the mind, our civilization, all beings and the Earth included. In both our formal and informal practice, we aspire to look beyond forms and dualism in order to cultivate internal freedom and to support compassionate action.
Our community
At the moment Pardesa is not a residential community, except for the continued presence of our caretaker. We’re a community of practitioners who come together from many places, some near and some far, in order to practice together and to support retreats, days of mindfulness and to take care of this special place.
Bar Zecharya
Bar Zecharya, caretaker of Pardesa, Dharma teacher and permaculturist, has practiced mindfulness and applied meditation for over twenty-five years, and for more than fifteen years has facilitated groups in Italy, Israel and Palestine. He is a student of zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, by whom he was ordained in 2010 as a lay member of the Order of Interbeing. In 2022 Bar received the Lamp Transmission from the international community of Plum Village, thereby becoming a teacher in this tradition.
Bar was introduced to permaculture in 2014 and since then has made interconnection with the Earth and practical care for ecosystems the center of his spiritual path. Topics dear to him include: relating to the Earth and the climate crisis; practicing in contexts and moments of conflict; understanding and working with the mind, the ego and consciousness; living our deepest aspiration; and the art of stopping and healing.
Bar holds an MA in Comparative Religions (The Ohio State University) and a PhD in Political Science (Sapienza University of Rome). Since 2018 he serves as caretaker of Pardesa.
May we continue to touch joy and suffering. May we continue cultivating space in order to observe our mechanisms and strategies, to open in wonder to being alive on this planet, and to nurture compassion as a perennial state of mind.
Bar Zecharya
La Natura della Mente APS
Events that take place at Pardesa, including their administrative aspects, are managed by the non-profit cultural association La Natura della Mente (the Nature of the Mind). Serving on its executive council are Bar Zecharya, Patrizia Giordano and Isabella Cognatti. The association has over three hundred members and is growing.
Patrizia Giordano
With a Philosophy degree and a PhD in Political Science from Sapienza University of Rome, Patrizia has been active in the world of NGOs, civil society and international cooperation for over twenty-five years. In addition to her desire to construct a more healthy and peaceful future, she serves as vice president of the association, offering her wisdom in Pardesa’s continual evolution.
Isabella Cognatti
Educator by training and profession, Isabella brings her experience and enthusiasm for young people to Pardesa’s program and activities. She serves as the secretary of the association.
Julia Ramanoelina
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.
Julia is present at Pardesa many times a year to offer retreats, support daily practice and share her wisdom, lightness and joy. 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.”
Catarina Caruso
A practitioner in the Plum Village tradition, Catarina supports Pardesa remotely, managing retreat registration and other communication tasks. She is happy to support our practice center and to have the chance to practice Italian, mother tongue on her father’s side.