Updated BRC Newsflash - April 2023

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre
Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa		For people of all religions
BRC Newsflash: April 2023 Dear Retreatants,
Sister Candasiri who is one of the senior monastics in western Theravāda Buddhism and one of the monastics who co-founded Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in West Sussex will be leading a 2 or 5 day retreat from 12-17 May: "Spiritual Friendship: Making The Practice Ordinary And The Ordinary, Practice". To listen to one of Ajahn Candasiri's morning reflections, please click here "Bodhi Is Light" - the newly released documentary on the BRC by renowned film-maker Richard Pakleppa will be inaugurated at Wesak from 5-7 May. Book early for this full moon retreat with Stephen Coan. Venerable Khenpo Jamyang Gompo will offer “Finding Meaning And Purpose: Buddhist Insights Into The Nature Of Mind” from 10-12 November Horticulturists, Chris Dalzell, will be leading tours to experience the flowers of Namaqualand in August this year, See the attached leaflet for more information Sue Cooper’s 7 day ‘Open The Heart And Still the Mind’ retreat over Easter from 6-13 April has filled up quickly. There are still a few spaces left on this transformative retreat.

Buddha light		Image: Tsunma Tsondru
Put A Bit Of Mindfulness Back In Your Life Conflict is always going to be part of our lives - as long as we have relationships, a job or Eskom. Bracing ourselves against it, will not make it go away, but if we can approach it mindfully and with total attention - embracing it rather than repelling it - you can navigate it with insight. Whatever you are confronting, don’t try to make it go away because the issue at hand is inviting you to deal with it, wisely. I have always found that working with adverse situations, and not avoiding them, but rather engaging them to the best of one’s ability, has helped me to deal with difficulties more effectively. The key according to Pema Chodron “is having the courage to rest in the open space of uncertainty, instead of trying to put things back together when they fall apart”. If we are to deal with conflict in a calm way, it requires us to develop the capacity to do so. Buddhist Mindfulness is the tool that sharpens that.

Louis in meditation		Image: Lien Duvenage
We have retreats coming up in the next few weeks which will teach one how to resolve the inevitable conflicts and difficult moments that arise in all areas of our lives: David Gardner is offering “From Seeking To Seeing: Mindfulness Meditation” from 31 March to 2 April to cultivate presence and clarity, while Sue Cooper is leading “Open The Heart And Still The Mind” from 6-13 April to embrace the joys and sorrows of life with greater understanding. Don't miss the rare opportunity to attend the 2 or 5 day retreat from 12-17 May "Spiritual Friendship: Making The Practice Ordinary And The Ordinary, Practice". It is not often that we are fortunate to have a senior nun in the Theravada tradition, a wise and experienced monastic and a woman's voice - soft-edged and more experiential - to teach in Ixopo. Do listen to Sister Candisiri’s Morning Reflection – the link is included above. As she advocates “Let’s bring forth a heart of kindness and let’s bring forth words and actions that support wellbeing for others and ourselves”. Why not put a bit of mindfulness back in your life? With Metta Louis

Giant protea		Image: Mandy Prosser
Now And Zen: Reboot, Recharge And Retreat There is no better place than the BRC to rejuvenate the body and mind with nature, meditation and movement to guide you into presence and stillness.

Dawn		Images: Andrew Brown
There are still a few spaces left on the following March retreats: indicates retreats held in Noble Silence Tibetan Dream Yoga: The Practice Of Lucid Dreaming Chamtrul Rinpoche \| Weekend \| 24-26 March Most of us spend a third of our life asleep. Taking the average life span into account, this is equivalent to about twenty-five to thirty years. Even though the mental state is more subtle when the body is asleep, it doesn't mean that we can't have an alert, meditative, observing mind. In fact, certain practices prove to be even more effective during this state, as we are less distracted by the five physical senses. In order to access dreams and to turn them towards the Buddhist path, we first have to realise that we are in fact dreaming. Tibetan Dream Yoga is the original form of Lucid Dreaming documented for 1,000 years used to practise Bodhicitta (the seed of enlightenment) and to develop wisdom. From Seeking To Seeing - Mindfulness Meditation David Gardner \| Weekend \| 31 March-2 April This retreat will focus on meditation and mindfulness practices that will help you to realise your inherent wakefulness and awareness, and to understand the hindrances and challenges of meditation practice in living a mindful life. Whether you are a beginner or committed practitioner, this process will empower you to cultivate presence and clarity. The retreat will be held in an atmosphere of noble silence and introspection. Read more

Seeing double		Image:Tsunma Tsondru
Conducted Retreats March 2023 Open the Heart And Still the Mind: The Joy Of Heartfelt Presence Sue Cooper \| 4 or 7 days \| 6-10 April or 6-13 April This Easter long-weekend Open the Heart and Still the Mind Compassion Retreat with clinical psychologist Sue Cooper, is held in Noble Silence and is offered either as a 4 night Easter Weekend retreat or as an extended 7 night retreat. Inspired by the wisdom teachings of the Dharma and of Buddhist and western psychology, we will cultivate mindfulness and compassion practices which calm the nervous system and help integrate body, heart and mind. As we learn to listen and connect more compassionately with ourselves, drawing silent support from the sangha (like-minded practitioners finding solace in the shared silence), we will discover that the containment of ennobling silence allows us to find the courage to honour and embody our authentic, heartfelt presence with greater confidence, clarity and joy. This retreat includes teachings, guided meditations, daily qigong, time to walk, rest and replenish, as well as short, individual sessions with Sue to deepen our insight and sense of well-being. There will be relaxing massages and mindful movement offered as optional extras the cost of which to be confirmed.Please note, this retreat has a teacher's fee. The details of which can be found on Sue's website here. Please feel free to discuss the rate or a payment plan if needed as she would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to attend, especially if there are financial constraints. Sue can be contacted on Read more More Vegan Ventures: Follow The Rainbow To Wholesome Health Debbie Rich, Sascha Türk and Lauren Fairley \| Weekend \| 14-16 April Following on the success of their 'vegan ventures' at the BRC, Debbie and Sascha are offering a fresh version of their "Wholesome, plant-based eating and holistic mind, body and breath" workshop. Learn how to make nutritious superfood treats and vegan ice creams that are bursting with flavour and one hundred percent healthy, and guilt-free vegan chocolate, nutritious soups, unique dips mouth-watering mains - a rainbow on your plate. Debbbie will show you how to make life-changing meals and Sascha how to make your body strong and how to breathe correctly with sunrise yoga, meditation, breathwork, pilates - the yin-yang of health, where "belly strengthening is a perfect balance to belly-nourishing". Lauren will offer a crystal sound journey. Read more A Weekend Of Ashram Style Hatha Yoga: Rekindle Your Life Energy Kugan Naidoo \| Weekend \| 21-23 April Join Kugan for a weekend of gentle yoga to restore and rejuvenate the body and mind and for holistic health and well-being. There will be time for communing with nature, for rest and meditation. Read more Reclaim Your Power: A Journey To Inner Balance Heike Sym \| 3 days \| 28 April-1 May We all have inner guidance and knowledge, but we don't always know how to access it and use it as the incredible gift it is. We are constantly trying to keep up with the ever-increasing pace and demands of our lives which leaves us with high stress levels and exhausted. On this retreat we will fortify our spirit, embrace our personal power, and allow our light to shine brightly again, the way the universe intended. Through talks, meditation, group work, transformational exercises, relaxation and conversation, we will journey back to our centre - to our most natural and balanced state of being. Read more A Personal Self Retreat: Walk Into Stillness People often 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 - where silence is a precious commodity. Treat yourself to a personal retreat. Venessa Muller will be in situ to offer guided meditation. Read more

Still the mind		Image: Chantelle Flores
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 forty two 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. 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. Recently, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife granted the BRC “Private Nature Reserve” for the conservation of the rare Blue Swallow and Mistbelt Grassland. The BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa Valley, twenty-two 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 by showcasing their crafts in the shop and sponsoring their trainers and consultants. We have been very touched by your appreciative letters, emails and friendship towards the BRC - your spiritual home from home. We are deeply grateful for your generous gifts to the Centre in the form of PUY and Monthly contributions, new beds and bases, office chairs and a desk, a new refrigerator, bathroom towels, indigenous trees and seedlings, books for our library, a generator, garden benches, clothing and Dana for our staff, an inverter and beautiful antique scrolls and Imari platters and ceramics - and so much more. Thank you to all of you who continue to support our work in Ixopo with monthly and Paid Up Yogi contributions and donations, with gifts, or with skills and time. And, of course, everyone who comes to the Centre keeps us open and viable. We are deeply grateful for your generosity towards us; it encourages us to continue Louis’ beautiful vision and legacy for the future. Please continue to support the BRC by becoming a friend of the Buddhist Retreat Centre (a registered non-profit organisation) and find out more about the BRC's Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends’ projects. Chrisi Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc.
www.brcixopo.co.za \| 087 809 1687 \| 082 579 3037 \| 031 2095995 Share: \| Follow us:
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