BRC NewsFlash - January and February 2017

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - for people of all religions and none

Dear Retreatant BRC Newsflash: January & February 2017 We were privileged to meet Ven Robina again, whose dynamic, robust and challenging teachings moved people to the very core of their being. She highlighted the very essence of the Buddha's teachings which demonstrate how acting on our negative emotions - greed, hatred and delusion - lead to deep suffering. The launch of "Plentiful" in Durban was a piece of "Cake" with Wanda Hennig and Peter Adams introducing the book to an enthusiastic crowd. The BRC's third recipe book, follows the success of "Quiet Food" and "The Cake The Buddha Ate". "The Big Book Of Buddha Food" is on sale at all the bookstores around the country and in the BRC shop. Christmas and new year at the BRC will be a contemplative time, a chance to reflect, refocus and re-align with Zen teacher and philosopher, David Loy, and Louis van Loon. Both retreats over this period will focus on two qualities that the Buddha felt were fundamental and intrinsic to one's life experiences, particularly when contemplating a new phase: Samatha - calmness - and Vipassana - Insight. The new year candle-lit circumambulation around the Buddha Rupa promises to be a memorable event.


Image: Angela Shaw
Forthcoming Retreats: January 1 - February 26 2017 The arrival of the new year naturally inclines one to reflect on the life one has lived in the past year, and to formulate a healthier, and more purposeful approach to life in the new year. The retreats offered during January and February offer the opportunity to do just that! From yoga to healing relaxation, a health and cooking retreat to plant healing, they will all help you to discover your best self. Time To Reminisce, Reflect And Re-assess Self-time to be in a beautiful, gentle, uncluttered space to tune into what lies ahead in 2017 - and gain a fresh perspective on life. Read more… Just you and the Ixopo hills \| 2 days: January 1-3 Getting To know The Birds And Trees At The BRC There are 160 birds of a feather at the centre, including the rare Blue Swallow and the Emerald Cuckoo. Find out what trees and insects attract these birds. Read more… Crystelle Wilson and Chris Dalzell \| Weekend: January 6-8 Relieve Anxiety, Depression And Trauma Through Mindfulness Energy Psychology provides a powerful intervention to disruptive states of mind by interrupting negative conditions and habitual responses to bring calmness, clarity and healing. Read more… Heather Ferris and Gary Greenstein \| Weekend: January 13-15 Mindfulness: Always Available, Everywhere Sati or Mindfulness is the foundation of all types of Buddhist meditation. It teaches us to pay attention - without distraction or distortion - and see things as they really are. Read more… Jonathan Preboy and Anna Scharfenberg \| Weekend: January 20-22 Yin And Yang: A Yoga Weekend Release, relax and restore with yoga to bring balance, health and harmony into your lives. Read more... Georgie Carter \| Weekend: January 27-29 Pudding And Prana: A Cooking Retreat Paul will demonstrate your favourite BRC dishes to fill your belly and gladden your heart, while Amy will focus on cultivating health and joy through yoga. Read more... Paul Atkinson and Amy Best \| Weekend: February 3-5 Plant Healing - The Sangoma Way An intensive plant healing retreat for those looking to re-energise their lives. Read more... John Lockley \| 3 days: February 7-10 Going With The Flow: Integrating Yoga Into Daily Life As A Mindful Practice Learn to be mindful and centred on the present so you can flow with the river of life. Read more... Bruce van Dongen \| Weekend: February 10-12 Health Retreat: Discover Your Best Self Find your best possible self in the healing and nurturing environment of the BRC. Read more... Dr Kaz Kiepiel \| 3 or 6 days: February 12-17 Contact: Buddha Touches The Earth: Engaged Buddhism, Subtle Activism Engaged Buddhism and subtle activism help us to reconnect to our true nature, to one another and to the Earth. Read more... Tsunma Tsondru: Weekend \| February 17-19 Healing Relaxation: Opening And Relaxing The Heart And The Mind Relaxation and healing practices can enhance our ability to access, intentionally, calm, expansive states of mind in our daily lives. Read more... Pippa Cope and Jayne Pilossof \| Weekend: February 24-26
Chrisi
About the BRC Perched 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 more than thirty six years, people of all religions and none have come to experience peace and tranquillity. 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. In 1989, the BRC was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Mandela for turning an eroded farm into the natural paradise it has become with 160 species of birds, including the Blue Swallow, otter, deer and indigenous forests. The BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa Valley. It continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways. Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc.

	www.brcixopo.co.za \| 039 834 1863 \| 087 809 1687 \| 082 579 3037 \| 031 2095995


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