A week of silence, practice, and sharing
From 19 to 26 July 2025, the heart of Assisi welcomed a group of practitioners for the LamRim Meditation Retreat, led by Ani Ciampa Tashi and organized by Sangha Foundation ETS, within the course “Liberation in the palm of your hand”.
Next to her, the Fri. Massimo Stordi, Venerable Marco Castaldi e Stefano Gaviglio They contributed with their presence, teachings, and sharing, making this time even more meaningful.
A place of peace
THEOasis of the Sacred Heart, nestled among olive groves and centuries-old trees, served as the backdrop for our week. The rolling Umbrian hills, bathed in the summer sun, seemed to invite us to silence and contemplation, preserving sacred memories and stories of pilgrims. Each morning, the fresh air brought with it the scent of grass and the rustling of leaves, a reminder of our presence.
The path in silence
From the first day, the participants also undertook the practice of silence: a time when words retreat and listening expands.
As Ani Ciampa Tashi reminded us, silence is not empty, but an inhabited space, in which we can encounter our mind more clearly and cultivate awareness.
The teachings touched on the fundamentals of LamRim: the correct way to make offerings, walking meditation as a practice of presence, the first three recognitions with the guidance of the Venerable Marco Castaldi, and then with Stefano Gaviglio the deepening of the last three, emphasizing how essential it is to integrate the Dharma into daily life.
And lots of question-and-answer sessions to reflect together on the key points of the text we're studying.
The days concluded with evening mindfulness meditations and final dedications, offering the merits of the practice for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Meetings between spiritual traditions
The retreat was enriched by moments of interreligious dialogue. Accompanied by Marina Zola de The Spirit of Assisi, we were welcomed by Sister Chiara Mariana in the Monastery of Santa Chiara. With powerful words, he reminded us that "true silence is not merely the absence of words and noise, but a space that speaks and invites us to listen deeply to ourselves."
A San Damian, Brother Mauro he guided us on a journey of reflection on spirituality as an act of stripping: freeing oneself from superstructures to become "unmeetable" in the interior space, open to others and to God.
In these places steeped in essentiality, we breathed together: monks and nuns, friars, pilgrims and practitioners, united by the desire to cultivate a wise and compassionate mind.
An experience we carry in our hearts
The Assisi 2025 experience didn't end with the retreat. We take home the memory of days where practice, deep listening, and contemplation wove invisible threads into our lives.
Threads that will continue to silently weave a web of awareness, reminding us that peace is born within and that every step, every gesture, every breath can become prayer and Dharma practice.
We thank all the participants, those who supported us remotely, the special people we met at the Oasi del Sacro Cuore, the Poor Clare Sisters of Santa Chiara and the Franciscan friars of San Damiano and Marina Zola for their warm welcome. We hope to organize another retreat soon.
The Lam Rim class with Ani Ciampa Tashi will resume online on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 18:30 p.m..
