Summer retreat: Through the Looking -Glass

Aro Ga’dzong is situated on Tuscany’s sea-to-sky highway, an historic route from the port of Pisa up to the passes over the Appenines and the Alps. From the palm-trees and cypresses along the riviera, past the olive groves of Lucca, it climbs through chestnut and acacia jungle to the pine for- ests on the snow mountains, and up above the tree-line.

There are stations on the highway between sea and sky, loca- tions which specially support Dzogchen meditation; between the sea and the land: the shoreline between the river and the sea: the lake; between the valley and the mountain: the abyss; between the earth and the clouds: the mountain; between the peak and the sky: the summit.At these locations there will be group and solitary meditation practice with the mind, with psycho-physical energy and with the body. These methods from Dzogchen and Buddhist Inner Tantra will be taught and explained at Aro Ga’dzong on the alternate days of the course, with related empowerments.


ACTIVITIES
The course will include a full programme of Buddhist teachings, group and private meditation, physical yogas, and Tantric art and craftwork. There will be opportunities to enjoy the verdant beauty and typical attractions of the Tuscan mountains as well as a visit to the lakeside amphitheatre for the opening night of the Puccini festival, 'La Fanciulla del West'.