BRC NewsFlash - June 2018
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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 June to 1 July, 2018
The new BRC calendar of retreats from May 2018 to May 2019 is published on our website. You will find it at www.brcixopo.co.za |
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| Buddha by lantern-light | Image by: Lisa De Venter | |
How To Safeguard Our True HappinessThe philosopher, Epicurus, was a refreshingly wise voice in third century Greece. Refreshing, because he steered away from ponderous philosophical debate - wise, because he placed our rumination about the meaning of life where it really matters: how to live as happy and fulfilled a life as possible before we die. That did not mean that you simply followed your desires and ignored the welfare of others. Because such hedonism, he said, inevitably leads to unhappiness - for others as well as yourself - because our own happiness is inevitably interdependent with that of others'. The Buddha stressed exactly the same sentiment three centuries before Epicurus. Jesus, too, had the same message three centuries after Epicurus: "Do unto others..." So, when we sit on our black cushions in the Meditation Hall, we are in excellent company. |
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| Reclining Buddha | Image: Sean Laurenz | |
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In rural Greece you will come across elderly men sitting on park benches in the dappled shade of trees, within a short stroll of the local taverna. They talk idly about their past - stories their companions have heard many times before. They shake their heads occasionally and think of other things - or nothing at all. The stories just waft away in the warm Mediterranean breeze. The talking only halts when a pretty woman passes by - and resumes when she is out of sight. It is not the young man Do we have to wait until we are old to sit on a park bench before we can indulge in such rumination? How about sitting on a black cushion in the Zendo and finding out what the Buddha had to say about giving our mind some space, stillness and calm, and finding our safe harbour from which to sail forth into the rest of our life? Our forthcoming program offers an array of choices to do just that. Live kindly. Louis |
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| Plentiful: The Big Book of Buddha Food | Images: Angela Shaw | |
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There are still a few spaces left on the following retreats: Life writing: A workshop on memoir | Dawn Garisch | 10-13 May; |
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| Autumn Stupa | Image: Lisa De Venter | |
Forthcoming Retreats: 1 June to 1 July, 2018People often say that they 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: a beautiful natural environment of rolling hills and acres of indigenous forests, where people meet to engage in a range of unusually interesting activities, from talks on Eastern and Western philosophy, psychology and science, to yoga and Buddhist meditation and art. Surely this should set at ease even the most agitated mind? Immerse yourself in the beauty and healing energy of the BRC, and deepen your spiritual practice. The Yoga of food and Iyengar yoga will give you the chance to nudge your body into shape and health, to replenish and revitalize; while 'making life your guru' and discovering avenues to meaning and purpose with Klasie Wessels and Samantha Sparkes will help you enjoy a happier life. Find out how to liberate yourself from the negative emotions that keep tripping us up with psychologist and Buddhist teacher, Melanie Polatinski. Alternatively, drop into stillness on a Self-Retreat where you can wake up to bird song, walk in the mist, rake the sand garden, listen to the wind chimes or meditate in the Zen garden with the mossy Buddha. The Yoga Of Food: Nourish To FlourishA weekend of yoga and exploring the yogic approach to diet and the ethics of food production through principles of Ahimsa - doing no harm. Guided relaxations and vegetarian delights will leave you feeling nourished inside and out. Make Life Your Guru: An Introduction To Buddhism And MeditationJohn Lennon said, "Life happens when we are busy making other plans". Buddhism maintains that we are not living realistically: we are missing fundamental truths about ourselves and what is really going on in our lives and the world we live in. This retreat aims to explore these issues. Your Precious Life: Discovering Avenues to Meaning And PurposeWe all need to live life powerfully despite severe challenges. During this workshop, you will be introduced to Logotherapy, an existentialist analysis developed by Dr Victor Frankl on how to discover meaning in life even when we will unavoidably encounter suffering. Iyengar Yoga: Nudging The Body Into Shape And HealthThe upsurge of interest in the ancient practice of yoga attests to its proven physiological and psychological benefits. This retreat will both invigorate and release pent-up stresses and strains in our body and mind, and is suitable for beginners and for those who may have practised other forms of yoga. Deepening Your Yoga Practice: Iyengar YogaFor those who wish to consolidate their yoga practice, this 4-day retreat is highly recommended. This retreat will definitely leave you feeling stretched, invigorated and fit for life. Negative Emotions Keep Tripping Us Up: Is There A Way Liberate Ourselves From Them?Negative emotions block our way to happiness. The Buddha taught us how to work with these emotions creatively and substitute them with their positive equivalents. The Profundity Of Solitude - The Enjoyment Of Being Still And AloneEnjoy some “alone” time on a Self-Retreat in the beautiful, indigenous setting of the BRC with chi kung, meditation, walks, communing with nature, and enjoy the delicious vegetarian food for which the BRC is renowned. |
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Zen Garden
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Image: Chantel Flores | |
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-eight 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. 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. 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, 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, eighteen years ago, on the estate. Their vision is for all people in the community to be healthy and productive, living 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 trainers', visitors' and Directors' 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. Become a friend of the Centre and find out more about the BRC's "Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends" projects all of which help to ensure the continuity of this non-profit organisation. Ixopo is on the literary map in Lindy Stiebel and Niall McNulty’s “A Literary Guide To KZN” (UKZN Press) in which there are poems written by Stephen Coan about "the spirit of place" that happens to be the Buddhist Retreat Centre. “There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa”. These lines by Alan Paton are a beautiful depiction of the scenic beauty of the landscape that compel so many people to visit Ixopo. sitting at the Rocks Thank you for the abundance that has flowed to the BRC over these last months in the form of “Paid-Up-Yogis” and Sangha Friends’ contributions which have enabled us to refurbish the ladies’ Lodge bathroom, 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 and plants, a new granite kitchen server, a new canvas parasol for the outside umbrella, kitchen utensils, books for our library, beautiful beige towels, soft new pillows, a coffee plunger, a Bosch power drill, sponsored signage by Westwood Insurers and 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 and "Fairlady" magazine featuring the BRC. We have been so touched by your appreciative letters, emails, support and friendship for the BRC - your spiritual home from home. The "Buddha Buzz" is that we now have pure natural honey produced from the estate. The project started when Rob Pooley, an apiarist from Botha’s Hill, was consulted about the influx of bees into the buildings. He suggested placing catcher boxes to entice the bees away from the buildings, and to relocate them to an apiary site above the Deer Park. This worked remarkably well and over 40 hives were relocated to the apiary. However, the drought of 2015/2016 had a devastating effect and with a dearth of food, it led to a reduction of hives to 30. Good rains at the beginning of 2017/18 brought a wonderful resurgence to the flora, especially the Halleria Lucida (Tree Fuschia) which abounds at the Centre, and so far we harvested 350 kg of honey. Without the help of Colin and his staff during the drought in helping to feed the bees with a mixture of glucose and water, the results would not be so positive. May our bees remain happy and busy and may the honey flow. Ray Vogel is back at the BRC spicing up our lives. He and Rose Gelderblom,who has joined the BRC as our new chef and caterer, are collaborating with our wonderful cooks, Dudu, Lungi and Lindiwe in creating more tempting treats and vegetarian delights to titillate our palates. Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc. |
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| www.brcixopo.co.za | 039 834 1863 | 087 809 1687 | 082 579 3037 | 031 2095995 |
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