Dear meditators, A few days ago, the option to register for online retreats changed. Previously, it was not necessary to be a member of Pian dei Ciliegi, but now, to regularize our fiscal situation, we are forced to require all participants in our activities to apply for membership, which can be done in the User area after logging in. We apologize for any inconvenience. The Board of directors
Dear Members, please note in addition to the email address info@piandeiciliegi.it, the secretary’s office is available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM every Tuesday and Thursday. Alternatively, we are available at other times by appointment. It is still possible to register for many of the 2026 retreats. Please check availability at This year, as many of you know, marks an important date for Pian dei Ciliegi: it is 30 years since the association was founded to manage a Theravada Buddhist centre and organise meditation retreats. Until now, we have been able to do all this thanks to the generosity of those who have hosted us, but now we are facing a decisive step for the future of the Centre: we have the opportunity to purchase the main building. The purchase of the main building will allow us to achieve greater stability and continuity for our projects, providing a solid and lasting foundation for the cultivation of the heart, which has already benefited many and will continue to do so for future generations. For this reason, we launched a fundraiser, and we are asking anyone who can, to support us in this important step, so that we can continue to provide ideal conditions for those who wish to develop their personal and…
Dear Members, As some of you may have experienced first-hand (unfortunately), this year the opening of retreat registrations was marked by a system malfunction that caused significant inconvenience to those wishing to register for the in-person retreats scheduled for 2026. The opening of registration is always a critical moment because simultaneous access to the site reaches numbers that, as happened this year, caused the system to crash, preventing many of you from registering easily for the retreats. The platform managers and the Pian dei Ciliegi secretary’s office prepare every year to handle potential emergencies (which until now had always remained within entirely acceptable, manageable levels). However, this year the problems were severe enough to jeopardize the delicate balance of the system, which only stabilized to ordinary operating levels late in the morning. As the Board of Directors, we apologize to all those who experienced problems. We hope, however, that you still managed to register for the retreats you intended to attend. Metta, The Board of Directors P.S.: In addition to the email address info@piandeiciliegi.it, the secretary’s office is available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM every Tuesday and Thursday. Alternatively, we are available at other times by appointment.
Dear members, friends, and supporters, As you may know, in 2023 the Pian dei Ciliegi Association joined the Italian Buddhist Union (Unione Buddhista Italiana). This step, which is very important for us, entails many positive aspects. First and foremost, it confirms our standing as Buddhists committed to the practice and dissemination of a meditation approach aimed at the liberation and purification of the mind, which, over time, has proven to be very effective in attenuating and eradicating mental defilements. On a more practical level, on the one hand, it allows us to actively participate in the life of this important religious Association. This takes place both through the periodic assemblies of members and through the conferences that the Buddhist Union organizes every two years, which address important topics for the member Associations. Among other things, this allows for a greater and better understanding of the many traditions that make up the Buddhist universe and for the sharing of fundamental issues. Furthermore, the Buddhist Union supports the Centers in various ways, both through regular training on specific topics related to the practical management of the Centers (accounting, volunteer management, tax legislation, etc.) and through financial contributions derived from Italy’s “8 per…
Our detailed retreat program for 2026 has been published. You can find it in the “In-Person Retreats” section. Registrations will open Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. To register, please follow these steps: If you encounter any problems, please contact assistenza@piandeiciliegi.it
ATTENTION: HERE YOU WILL FIND ONLY RETREATS IN ENGLISH, FOR THE FULL PROGRAM PLEASE SEE THE PAGE IN ITALIAN Bookings will be possible, through our website, starting from Sunday January 18th 2026 at 8.00 a.m. Those who are not yet members of the association, must have completed and sent the application form prior to their booking (see below in the useful information). As per tradition, Dhamma teachings are offered free of charge, but we invite participants to show their appreciation with a generous donation for the teacher and, if applicable, the translator (practice of Dana ). Donations are accepted in cash only. Check out our retreat calendar here ⇒ retreat calendar 2026 March 29th – April 12th Hannes Huber Satipaṭṭhāna Vipassanā meditation retreat in the Mahāsi tradition The retreat is open to all, in English with Italian translation, and includes alternating sessions of sitting and walking meditation, regular individual interviews and Dhamma talks every evening. All participants will be asked to respect the Noble Silence and to take the eight or five precepts (see explanations on our website). Arrival is between 2pm and 5pm on the first day; departure is after lunch on the last day. Hannes Huber is an experienced Austrian Dhamma…