Thank you to those who zoomed into our 45th Annual General Meeting. I include a few excerpts from the introduction to my chairperson’s report for those who are interested.
The BRC celebrated its 45th year of operation and marked the 55th anniversary of its founding by Louis van Loon in May over Wesak. Louis was fond of recalling how when he bought the property in 1970 as a derelict, abandoned farm in pouring rain and thick mist, unseen, no-one else wanted to buy it, because it was so useless to do anything with that was remotely connected to farming. It was too hilly and overrun with bramble, bugweed, and wild wattle. But it suited his purpose just fine. There were significant turning points his life and in the history of the BRC every ten years. In 1960 Louis took his first Buddhist Refuge and Precepts with a Sri Lankan Theravadin monk and, a few weeks later, with a Tibetan lama. In 1970 he bought Nirodha Farm and in 1980 the BRC opened for its first retreat to one retreatant!
Fifty-five years later and after an extraordinary amount of hard work, sacrifice and courage on his part, we are holding this AGM. Looking back, the Centre has acquired a very special character - something that would not have been possible if it had been a piece of flat land with farmsteads - and achieved many accolades: CNN recognised it as one of the 10 finest meditation centres in the world with articles in international journals and much exposure on television; “Buddha In Zululand” was screened on Dutch television and two years ago an evocative documentary “Bodhi is Light” by Richard Pakleppa was launched. Then came the recognition of the Centre as a Natural Heritage Site and later as a private nature reserve and visits by iconic teachers like Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzburg, Stephen and Martine Batchelor and Godwin Samararatne followed by the publication of our three recipe books with ‘Quiet Food’ becoming a national best seller in the non-fiction section and going international!
Wesak 2025 was a time for reflection and gratitude, and Louis’ presence was deeply felt during the resonant full moon celebration. Stephen Coan graced the occasion with his presence and profound teachings connecting us with the essence of the Buddha’s wisdom and guiding us into a settled, centered stillness. The retreat was filled with breathtaking moments that reminded us of the peace and wisdom that the Buddha embodies. The lantern-lit perambulation around the Buddha rupa on the Saturday night accompanied by chanting and fragrant incense created a perfect atmosphere and the ceremony was enhanced by the calls of the fiery-necked nightjar in the background.
Our 45th birthday is a testament to Louis’ enduring legacy and the strength of our community, which helps the Centre to thrive. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our dedicated BRC Team, our Patrons, our Teachers and our Sangha. As we move forward, let us carry the spirit of Wesak with us, honouring the teachings of the Buddha and nurturing our community and the spirit of place.
This year started with an energising “Tuning Into 2025” with a large group and excellent teachers, with Brendon Small offering meditation, Marrion Clarke leading her unique brand of yoga, Di Franklin offering her restorative qigong and Nolwazi Bandezi her treatments. We have enjoyed numerous full retreats with esteemed teachers Sue Cooper, Choden and Mark Joseph. Notable among these was the profound five-day retreat with Ajahn Jutindharo.
In June, we welcomed 42 enthusiastic retreatants to Duncan Rice’s inspiring three-day retreat, “A Journey Through Patanjali’s Eightfold Path.” This immersive experience was filled with guided candle-lit meditations, breathwork, and invigorating earth, moon, and sun salutations, all culminating in the transformative yoga of the heart. Evenings by the fireside were magical, with philosophical discussions and transformative fire rituals. The sunrise meditation at the Stupa was a breathtaking start to each day.
When Louis first decided to introduce Buddhism to South Africa, he felt he had to present it not as yet another religion but as a spiritual unfoldment that was rooted in our everyday life. Hence, from the very beginning he explored ways of practising mindfulness in birdwatching retreats and art workshops. At first, this was frowned upon by colleagues in other countries who, by and large, had decided that the only way to establish the philosophy in the west was to import the genuine product, such as Zen and Vajrayana as these had been practised for centuries in their countries of origin. Of course, in the early days Louis had traditional retreats of study and meditation as well, but he was adamant to throw the doors of Buddhist practice right open and demonstrate that if dhamma practice can happen with every breath and step we take, it can be there too when we plant a tree or fly a kite.
In our annual programme, we recognize the importance of prioritizing meditation, Buddhist psychology, and philosophy. What sets the BRC apart and makes it unique is our commitment to the essence of Buddhism and offering the core practices of meditation to provide a distinctive and deepening experience. Our intensive silent extended meditation retreats are well supported and the collaborative retreats with teachers offering different modalities such as yoga, qigong and tai chi are also gaining more traction.
Going forward, we will keep endorsing what Buddhists call ‘Good Practice’ by engaging challenges with vision and ensuring that the Centre flourishes and continues to add a dimension of sanity and composure to a world that is in a state of flux. The work we have believed in for 45 years is now proving to be of more relevance than ever.
Chrisi