AGENDA
AGENDA

Community

The Sanctuary is an oasis for communal living and interfaith dialogue with a clear intention, designed to accommodate both short and long-term stays. The Sanctuary is imbued with a spirit of devotion, simplicity and an openness to all spiritual paths, with a focus on Bhakti (loving devotional service) and Kirtan (spiritual singing). Guests are invited to participate in the daily activities and follow one of the offered seminars, or just spend some time in the peace and quiet of the place.

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Spirituality

Spirituality and religion have a long tradition at Terra Vecchia. For decades, Terra Vecchia has been home to the community house “Casa Convento,” rented by the association Ritiro Terra Vecchia. Throughout the year, individuals and groups stay at the Ritiro “Casa Convento” who are seeking to encounter themselves, eachother and God. The centre focuses on fundamental elements of Christian life such as companionship, hospitality, care for fellow creatures, peace and reconciliation. The life of this group is guided by the rhythm of the Benedictine monastic wisdom ‘ora et labora’ (pray and work): times of silence and prayer alternate with activities. 

Without a peaceful mind, there can be no happiness

- Bhagavad Gita

Without a peaceful mind, there can be no happiness

- Bhagavad Gita

Sacred Space

A sacred space forms the heart of the sanctuary. It is a place of meditation and prayer, but also a place of celebration and dance. Here we come together in the mornings and evenings to sing songs, meditate and discuss spiritual topics.

Courses

We offer a variety of courses that we teach in collaboration with other organizations and educational groups such and the Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta of Ponsacco, Italy and others. These courses include studies in spiritual scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Vedic culture and Sanskrit, the art of vegetarian and plant-based cooking, as well as the playing of temple instruments like the harmonium and the drum. We are affiliated with publishing groups and publish books on ecology, personal growth, cuisine and spirituality.

OVERVIEW

Cow Seva

At the Organic Mountain Farm of the Ecovillage & Sanctuary Terra Vecchia Bordei, we take care of native Swiss cows and plan to supplement these at Terra Vecchia with a small herd of mini Zebu cows. All the animals are kept according to the principles of Sanatana-dharma and Ahimsa (non-violence). This means that the cows (including the bulls) are kept until their natural death and are not sent to the slaughterhouse. Animal welfare is therefore always at the forefront.
Zebu cows have a gentle and caring nature. They are interested in people and love to be cuddled. We therefore support cow-cuddling and our guests are invited to spend time with them.

Blessed Food

A well-known saying is that we are what we eat. In the culture of bhakti, the conscious preparation, offering, and eating (or ‘honoring’) of food is considered a spiritual practice and has a profound influence on the quality of our lives. The ashram is equipped with a fully professional kitchen, where we practice the Art of cooking.

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  • info@ecovillagesanctuary.org
  • 6657 Palagnedra - Bordei, Switzerland
  • +41 79 300 91 37

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Community

The Sanctuary is located in the secluded village of Terra Vecchia, a 25-minute walk through the forest from the retreat village of Bordei. A quicker way to reach the Sanctuary, which also hosts our Ashram, is via a small cable car from Bordei that brings you across in 4 minutes. At present we are making it suitable for the transport of passengers.

The sanctuary at Terra Vecchia is intended as a place where a small community of spiritual practitioners live a contemplative life, where spiritual exchange and Bhakti-yoga forms the inspiration of the daily practice. Bhakti is the universal path of loving service from the heart. We maintain a daily Ashram routine with early rising, meditations, devotional chanting (kirtan), and a variety of daily services. We also offer courses one can follow, like reading scripture and the study of Sanskrit and Vedic culture. The monks and other residents live in a spirit of prayer and service, thereby awakening the eternal function of the soul. The sanctuary offers space for people that wish to have time for reflection, immerse in community life, write books, and exchange ideas. There are a variety of rooms and a total of about 40 beds.

The Sanctuary Terra Vecchia is formed by a core team that follows an ancient Sanatana Dharma tradition of Vaishnavism. Pietro Leemann also belongs to this movement. The sanctuary is led by Swami Shri Rupa Madhava Maharaja (V.I. Streisand). In addition to the core team, the sanctuary is home to people from all over the world who are seeking reflection, new vitality, spirituality or time out for themselves. Daily activities will also be conducted in the spirit of “prayer and service,” where spiritual practices alternate with concrete work to maintain the properties of the foundation and their surroundings, to cook and to receive guests. The core team’s volunteer work helps to ensure that Terra Vecchia and Bordei can continue to offer community services in line with the foundation’s mission. The Ecovillage & Sanctuary Terra Vecchia Bordei works with various educational organizations – notably the University of Oxford – to create an authentic spiritual learning experience.

Cuisine

The food we serve in our retreat center is vegetarian and primarily plant based. We follow the principles of healthy cooking and respects the planet and its inhabitants. The menus for the retreats were designed by Pietro Leemann, who studied Ayurveda and Chinese dietetics.  

We serve 2 meals are served each day, a brunch at 10 in the morning and a dinner at 17.30 in the afternoon (timings can adapt on request). Our meals are freshly cooked with organic ingredients (if possible from our own garden) and a variation of vegetables, fruits, grains, and vegetable proteins. Each meal will have gluten free options avialable.

Herbal tea and cecaf cofee are available througout the day, and we will also serve a light snack in the afternoon between meals in our tea room.

Herbal tea and cecaf cofee are available througout the day, and we will also serve a light snack in the afternoon between meals in our tea room.

History

Two hundred years ago, the village of Raxa was abandoned as its inhabitants relocated to Rasa. Over time, the houses fell into ruin, and the area came to be known as Terra Vecchia. Seventy years ago, a similar fate befell Bordei. Young people moved to the cities, leaving the town inhabited only by the elderly, who eventually passed away.

In the late 1960s, Jürg Zbinden, an ambitious and idealistic eighteen-year-old, visited the area and fell in love with the two remote villages. With a utopian vision, he dreamed of bringing them back to life. Miraculously, through his artistic and artisan skills and the support of numerous patrons, the villages began to flourish once more.

Over the last fifty years, many successful social projects have emerged, and the rebirth of these villages has been a remarkable achievement. Now in his later years, Jürg Zbinden decided to pass on the leadership of the Foundation. By a fortunate coincidence, a group promoting a new vision for the project presented their ideas, which were enthusiastically embraced.

The foundation is set to begin construction on the next phase in 2024, with activities scheduled to launch in the spring of 2025. Building on its rich history, the concept for the villages centers on creating an eco-village with a strong social and spiritual focus. It will be a space open to an evolving society, while also serving as a retreat for personal regeneration and a hub for learning essential life skills.

The Fondazione Terra Vecchia – Bordei owns the sites, which include 35 hectares of arable land, five houses offering 30 beds in Raxa, and six houses with a restaurant and 40 beds in Bordei. Several promising development projects and prospects for the two villages are supported by patrons and other foundations. Those interested in contributing are welcome to contact us.