A Centre: for whom?
The extended community
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TOGETHER AND AROUND THE CORE COMMUNITY, on the same property will be present an extended community of practitioners composed of family units (singles and couples also with children). These will closely participate in the life of the Centre though living in separate buildings from the resident community and being able to enjoy their own activities.
The presence of an extended community around the core community is an innovation on the model offered by the Intersein Centre, primary source of inspiration for the Italian Centre. However, the characteristics of the extended community have not yet been fully defined. Its members may have widely varying backgrounds, allowing them to develop different kind of activities, based on their professional and personal experiences.
For example, the extended community:
- may devise the presence of persons engaged in activities based on education, health or social services, who, with the aid and support of the core community, could gain more stability and serenity;
- may include families of practitioners with children. In the tradition of Plum Village, the presence of children is very important, both for the joy and freshness that they bring to adults, and for the good seeds that the practice of mindfulness sows in them. Together they are a fertile soil on which to found the peace and happiness of future generations;
- may promote training courses. Possible recipients might be groups of teachers who wish to introduce the practice of mindfulness into schools. Similar courses may be started, aimed at those who work in the fields of mediation, training, corporate communication, cognitive behaviour support to the chronically ill, and who may wish to include mindfulness practice in their professional life. Similarly, seminars and meetings may be hosted on themes of social commitment.

The fact that the extended community has not yet been defined is considered of great value, as it will allow the core community to learn and decide, with time and experience, which activities turn out to be more effective and useful to the rooting and deepening of the practice of mindfulness and consequently provide them greater encouragement and support.