Updated BRC Newsflash - November 2019
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The Buddhist Retreat Centre |
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Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
For people of all religions |
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Dear Retreatant BRC Newsflash: 1 November to 1 December 2019 |
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The new BRC calendar of retreats from May 2019 to April 2020 is published on our website. You will find it at www.brcixopo.co.za |
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| King Protea in the lap of the Buddha | Image:Thomas Campher | |
When Less Is MoreWhen Chrisi and I were lazing in Greece recently lapping up the restorative power of the light, sun and sea in the dappled shade of an olive tree, I was reminded of a charming cameo in Daniel Klein's book "Travels With Epicurus" where the author discusses Epicureanism as a philosophy in today's world: Unsurprisingly, Epicurus' laid-back legacy survived more thoroughly in Greece's rural areas more than in its cities. Aegean islanders like to tell a joke about a prosperous Greek American who visits one of the islands on vacation. Out on a walk, the affluent Greek American comes upon an old Greek man sitting on a rock, sipping a glass of ouzo, and lazily staring at the sun setting into the sea. The American notices there are olive trees growing on the hills behind the old Greek but that they are untended, with olives just dropping here and there onto the ground. He asks the man who the trees belong to. |
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| Reclining Buddha | Image: Sean Laurenz | |
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Clearly, the old man understood the art of quality living: finding calmness and contentment in the present moment. This also happens to be the essence of the Buddha’s philosophy. But the old man didn’t have a need to know the Buddha’s teachings. He had already grasped the kernel of it experientially by doing away with all the circuitous thinking and planning that creates our complex mental world. He had “Buddha- wisdom”. Indeed so much in life is freely given. It doesn’t require approval or disapproval. It is just there for us to notice for the time it lasts, letting things come and go; taking refuge in the present moment. Ven. Ajahn Sumedho expresses this sentiment in his words: “The past is a memory. The future is the unknown. Now is the knowing.” The BRC makes it possible for retreatants to experience such a state of immersion in nature - to just stand and gaze into the distant hills from Nalanda Rocks or to catch a rainbow or a half moon; a reddened skyline, to dip your feet in the cool water of the dam, to spot the shadow of an otter, to walk the labyrinth or simply place a flower in the lap of the Buddha. Who needs an olive grove? |
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Geshe Lobsang Dhondup meditating at Nalanda Rocks |
Image: Lambro Koutsoyiannis | |
Going Green Is The New ReligionDuring the first week of October we celebrated World Vegetarian Day. October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. It is designated to help people consider switching to a more plant-based diet to enhance their own well-being and longevity, but in addition to foster a kinder attitude to animals and indeed to the planet’s entire biosphere. So this is a good time to consider doing the least harm to our fellow creatures. Following a diet that excludes any form of animal exploitation or cruelty for food should become a way of life for all of us to adopt. I became a vegetarian before I embraced Buddhism as my philosophy to guide me along the trajectory of my life. Both have inspired me in tandem. Indeed, for me, the one informs the other. When I conceived the BRC, it was therefore unthinkable that it would be anything else other than a place where vegetarianism would co-exist with the Buddha’s philosophy. |
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| Light on the vegetable garden | Image: Chantal Flores | |
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People sometimes joke about the fact that they come to the BRC just for the food. We are flattered to know that our food tempts all palates, but we hope there is more “ food for thought” in what we offer at the Centre, and that they also come for the spiritual sustenance. The purest form of vegetarianism can be experienced in February when Debbie Rich will be presenting a retreat on veganism entitled “ Out to lunch where green is the new colour for the palate”. Come and learn to create your own Buddha bowls and sunshine salads.... and make a meaningful lifestyle change. Live kindly, Louis |
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| Gaze into the distant hills | Image: Angela Buckland | |
There are still a few spaces left on the following retreat in October:
Spring Writing Retreat: Let your inspiration flow |
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| Sunshine bowls |
Images: Angela Shaw and Sean Laurenz | |
Forthcoming Retreats: 1 November to 1 December 2019People often yearn for an opportunity to recalibrate their lives and to spend some time in quiet reflection among like-minded people. The BRC provides such a refuge - where silence is a precious commodity - and where people meet to engage in a range of talks on Eastern and Western philosophy and psychology. Shape up for summer by introducing yoga, pilates and chi kung into your life. Enjoy the sound of silence on a 6 day Zen-style meditation retreat and learn to cultivate loving-kindness towards yourself and others. Alternatively treat yourself to a personal retreat where you can wake up to bird song, walk in the morning mist, rake the sand garden, listen to the wind chimes and meditate in the company of the mossy Buddha. |
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| Stupa in the mist | Image: Angela Buckland | |
If The Buddha Found His Soulmate: Finding a loving relationship on a spiritual pathThe Buddhist teachings provide a wonderful foundation to understand why relationships work - and why they don’t - and help us to develop an ability to live in the present moment. Our exploration of vital, loving relationships will include Buddhist insights into how compassion, impermanence and loving-kindness are key in the way we relate to others. A Pilates Retreat: Moving with agilityThis retreat will incorporate a series of core-strengthening movements using your body weight as a tool and specific breathing patterns to encourage efficient movement, core stability and flexibility. Eyes Horizontal, Nose Vertical: A weekend of meditation practiceSimply by being attentive, moment to moment, can have profound consequences, reconnecting us to our deeper selves, to others and the natural world round us. Experience the intimate connection supported by a programme of sitting and walking meditation. Playing The Lute With No String: A meditation retreatThis simple no-frills, ‘bare-bones’ Zen style retreat presents an ideal opportunity to extend and deepen your meditation practice and will be held in an atmosphere of silence. An Introduction To Chi KungEnjoy this ancient Chinese practice that boosts one’s health and longevity. Through gentle, slow and flowing movements, chi kung integrates and harmonises body and mind. Being Our Own Best Friend In This Crazy WorldUsing insights from psychology and the Buddha’s teachings, we will explore what keeps us trapped in cycles of negativity and suggest ways of how we can restore ourselves into a more natural state of ease and well-being. Going With The Flow: Integrating yoga into daily life as a mindful practiceIn this retreat we will explore kundalini yoga - a combination of stationary and dynamic poses, chanting, yogic breathing and chi kung techniques - which aims to develop the ability to be fully present and integrated in the flow of life. The Enjoyment Of Being Still And AloneEnjoy some serene “alone” time on a Self-Retreat in the beautiful, indigenous setting of the BRC with chi kung, meditation, communing with nature, enjoying the vistas of the velvet Ixopo hills, and relishing the delicious vegetarian food for which the BRC is justly renowned. |
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| The Studio with thatched roof | Image: Andrew Brown | |
About the BRCPerched on a ridge at the head of a valley in the Umkomaas river system in KwaZulu-Natal, the Buddhist Retreat Centre looks out on a vista of indigenous valleys, forests and rolling hills receding like waves in the blue distance. Here, for thirty-nine years, people of all religions and none have come to experience peace and tranquility. It is a gentle, sympathetic space where one can be still and get in touch with oneself and reflect on the things that crowd one's life. The BRC was voted by CNN as one of the ten best meditation centres in the world. CNN Travel awarded another feather in the BRC’s cap by voting it as one of the ten best spiritual centres in South Africa, recently. The BRC was awarded Natural Heritage status in 1995 under the auspices of the Department of Environmental affairs and received a certificate to that effect signed by President Nelson Mandela for turning an eroded farm into the natural paradise it has become - thousands of indigenous trees were planted by retreatants under the supervision of Mervyn Croft - with 160 species of birds, including the Blue Swallow, otter, deer, antbear and indigenous forests. The Centre was also given the special status of “Custodian of the Blue Swallow” for its work in preserving the breeding areas of this endangered bird. The BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa Valley, nineteen years ago, on the estate. Their vision is for all people in the community to be healthy and productive, to live in a safe and clean environment, with good access to services and social justice. The Centre continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways by contributing Dana, sponsoring their Directors, trainers and visitors' accommodation, and showcasing and promoting their wonderful crafts in the shop such as the sock monkeys, cushions, bags, scarves, beanies and stationery. The Woza Moya Crafters are local women who receive ongoing training and support to enable them to create these unique and charming best sellers. This year as a result of retreatants' Dana (Generosity), the BRC was able to donate R24,000 to Woza Moya to further enable their good work among the community and to help support the 50 children who attend the Woza Moya play school. Become a friend of the Buddhist Retreat Centre (a non-profit organisation) and find out more about the BRC's Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends’ projects which help to ensure the continuity of the Centre. Thank you for the abundance that has flowed to the BRC in the form of Paid-Up-Yogis and Sangha Friends’ contributions which have enabled us to refurbish the bathrooms in the Lodge, tile the entrance to the dining room and install a tea station in the Lodge for those hot cups of milo on the cooler misty nights. We are grateful for the truck-load of indigenous trees, herbs, seedlings and plants, a new granite kitchen server, a new canvas parasol for the outside umbrella, kitchen utensils and crockery, garden tools, books for our library, beautiful beige towels, soft new pillows, Woollies duvet covers, a coffee plunger, a marvellous collection of illustrated books on the Sumie tradition, some of which have been long out of print, a beautiful silk scarf for Louis from Sikkhim to use during the Chinese tea ceremony, Elsa Pooley's book on flowers for the library, a generous donation towards installing LED lights to reduce our energy consumption and stunning photographs from Andrew Brown, Marc Kornberger, Tsunma Tsondru and Lennart Eriksson and "Fairlady" magazine featuring the BRC. The Centre received a generous donation of tables, crockery, ceramics, pillows, cushions, curtains and lanterns, as well as boxes of seedlings, fruit, cheese and olives, two beautiful stone bird baths, a new fire pit for meditation under the stars and a new noticeboard. The recently donated mahogany table and chairs and table cloth in the studio have enhanced the room enormously. We welcomed two new power drills, garden tools and the high-back oak chairs for our meditation hall and generous donations towards the re-paving of the entrance road to the BRC. A recent donation has enabled us to fix the leaking pantry roof. We are very touched by your appreciative letters, emails, support and friendship towards the BRC - your spiritual home from home. Chrisi Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc. |
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| www.brcixopo.co.za | 087 809 1687 | 082 579 3037 | 031 2095995 |
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