Loneliness and community life
Ven. Kunsang of the Sangha Onlus Association, from 27 to 30 September, participated in the annual conference DIM Italy (Monastic interreligious dialogue), at the Benedictine Monastery of San Giovanni Evangelista in Lecce. An important event, with the exceptional participation of monks and nuns of various traditions, which gave rise to a free dialogue on the theme "Solitude and community life", each based on their own experiences and in accordance with their own tradition.
There were many moments of dialogue, formation, fraternal and cultural-religious exchange with Furio Aharon Biagini, Jew and historian of Judaism (University of Salento), Saifeddine Maaroufi, imam of the Muslim community of Lecce and with sister Deema who shared a presentation of monastic life to Dayr Mār Mūsā in Syria.
The program included: convivial moments with the host Benedictine sisters, the prayers of Lauds and Vespers with the monastic community, a Mass presided over by the bishop of Lecce Michele Seccia and a guided tour of Jewish Lecce. The meeting was also attended by Ven. Sonam Wangchuk who led a meditation for everyone.
The DIM is an international organization that gathers national commissions of Christian monks and nuns and promotes dialogue as a spiritual eseprinza between monks of different religious traditions. The annual meeting takes place every year in places of different religions and traditions so as to favor inter-religious exchange.
We thank Matteo Nicolini-Zani, monk of Bose and sinologist, coordinator of the Italian group of DIM since 2010, for organizing the event.
DIM Italy: http://www.dimitalia.com/
Special thanks go to Ven. Kunsang for the collaboration in the realization of the article and to the Lama Tsong Khapa Institute for sharing the article.
