We are delighted to announce a unique event: from May 29 to June 2, 2026, Serkong Rinpoche will lead an intensive retreat in Orvieto dedicated to Kamalaśīla's Stages of Meditation, one of the deepest and most influential texts of the Nalanda tradition.
Retreat Focus
The retreat will explore the meditative structure outlined by Kamalaśīla—equanimity, love, compassion, śamatha, vipaśyanā, and the union of method and wisdom—with a practical and direct approach.
Included activities:
- Daily guided meditations to integrate understanding into practice.
- Experience sharing, moments of dialogue, and reflection.
- Q&A sessions with the teacher and event tutors.
Text: Nalanda edizioni FPMT Madhyamaka: The Stages of Meditation by Kamalaśila, Intermediate Volume
With the preface and commentary by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Translated and compiled by Fabrizio Pallotti
Italian edition: Paperback, 248 pages
Click here to purchase your copy
The retreat will take place in a historic location in Orvieto, chosen to offer an atmosphere of silence, beauty, and contemplation. Full details of the retreat and registration procedures will be shared soon.
We invite you to mark the dates in your calendar: it will be a rare and precious opportunity to practice gradual meditation according to the original lineage, with a great living master.
PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
May 29, 2026
3:00 PM – Arrival and registration
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Teachings
From May 30 to June 1, 2026
Morning
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Guided meditation
9:30 – 10:30 AM – Teachings
Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Teachings
Afternoon
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Discussion and meditation
Break
5:30 – 7:30 PM – Teachings
June 2, 2026
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Guided meditation
9:30 – 10:30 AM – Teachings
Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Teachings and departures
INFO
Language: Teachings in Tibetan with Italian and English translation.
Participation is also possible online (via Zoom).
Suggested contribution: €250, which includes all expenses related to the teacher and event organization.
Those experiencing financial difficulties are warmly invited to contact us, we will do our best to ensure no one is excluded.
If you study Logic and Debate or are enrolled in the FPMT Basic Program or Master Program, you know how important it is not to stop at theory alone. This retreat is designed as a space for practice, discussion, and deeper exploration. For you and for all university students, participation in the retreat is offered at a promotional fee of 50 euros. However, registration with the Manjushri Lotsawa Association is still required.
For further information, please contact us:
info@manjushrilotsawa.com
Participation in the event is available both in person and online.
Teachings location:
Hotel Reale Orvieto Italy
Map of Orvieto Hotels - B&Bs - Tourist Rentals
Click here
Early Recognition and Lineage
H.E Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche was born in 1984 in Lari village, Spiti Valley, in the Indian Himalayas. At the age of two, he spontaneously identified himself with a photograph of his predecessor, Kyabje Tsenshap Serkong Tugse Rinpoche (1914–1983). Shortly thereafter, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama formally recognized him as the reincarnation of this great master.
The first Tsenshap Serkong Tugse Rinpoche was one of only seven appointed Tsenshaps, or master debate partners, to His Holiness. In this unique role, he sharpened the Dalai Lama’s mastery of Buddhist philosophy through rigorous dialectical exchange, while also transmitting to him many vital tantric lineages, initiations, and oral teachings. He was deeply connected with numerous students, including Lama Thubten Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and early members of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), planting seeds of Dharma that continue to flourish today.
The present H.E Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche entered Ganden Jangtse Monastery in South India at the age of six, where he undertook a classical monastic curriculum emphasizing Buddhist philosophy, debate, and practice. He later enrolled at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamshala, where he achieved the status of Master of Madhyamika Philosophy. At the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, H.E Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche pursued intensive English language studies in Canada for three years. This experience equipped him to communicate effectively with international audiences and adapt the presentation of Buddhist philosophy for a modern, global context. After deciding to serve the Dharma as a lay teacher, he continued advanced studies in higher Buddhist training while based in Dharamshala.
H.E Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche now teaches extensively across India and at Dharma centers worldwide, including in Europe, North America, and Asia. His teaching activities are often hosted within the FPMT network of centers, maintaining the profound connection established by his predecessor with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT students. In his travels, H.E Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche emphasizes making the traditional teachings of Tibetan Buddhism accessible to diverse audiences, bridging rigorous philosophy with contemporary life. His approach is characterized by clarity, humility, and humor, allowing students to engage with both the intellectual precision and the compassionate spirit of the Dharma. He frequently offers commentaries on key philosophical texts, guidance on meditation practice, and public lectures that address how Buddhist principles can be applied to the challenges of modern living.
An event organized and promoted by
the Manjushri Lotsawa Association
Via Generale Orlando Orsini,46
80132 Napoli
IBAN: IT27K0326822300052954930710
BIC/SWIFT
SELBIT2BXXX
