Taking refuge in Mother Earth: Mindfulness retreat at Pardesa

9-12 July 2026
Mindfulness retreat in nature
in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
at Pardesa practice center in northern Italy
with Dharma teacher Bar Zecharya

The retreat will be held in English

I entrust myself to the Earth, the Earth entrusts herself to me.
I entrust myself to the Buddha, the Buddha entrusts himself to me.
– Gatha for planting a tree

When fear, anxiety and confusion seem so present in our mind and our world, Mother Earth awaits our return. Coming back to nature and to the healing elements inside us and around us, it’s possible to reconnect with the peace, care and wisdom that the Earth offers in each moment.

Please join us for a mindfulness retreat in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Over the course of four days we will be nourished by nature as we encounter and deepen our ability to live fully each moment. 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 and for sharing from the heart. We’ll also have space to get our hands dirty and offer our care to the Earth.

Pardesa

Founded in 2018, Pardesa is a unique mindfulness practice center that combines care for the mind with care for the Earth. As much as possible, all activities take place outdoors and in contact with nature. In addition to the depth and simplicity of this way of life, it also gives us the opportunity to cultivate a spirit of adaptation and of flowing with the conditions that nature provides.

Participation

No specific skills or experience are required. Retreatants are expected to participate fully in the community life of the practice center. This includes arriving on time for activities and respecting the practice of silence for the duration of the retreat, meditations, service for the community and sharing. All these elements enrich and are an integral part of our retreat experience. We trust in the sense of responsibility of all practitioners to take care of the collective energy of mindfulness throughout the retreat, including in public places, personal rooms and during moments of rest.

Daily schedule

The schedule may vary. As an example:

6:00 am wake up
6:45 am formal morning meditation
8:00 am breakfast
9:00 am morning circle and service to the community
10:45 am Dharma talk
12:30 pm lunch
3:00 pm deep relaxation/walking meditation
4:00 pm community practice/sharing
6:30 pm dinner
8:00 pm formal evening meditation
noble silence (until 9:00 am the following day)

Our teacher

Bar Zecharya, permaculturist and 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 Thursday 9 July (arrival at 3:00 pm) until Sunday 12 July (departure at 4:00 pm).
Partial participation is not allowed, in order to take care of the energy of the group throughout the retreat.

We will be helping to coordinate rides from the Pianoro train station at 2:30pm on Thursday, and departing from Pianoro at 4:30pm on Sunday.

Retreat costs:

• €230, with a reduction of €50 for those under 30 years of age

The retreat cost includes the retreat content, organization and all meals. Lodging is available on-site, either camping (€5/night), dormitory (€15/night), or double room (€30/night) according to availability. The rooms are equipped with bunk beds. For those who are not yet members of the non-profit association “La Natura della Mente” that manages the retreat, the annual membership fee is €13.

We would like this retreat to be available to everyone regardless of economic status. For particular economic difficulties please contact us directly.

Registration

A €100 deposit is necessary to register for the retreat

For further information regarding this retreat, please contact us.