Join us!
dharma point, Via del Commercio Sud, 217, 56040 Pomaia, Santa Luce (PI), Italy
The inauguration took place on Friday, March 27th at 17:30 PM. The project, born from the redevelopment of a former commercial building, aims to become a community center combining spirituality and social commitment.
SANTA LUCE – A subtle connection unites the silence of meditation with the bustling noise of a Tuscan village. That connection now has a precise address: Via del Commercio Sud, number 217. Here, within the walls of what was once a commercial building, something both ancient and ultra-modern is about to be born: the dharma point. Not just a place of prayer, but a true laboratory of human relationships in the heart of Pomaia. On Friday, March 27, at 17:30 PM, the dharma point, the new multipurpose space, officially opened its doors.
The initiative was born with the ambition of transforming spiritual research into daily action, offering citizens a free meeting place and a place for everyone to listen. From urban regeneration to community.: The project began in May 2025 when, thanks to the donation of five private individuals, it was possible to purchase and restore a former commercial building in the town center. After months of work, what was an abandoned structure became a “home” for the community.
"We wanted a place where monks and nuns could meet people informally," explain the promoters of the Sangha Monastic Association. "Dharma Point will be an office for professionals working on the construction of the future Monastery, but above all a 'beautiful' place where socializing arises spontaneously, without the obligation of consumption or reservations."
A bridge between Buddhist wisdom and everyday life
The goal is to put Buddhist teachings into practice, bringing values such as compassion and wisdom to the challenges of the present. The facility also includes a room dedicated to meditation and study, designed for those seeking a moment of relaxation from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Beyond its spiritual component, the center will function as a social outpost: a non-judgmental listening point and orientation for anyone in need of support. With this opening, Pomaia strengthens its identity as a hub for Buddhism in Italy, offering a model of integration where Eastern philosophy engages in constant dialogue with the local area and its inhabitants.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place last Friday in the presence of Massimo Stordi, President of the Sangha Monastic Association, Mayor Giamila Carli, the Parish Priest Don Vincent Otunwa Obinna, and Valerio Tallarico, Director of the Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, an invitation to share in making the village "more alive and more human."
“In Sanskrit, the word dharma means 'that which sustains,'” explains Massimo Stordi. “All living beings are dharmas, or phenomena that carry within themselves their own specific nature. Simply put, every positive action performed with the body, words, or thoughts is considered dharma: doing good protects us. This is precisely the purpose of our dharma point: to be a useful service to the entire community.”
"I am positively impressed by the transformation of these spaces," says Giamila Carli. "The dharma point inaugurated today in Pomaia certainly represents a place of great religious significance for our region and represents a new space capable of enriching the entire community culturally. It will be an environment for encounter and dialogue that, in a complex moment like the one we are experiencing, will strengthen the values of peace, kindness, and coexistence among people with diverse ideas and sensibilities. For this, I would like to thank the Sangha Monastic Association, which with this project is making a concrete contribution to the harmonious growth of our region."
The first activity will begin on Tuesday, April 7th, with the experiential program titled "Four Meetings for Healthy Breathing and Awareness" with nun Ciampa Tashi. The initiative aims to offer concrete tools for improving physical and mental well-being through the rediscovery of a natural, yet often overlooked, practice: breathing correctly and using meditation to increase awareness and focus. Every Tuesday from April 7th to 28th, from 19:00 PM to 20:00 PM. Space is free and limited to 15 participants.
For information write to info@dharmapoint.it
How dharma point was born
In May 2025, thanks to the generosity of five donors, we were able to purchase and restore a former commercial property in the center of the village of Pomaia.
Since then we have started the renovation works with the aim of creating a true home for our community's activities.
A simple and important wish: to have a place where monks and nuns can collaborate together, meet people and offer a space for listening, information and sharing.
Dharma Point will also be a place of work and planning, with a dedicated office space where our collaborators can develop initiatives, meet with professionals for the Monastery's construction, and create quality content and activities.
But most of all a space for relationships.
A “beautiful” place where social interaction can arise spontaneously, without having to plan or purchase it.
A place to be together without needing a drink, a ticket, or a reservation.
A small community outpost that helps make a town more vibrant and humane even on ordinary days: a place to stop, work, talk, meditate, and get to know one another.
In this spirit we want to put into practice the teaching of Lama Yeshe, who encouraged us to bring wisdom and compassion in everyday life.
Benefit for people
Inside dharma point you will also find a room dedicated to the meditation, prayer, study and reflection.
It will be a place to pause, find clarity, and cultivate a more conscious relationship with yourself and others.
We will offer moments of meditation, meetings, study activities, and informal opportunities for sharing.
Whoever enters will be able to find listening, guidance and support, in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment.
Community Service
Dharma Point was also born with a broader intent: to bring the voice and perspective of Buddhism into dialogue with the community.
Through meetings, reflections and cultural activities we want to contribute to strengthen bonds of connection and presence, applying Buddhist wisdom to the challenges of the present.
The aspiration is to support the growth of communities capable of valorising and cultivating universal values such as compassion, generosity, wisdom and peace.
A small library of Buddhist philosophy books will be available to guests, along with our advice.
We await you with gratitude and joy,
all of us of the Monastic Association
Sangha Lhungtok Choekhorling