Updated BRC Newsflash - June 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: 31 May to 7 July 2019
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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| Stupa sunrise | Image:Andrew Brown | |
Fire and Brimstone: or Reason and Compassion?The catastrophic fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris reminded me of an essay by Victor Hugo, the quintessential chronicler of everything Parisian in the 19th century. In his inimitable way, he commented on one of the many intriguing stories and anecdotes that have swirled around this edifice for more than a century: that a hunch-backed, humanoid dwarf creature lives amongst the gargoyles that festoon the gables and facades of this extraordinary building. Whenever Chrisi and I have stayed in Paris, this was one the first of many extraordinary sites we visited in that lovely city. Victor Hugo writes: Sometimes one caught sight, upon a bell tower, of an enormous head and a bundle of disordered limbs swinging furiously at the end of a rope; it was Quasimodo ringing vespers or the Angelus. Often at night a hideous form was seen wandering along the frail balustrade of carved lacework, which crowns the towers and borders the circumference of the apse; again, it was the hunchback of Notre-Dame. Then, said the women of the neighbourhood, the whole church took on something fantastic, supernatural, horrible; eyes and mouths were opened, here and there; one heard the dogs, the monsters, and the gargoyles of stone, which keep watch night and day, with outstretched neck and open jaws, around the monstrous cathedral, barking. And, if it was a Christmas Eve, while the great bell, which seemed to emit the death rattle, summoned the faithful to the midnight mass, such an air was spread over the sombre façade that one would have declared that the grand portal was devouring the throng, and that the rose window was watching it. And all this came from Quasimodo. Egypt would have taken him for the god of this temple; the Middle Ages believed him to be its demon. He was, in fact, its soul.
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| Meditation hall | Image: Andrew Brown | |
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We, now, in the 21st Century, read such accounts as charming imaginations - not to be taken seriously. We have a tendency to dismiss anything that does not fit comfortably into our neatly-packaged logical, analytical age. We claim that everything can be dissected to show in minute detail what that thing is made of: its different parts, even its atomic and molecular composition. Our physical, material, tangible world, it turns out, is simply a collection of bits of energy which, in their interactions and descent into their concrete equivalents take on an alternate, physical appearance. Because we too are denizens of that same concrete reality everything runs smoothly. Everything fits into the same boat. So far so good then. There is nothing funny going on behind our comfortable physical world. And yet… When you have pulled apart this deeper reality, and come to know its bits and pieces in their minutest detail, one has also destroyed what makes it tick as a whole: its integrity - the way we experience it in our experiential world of integrated shapes and colours, sounds and smells. Our logic has turned around and stung us: we are left with a handful of cogs and springs of a clock that worked beautifully as a unity. The Buddha, as usual, is an excellent guide in these matters. He advised us to be neither too sceptical nor too cynical or gullible: too willing to believe anyone who dogmatically declares that things are like this; not like that. Instead, he urged us to find out for ourselves what proves to be true and real, discarding that which is not. There is therefore no blind belief in his philosophy. But, he said, there are dimensions of reality and insights that are waiting to be disclosed. But only we, by our own efforts, can remove the veils that obscure these insights. |
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| The dam | Image: Andrew Brown | |
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It took me many years to put aside my own tendency to have everything logically, scientifically proved to be true and valid before I was willing to accept it. My profession as an architect and civil engineer demanded that I adopt such an approach. My bridges and buildings would have to stand up to all manner of challenges - from hurricanes and torrential rain to earthquakes. They also had to fulfil a practical use; a function: whether as a school or a bridge, a shopping centre or a factory. Therefore, from an early age, my mind was honed to resolve challenges in life that were rooted in the material world. If these had an effect on our psychological well-being, we just needed to fix its material component to make everything work properly again. When I was still living in that cocoon of logic and deductive reasoning, I met the Tibetan refugees, who had managed to escape the Chinese occupation of their country and had to try and survive in the far North of India - beggars amongst people who were severely deprived themselves. This experience opened up an area of consciousness in me that bypassed logic or proof or reason. It required an altogether different response - one of kindness and compassion and a willingness - an urge to shift away from merely observing something - into actually engaging it. |
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| In the plantation | Image: Andrew Brown | |
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It was only after I had studied the Buddha’s philosophy and got into meditation practice, that I realised that this was his message to us - 25 centuries earlier. His Eightfold Path urges us to intimately understand and identify with the reality of Suffering (Dukkha) before wholeheartedly engaging it. Then, to deal with it effectively and compassionately to resolve or alleviate it as much as possible. This may not always prove to be a comfortable journey. But, like Quasimodo, we must persevere and ring the sacred bells of goodwill and benevolence wherever and whenever there is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves. Live kindly, Louis |
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| Just desserts from Plentiful: The Big Book of Buddha Food | Images: Angela Shaw | |
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| The studio | Image: Andrew Brown | |
Forthcoming Retreats: 31 May to 7 July 2019An Introduction To Mindfulness-Based Living - Knowing The PresentMindfulness is defined as knowing what is happening, while it is happening with an attitude of kindness and curiosity. During this retreat we will learn to rest in the present moment with openness, kindness and acceptance to whatever is there. Discovering Avenues To Meaning And Purpose - LogotherapyMore and more people are on a personal pursuit for a deeper sense of purpose in the hope of enjoying a happier life. Logotherapy was developed by Dr Victor Frankl - more famous for his book Man’s Search For Meaning. This retreat will assist participants to discover their own unique path to meaning. Get On The Write Track: Breathe, Listen And WriteWe all have stories to tell, but many of us don’t know where to start. Join journalist, Wanda Hennig, for a retreat on memoir and mindfulness - your path to freedom, enlightenment and perhaps $$. Ayurveda, Yoga And Meditation: A Return To WholenessIn this retreat, we will look at the fundamental guiding principles of Ayurveda of which yoga and meditation are a part. The daily rhythm will include a talk, chi kung, gentle yoga, walking and breathing practices. Rejuvenating The BRC: A family retreat with children in mindThe BRC goes juvenile with some serious fun and adventure over 3 days filled with games, stories, nature walks, art, toasting marshmallows under the stars. This is a family retreat which offers parents and children an opportunity to explore spirituality through connecting with nature and creative expression. Iyengar Yoga: Nudging The Body Into ShapeThe weekend retreat is an introduction to the Iyengar yoga method which uses simple, but carefully calibrated props and other supports to achieve postures that would otherwise be unattainable. For those who wish to consolidate their practice to a deeper level, the additional 4-day retreat is highly recommended. Why not stay for 6 days to nudge the body into shape? Life Writing - A workshop On MemoirWhether you are writing fiction or poetry, life writing skills can help to deepen observation. Getting to know more about the story we are living helps us to ride our stories, rather than our stories riding us. Join renowned author, Dawn Garisch, to put your personal stories down on the page. Change Your Relationship With Persistent DifficultiesYou are invited to explore the creative information that is bound up in your persistent difficulties - your chronic illness, relationship problems, habits, addictions, artistic blocks or spiritual dilemmas. Instead of trying to get rid of the difficulty out of fear and frustration, we will explore the associated images with curiosity. The approach is based on the work of Arnold Mindell and Robert Bosnak. 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, communing with nature, and enjoying the delicious vegetarian food for which the BRC is justly renowned. |
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| Bench in the mist | 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 Centre and find out more about the BRC's Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends projects which help to ensure the continuity of the BRC - which is a non-profit organisation. 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, 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. Recently 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. We welcomed two new power drills, garden tools and the high-back oak chairs for our meditation hall and a number of generous donations towards the re-paving of the entrance road to the BRC. We have been so touched by your appreciative letters, emails, support and friendship towards 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 450 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. 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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