Updated: BRC NewsFlash - August 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: 31 July to 2 September 2018
The new BRC calendar of retreats from August 2018 to July 2019 is published on our website. You will find it at www.brcixopo.co.za |
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| Reclining Buddha | Image: Bryan Maggs | |
Monks and MandalasIn her book “Eloquent Body” Dawn Garisch who teaches “Life Writing” at the BRC recalls her experience of witnessing some visiting Buddhist monks creating a sand Mandala: “They do this as their life work, spending days or even weeks making exquisitely intricate and symmetrical patterns within a large circle using natural colored sand. Just watching them work gave me backache; it also moved me to the brink of tears. When they have finished, they equally and carefully sweep their creation up, section by section. Then they carry the sand to to the body of water nearby and deposit it into the flow. It is an act of distributing harmony and beauty via the rivers and oceans to the world.” |
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| Mossy Buddha | Image: Brendon Hatcher | |
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I too have witnessed the creation and destruction of a sand Mandalas. It is principally a demonstration of the immutable law of Impermanence, one of the three cornerstones of the Buddha’s teachings. After painstakingly constructing it over several days, the Mandala is then destroyed in seconds as the sand is scooped up and piled together in a heap. To a cynical Western eye, one would probably ask what is the point? But this act demonstrates palpably, the principle of Anicca - non-attachment - to a beautiful creation, and the impermanence of all things. The Tibetan Society of South Africa has invited four Tibetan monks to South Africa over September and October to create sand Mandalas. They will be in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Natal and at the BRC, so don’t miss this opportunity to witness a unique demonstration into one of the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha. Please refer to the attachment for the dates and venues for the sand Mandalas. The BRC will be hosting an evening with the monks, including Ms Tenzin Lhanzey, a traditional Tibetan doctor and Ms Tenzin Lhamo, an Astro-Science practitioner on 10 October. Please enquire at the office if you are interested. Live kindly. Louis |
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| King Protea at BRC | Image: Kim McLeod | |
Forthcoming Retreats: 31 July to 2 September 2018People often comment 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 with The Zen of Recovery, Stoep Zen and Psychoneuroimmunology. Be your own best friend in this crazy world, finding and keeping your Centre so that you can ride life’s merry-go-round with equanimity. International teachers Nicholas Burnand and Sarah Dekker will introduce you to the Dyad, a powerful meditation technique which enhances mindfulness and self-awareness. 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. More Room For MiraclesThis is a powerful retreat to help us clear out the old, to integrate the wisdom of these past experiences and to make space for what we truly love and what serves us deeply and makes our heart sing! The Zen Of Recovery - Twelve Steps To Wholeness And Well-BeingRecovery speaks to any aspect of ourselves that needs to heal.This retreat will be helpful to people in need of recovery, which includes, typically, substance addictions, but also to people who are experiencing strong negative impacts that have resulted in their living with the experience long after the event. Stoep Zen - Living A Zen Life In South AfricaThis is a Zen retreat that makes a bridge between Zen practice and daily life. “Soul Origami” - Unfolding Me - Listening With Your Whole Being And Speaking From Your Deepest AuthenticityThe Dyad is a powerful meditation technique which rapidly takes us to a heightened level of mindfulness and self-awareness. In contrast to silent meditation, this is practised face-to-face. Through the Dyad enquiry, we watch our hearts unfold and we listen with our whole being. Finding And Keeping Your CentreThe Buddha’s teachings emphasize the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to be of service to others. In finding our centre, we are able to deal with what life throws at us. A Neurosurgeon Probes Wellness And PerformanceIn this retreat we will explore the chemistry which mediates the effects of mind states on the body: psychoneuroimmnunology or PNI. Being Our Own Best Friend In This Crazy WorldThis will be a silent meditation retreat focusing on the relationship we have with ourselves and others without being critical or judgmental. 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 enjoy the delicious vegetarian food for which the BRC is renowned. |
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| Plentiful on a plate | Images: Angela.Shaw | |
A chance to live and work in a beautiful, tranquil environment at the Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo.We are looking for a mature person to assist with bookings and reception and housekeeping at the retreat centre, and to work alongside our resident community. The applicant should be a non-smoker and be sympathetic to Buddhist philosophy and the ethos of the retreat centre. Please apply to: or . |
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Plentiful cooks
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Image: Angela Shaw | |
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Chrisi |
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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. This year as a result of retreatants' Dana (Generosity), the BRC was able to donate R18,000 to Woza Moyà to further enable their good work among the community. 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, 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 and "Fairlady" magazine featuring the BRC. We welcomed a Bosch power drill, and the high-back oak chairs that now grace our meditation hall. 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. Our sterling team, Lien Duvenage, Jenni Riddell, Colin Kemery and June Atkinson always have the interest of the BRC and our retreatants at heart. Thank you for your dedication. 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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