Listen Deeply to Truly Love – walking the path of understanding

“Return to yourself and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your perceptions need you, your feelings need you. The wounded child inside you needs you. Your suffering needs to be recognized. Come back home and be mindful of all of it. Practice mindful breathing and mindful walking. Do everything in mindfulness, then you can truly be there, then you can love.
When you go for a nice walk in the mountains, invite the little boy or little girl inside you to join as well. When you contemplate a beautiful sunset, invite them with you.”— Thich Nhat Hanh, Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child

The Sangha of Palermo joyously announces the meditation retreat led by the monks of Plum Village, taking place from October 1 to 4, 2026, at the Centro Maria Immacolata in Poggio San Francesco, in the province of Palermo.

Activities:

We will have the opportunity to practice mindful movements, sitting and outdoor walking meditation together, listen to precious Dharma teachings, share meals in silence, and share practice experiences in an atmosphere of deep listening and open-heartedness.

During this retreat, we will alternate practice sessions at the Center with mindful walks in the surrounding forest lasting about two hours. Although open to everyone, the retreat requires a minimum level of physical fitness and ability to walk comfortably for about two hours a day (excluding arrival and departure days). Those who prefer not to participate in the walks can practice individually at the center.

When & Where

• The retreat begins on Thursday, October 1, with welcome and registration from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and ends on Sunday, October 4, at 3:30 PM.
• The retreat will take place at the Centro Maria Immacolata, a few kilometers from Palermo: https://www.centromariaimmacolata.it
• Google Maps location (by car): https://maps.app.goo.gl/z4JRdqbuyTcMNemP8
• Transportation note: It is not possible to reach the retreat location by public transportation. If you are interested in receiving information regarding transfers from Palermo airport or train station, please indicate it in the registration form.

Retreat Cost

The cost of accommodations for three nights, on a full-board basis, in single, double, and triple rooms, includes the contribution to the monks’ teachings and organization.

• BASE: Covers the essential costs of your retreat. We offer this rate to make our retreats accessible to everyone.
• SUPPORTER: This rate fully covers the costs of your retreat, the board and lodging for the monks during their stay in Sicily, and contributes to monastic training and the maintenance of Plum Village facilities.
• DONOR: Your generous contribution helps provide retreat scholarships, healthcare for the monastics, funds essential projects, and keeps Plum Village a welcoming sanctuary for all.
• SCHOLARSHIP: If your financial situation does not allow you to participate at the rates listed above, please contact us using the details below to request financial assistance, made available thanks to the generosity of other retreat participants.

Registration

Please fill out the registration form individually for each participant by clicking the following link: https://forms.gle/Mh87s5ipT614D39j8

Please make sure to write your phone number and email address correctly, where we will send confirmation of spot availability and subsequent instructions that will be essential to complete your registration.

Contacts:

• Email: palermo.sangha@gmail.com
• WhatsApp: Maurilio +39 349 711 27 11; Maia +39 320 796 00 00
• Web: https://www.sanghapalermo.org/

What to bring

• General items: Bring a meditation cushion (or a bench), a mat and a small blanket to place on the ground for relaxation, comfortable indoor and outdoor clothing and shoes (suitable for short nature trails), a windproof jacket, and a notebook with a pen.
• For nature trails: Suitable clothing, a small backpack, a water bottle, a hat, running shoes with good grip or hiking boots, and a rain poncho or jacket.
• Meals & Policies: Meals are vegetarian with vegan options. The venue is unable to manage special dietary requirements or food intolerances; if needed, please bring your own provisions. Pets are not allowed inside the facility.

Translations

The teachings will be offered in English with simultaneous translation into Italian. For those who wish to listen to the simultaneous translation, we kindly ask you to bring headphones with a 3.5 mm mini-jack cable to connect to the receivers.