Bodhisattvacharyavatara – Impegnarsi nella condotta dei bodhisattva

Bodhisattvacharyavatara – Impegnarsi nella condotta dei bodhisattva is a three-day Buddhist meditation retreat at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Tuscany, Italy. It is a weekend of study and practice on Shantideva's classic text, in the Tibetan and Mahayana Buddhist traditions, led by Ghesce Jampa Gelek. Mariella Castagnino guides the movement and relaxation practices.

The teachings take up the sixth chapter, on patience as inner strength and non-reactivity, and read Shantideva through the Madhyamaka-Prasangika view. It suits serious practitioners of varying experience, including people who are new to the Bodhisattva path.

What to Expect

The retreat opens on Friday evening with a teaching session from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Saturday is the full day. It begins with a meditation with a tutor from 7:30 to 8:00 AM, followed by do-in energy activation practices from 9:15 to 9:45 AM. Teachings with Ghesce Jampa Gelek run from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. A question-and-answer session with a tutor follows from 5:30 to 6:15 PM, and the day closes at 9:00 PM with yoga nidra for deep relaxation and evolutionary insight.

Sunday keeps the same morning rhythm of meditation, do-in and then a closing teaching session from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

The shape is simple: sitting, gentle body work, careful listening, and time to ask your own questions. The Q&A sessions with trained tutors give space for personal inquiry into what the teachings bring up.

About Ghesce Jampa Gelek

Ghesce Jampa Gelek gives all the teaching sessions of the weekend. His approach makes the classical Bodhisattva path accessible to those who have not met this tradition before, while still offering real depth to those who have studied it.

About Mariella Castagnino

Mariella Castagnino leads the morning do-in energy activation practices and the Saturday evening yoga nidra. Her sessions work alongside the tutors and yoga teachers who accompany the morning meditations.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, in the Tuscan countryside. Accommodation is available at the Institute's own lodging or at affiliated guest houses. It must be reserved during registration and comes with full-board vegetarian meals. Free cancellation is possible up to seven days before arrival. If you do not stay on site, meals can be arranged for a separate fee. All meals are vegetarian.

Before You Go

Prior Buddhist study is helpful but not required. The teachings are offered in Italian and English.

The retreat includes three days of teachings with Ghesce Jampa Gelek, the morning meditation and do-in sessions, the evening yoga nidra, the Q&A sessions with tutors, and access to the teaching texts and recommended readings. Meals and accommodation are not part of the base retreat and are arranged separately.