Dear friend,
In this newsletter, we’d like to give you updates on the activities and projects underway at Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre and celebrate the important milestones we’ve achieved, thanks also to your support and friendship.
The Albagnano yurt and the spiritual heritage of Mongolia
On Sunday 10 August, a few days before Lama Michel Rinpoche left with disciples and friends on a pilgrimage to Mongolia, we highlighted this great Asian country by recounting the special spiritual legacy that links it to our Centre, thanks to the tireless work of Lama Gangchen Rinpoche for the benefit of all beings.
This opportunity arose from the extraordinary maintenance work carried out on a small gem located at the Albagnano Centre: the yurt or Mongolian tent. All visitors have undoubtedly seen the yurt, but very few know why it is there and what it is used for. Since the end of July 2016, this space has hosted important practices such as Kadrin and Chöd, as well as holistic treatments for inner well-being, and is used by monks and lay people for individual and group practices.
After nine years in which—thanks to the care of several disciples—the yurt was kept clean and ventilated, it became necessary to replace the roof to protect it from the elements. A transparent dome was installed to provide more light inside, a new chimney was fitted and, finally, an insulated floor was laid to make it more comfortable to stay in.
Isthar D. Adler, who served as Lama Gangchen’s secretary for 35 years, took a personal interest in ensuring that the yurt arrived in Albagnano and could remain there permanently. In fact, the possibility of preserving a structure considered temporary was granted by UNESCO, which designated it a World Heritage Site. Thanks to an initial donation from Michelange, a disciple of Lama Gangchen, the tent arrived directly from Puglia on the evening of 26 July 2016 and was set up overnight, with the assistance and prayers of Lama Gangchen and the help of volunteers.
A typical dwelling of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia, the yurt is at the centre of social life in Mongolia. Travellers who have explored the endless expanses typical of this territory know this well. In the summer of 2024, Ruth Gschwendtner-Wölfle, together with other friends from the Sangha and accompanied by Geshe Phuntsok and Geshe Konchok Gyaltsen, spent several weeks in Mongolia visiting sacred places and participating in important ceremonies in yurts, temples and monasteries. Her account and photographs transported us to surreal atmospheres and endless spaces interrupted only by the presence of a few humans and animals.
The event concluded with a chöd practice led by our resident monks and lay practitioners inside the yurt, which was visited by dozens of people during the ceremony. This special practice aims to eliminate negativity and, above all, remove the obstacles of selfishness. Everyone appreciated the magic of this moment simply by listening to the melodies and chants and observing the slow movements of the damaru (ritual drum).
That same day the fundraising campaign to cover the costs of extraordinary maintenance continued. €1,216 of the €7,000 goal has been raised to date.
The yurt remains available -during the day, every day- to anyone wishing to do silent meditation or their meditation practice.
Walk with us on the prayer wheel path
A few weeks ago, we announced this important project for our Centre: the creation of a path with prayer wheels for the practice of kora, or circumambulation of a sacred place.
The Mani Khorlam project is slowly taking shape thanks to the technical drawings that have now been completed. The structure and wheels will be manufactured in Italy using technology that will make them more durable than traditional ones. The wheels will then be covered with copper plates handcrafted in Nepal with mantras in Tibetan letters. The wheels will be filled with scrolls of mantras and the names and dedications of the donors. This consecration phase, which will take place according to traditional rituals, led by monks and experienced practitioners will involve the entire community. Finally, the wheels will be installed on metal supports and the path will be lined with a protective railing with sacred decorative elements.
To date, 25 wheels have been donated by the Sangha, and another 35 have been funded thanks to a contribution from the 8×1000 Italian Buddhist Union, for a total of 60 of the 360 planned wheels. We rejoice that in such a short time, the community has responded so generously and with such heartfelt connection to this project, which has been long desired by our teachers.
You can contribute to the Mani Khorlam project individually or together as a group by making a one-off donation or by paying in installments. Further details can be requested at the Albagnano reception or by emailing: fundraising@kunpen.it
Returning to nature with Buddhist teachings
From 4 to 10 August, the week dedicated to Dharma in Nature took place for the second consecutive year. Conceived by Lama Michel Rinpoche to bring people closer to the natural environment as a sacred place for regenerating mind and body, it consisted of eight days of Buddhist philosophy teachings, outdoor activities related to well-being, and inspiring lectures on physical and mental health led by doctors Minou Anfossi, Elkana Waarsenburg, and Rogier Hoenders.
The heart of the programme was Lama Michel’s morning meditations and teachings both in the Temple and in nature. Every afternoon, a group of approximately 50 people walked through the woods and then sat on the ground on large sheets laid out just above the Temple to listen to the Buddha’s words of wisdom offered by Lama Michel. The highlight of the week was the all-day walk to Pollino, attended by approximately 80 people.
This year’s guests included Isacco Caraccio and Francesca Aurilio of Teatro Selvatico, who have collaborated with the Albagnano Centre for several years on summer camps for children and teenagers and educational activities for parents. Their workshop, titled “Imagine yourself returning to the origin,” took place on the evening of 5 August in the Tara Gompa. The first part of the activity was carried out with closed eyes, guided by original stories, while the second part, with open eyes, focused on relationships and bodywork.
This year’s programme also included hatha yoga sessions led by Fernanda Pires and Daniel Calmanowitz, ecstatic dance by Fernanda Lenz, an astrology seminar with Guilherme Fortunato Bitencourt, and a special workshop on food fermentation led by Dr. Minou Anfossi and Carmen Rolandi.
Two noteworthy events took place during the week. First, the arrival of the Kaki Bike Tour, whose participants cycled for eight days from Verona to Albagnano, stopping at symbolic sites of remembrance and spirituality to commemorate the victims of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago. This initiative for peace among peoples is part of the international Kaki Tree project, of which our Centre is also a participant, which involves the planting and care of persimmon trees that survived the bombings. The second was an evening of prayers and offerings of light for peace in Israel and Palestine, held in front of the main entrance of the Temple and led by our lamas on the evening of Saturday 9 August.
For the second year, the Dharma in Nature programme has proven to be an initiative of great interest to a diverse audience, not only for Buddhists and those wanting to explore spirituality. Our connection to nature and being part of nature is the basis for our understanding of interdependence, which is certainly at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings and is now also considered a fundamental scientific concept.
Notes of spirituality at the Verbania “White Night”
On the Pallanza lakefront, on the full moon night between 9 and 10 August, the Notte Bianca (White Night) event, designed to entertain the public from dusk until dawn the following day, was a huge success. The first part of the night featured recreational and entertainment activities, while as dawn approached, activities related to wellness and spirituality were offered, including yoga, tai chi, and meditation.
Organised by the Municipality of Verbania, this initiative also saw the participation of the Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre for the first time. At 6 a.m. Silvio La Cava led a meditation session with Tibetan singing bowls. Approximately 50 people participated, some sitting on chairs and others lying on their mats on the lawn.
The experience was extremely positive and no one expected so many people that early in the morning. The participants were mostly locals, and very few were familiar with the Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre. The large turnout was a tangible sign of the growing desire to engage in practices that promote inner peace.
Happy birthday to Lama Caroline
On 6 August, we celebrated Lama Caroline’s 60th birthday. The morning was dedicated to the Dharma in nature programme, while the afternoon was devoted to the White Heruka initiation in the Temple of Heaven on Earth, attended by about 80 people. The practice of White Heruka is a long life practice, and the gift of this initiation was received by all those present with gratitude and joy on Lama Caroline’s special birthday.
The celebration was enriched by the planting of an olive tree in Lama Caroline’s honour in the wooded area behind the Temple. During this moment, Lama Caroline recalled that ‘our lineage is as ancient and strong as the roots of this olive tree’.
In the evening, many continued the celebrations at dinner, sharing focaccia baked in our ovens, followed by the cutting of a large cake decorated with a rainbow. Finally, on the terrace of the dining hall, all those present celebrated and wished Lama Caroline a long life, dancing together until sunset. The dances were led by Gilsamara Moura, a Brazilian artist and dancer who was visiting a friend of the Sangha.
Vibrations of the soul: The third edition of "Music and Spirituality"
For the third consecutive year, the Music and Spirituality festival has toured the small towns of Verbania, bringing Italian artists to places where music typically doesn’t reach, creating opportunities for community gatherings and offering a unique perspective on the lives of the performers taking part. Year after year, the mayors of the towns hosting these events—in particular Baveno, Ghiffa and Mergozzo—have expressed their appreciation by inviting the organisers to return once again to enliven their local communities with music.
The format, created by Simona Eugenelo and Pierfrancesco Pacoda, consists of a dialogue with the artist on the theme of their relationship with spirituality, followed by a live, completely acoustic performance. This year’s performers include singer-songwriters Franco Mussida, Ambrogio Sparagna, Federico Dragogna, Maria Mazzotta, and viola player Giuseppe Russo Rossi.
The festival was opened and closed by Lama Michel Rinpoche, who supported this initiative from the outset. The final event was hosted by the Temple of Heaven on Earth in Albagnano and lasted a full day, with an opera singing masterclass in the morning attended by around 100 people, a reflection on inner music by Lama Michel in the afternoon, and a concert by Giuseppe Russo, principal viola of the Scala Orchestra in Milan, in the evening.
All the artists were guests of the Centre and had the opportunity to visit the Temple, which left them moved and wishing to return not only to perform but also simply to stay and relax.
The festival, which is clearly growing, attracted hundreds of people. In Mergozzo around 300 people attended the concert. This initiative offers many people the opportunity to know about the Centre and the Temple, so much so that many are curious and come to visit. The concerts are also partially available on a dedicated YouTube channel.
A new edition of the Vajrapani Book
In July, twenty-one years after the first edition, Lama Gangchen Peace Publications released a revised and updated edition of the book dedicated to the NgalSo Self-Healing practices of Buddha Vajrapani.
From his unique perspective, Lama Gangchen Rinpoche repackaged these profound and traditional practices for us, placing them in the context of the NgalSo Self-Healing methods to offer us a new wisdom method: “One medicine that heals 100 sicknesses—a panacea for a peaceful mind.”
The first part of the book illustrates how these ancient methods can be used to eliminate specific negativities that damage our mental and physical health. The second part contains practices related to the various forms of Vajrapani, as well as the Chasum and element purification practices.
On the occasion of the publication, Lama Caroline dedicated a weekend to presenting the contents and methods of these practices. During the winter retreat, which will be held from 27 December to 6 January, she will continue to offer explanations and share this important practice with disciples and friends.
The book is available from the NgalSo Mani Bhadra shop in Albagnano.
Tutti i buoni risultati e il successo di ogni attività sono stati possibili e saranno possibili grazie alla gentilezza, alla cura e alla generosità dei soci, dei benefattori, e dei tanti simpatizzanti. Insieme possiamo!
Un grande grazie di cuore e un affettuoso tashi delek
Kunpen Lama Gangchen
