Updated BRC Newsflash - May 2023

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre
Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa		For people of all religions
BRC Newsflash: May 2023 Dear Retreatants,
Ajahn 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: "Nurturing Happiness". 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. Richard will be attending as well as the narrators Louis van Loon and Sue Cooper

Wesak lantern-lit circumambulation		Image:Lien Duvenage
Celebrating Wesak It is this time of year when people from all religious traditions - Muslim, Jewish and Chrisitian - celebrate highly significant events that define their principal articles of faith. It is an opportunity to recognise that in spite of our different forms of worship, the underlying unifying principle at work is that it is centred in some kind of transcendent experience that overarches our mundane existence and that having a spiritual dimension in our lives acknowledges that. On the full moon of May, Buddhists all over the globe will be celebrating the Buddha - this auspicious time being the centre point of recognising the Buddha as a great being and teacher. Wesak honours the Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Death, all of which are traditionally associated with the full moon of May and is an opportunity to deepen our own spiritual journey and path.

Golden lantern light		Image: Tsunma Tsondru
As Antony Osler says so eloquently: “We are all custodians of some kind of spiritual tradition or way of life…. custodians of the Dharma, each of us in our particular way.” We have celebrated Wesak at the BRC for the past forty-three years.The retreat usually consists of traditional teachings, chants, meditation and a lantern-lit circumambulation around the Buddha rupa - a form of "Buddhist Christmas”. Stephen Coan - whose teaching emphasises the centrality of practice in living a skilful and enlightened life while also exploring the interface between poetry and silence - will be leading this retreat. "Bodhi Is Light" - the newly released documentary on the BRC by renowned film-maker Richard Pakleppa will be inaugurated at our Wesak retreat. Richard will be attending as well as the narrators Louis van Loon and Sue Cooper. And in keeping with tradition, Ajahn Candasiri - a senior nun in the Theravada tradition, an experienced monastic and a female voice bringing more soft-edged and experiential teachings - will be offering a 2 or 5 day retreat in Ixopo in May entitled " Nurturing Happiness". She advocates: “Let’s bring forth a heart of kindness and let’s bring forth words and actions that support well-being for others and ourselves”.

If you are looking to find a path of meditation and practice for well-being and happiness, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a wise, experienced and senior nun, Sister Candasiri visiting from Scotland. Join us for the weekend (or extend your retreat to five days) as we explore what is needed to bring about true happiness using the Buddha’s teachings as guide to understanding suffering and for nurturing happiness. There will be morning and evening pujas with time for rest and reflection. You can look forward to walks in the Ixopo valley, chanting, meditation, discussions with Sister Candasiri, and delicious nourishing food. With Metta, Louis

A bowl of clouds		Image: Charleen Lupke
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.

Venessa Muller in meditation		Image: Thalente Khomo
There are still a few spaces left on the following April retreat: 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

Stupa stillness		Image:Charleen Lupke
Conducted Retreats May 2023 indicates retreats held in Noble Silence Under The Full Moon Of May: Wesak - celebrating 25 centuries of Buddhism Stephen Coan \| Weekend \| 5-7 May The feast of Wesak is the most important day on the Buddhist calendar, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha nearly 2500 years ago. A moveable feast, Wesak is traditionally held on the full moon of the lunar month of Wesak (coincidental with May). We will mark this festival with a programme of sitting and walking meditation plus talks and reflections on aspects of the Buddha’s life and teachings and, in union with Buddhists around the world, hold a traditional Wesak ceremony - a lantern-lit circumambulation, after which we will inaugurate the evocative documentary on the BRC “Bodhi Is Light” just released by renowned film-maker, Richard Pakleppa. Through his camera lens and his ‘third eye’, he has captured the spirit of place and people. “This is a beautiful film and a beautiful tribute to Louis and to all that passed through him. So many minds, hearts and bodies tuning into the Old Way.” - Antony Osler Please note that apart from the talk and discussion periods this retreat will be held in Noble Silence. Read more Qigong - The Art of Effortless Power Dianne Franklin \| 5 days \| 7-12 May It is hard to believe that many martial arts evolved from these ancient gentle and contemplative movements. Come and experience for yourself the qigong movements - where we will draw energy from the beautiful surroundings of the BRC. There will be two sessions daily allowing plenty of time to relax and immerse ourselves in the tranquillity of the Centre. Read more Nurturing Happiness Ajahn Candasiri \| 2 or 5 days \| 12-14 May or 12-17 May Everyone wants to be happy but, sadly, very few people really understand what is needed to bring about true happiness. During this time of retreat we will use the Buddha's teachings as a guide and encouragement for understanding suffering and for nurturing happiness. We will come to see that each of us has the capacity to bring about a lasting peace and joy in our lives. Such blessings are sorely needed on our planet at this time. Join Ajahn Candasiri for some days of nurturing happiness! Her recent book, 'The Secret of Happiness' will be freely available for anyone who would like it. Noble Silence will be encouraged throughout the retreat, although there also will be times for questions and discussion. There will be morning and evening pujas and time for rest. Click here to listen to one of Ajahn Candasiri's morning reflections. Read more about the retreat and an excerpt from the book Speak Your Truth, Listen Deeply Lucy Draper-Clarke and Felicity Hart \| Weekend \| 19- 21 May "When you are busy judging people, you have no time to love them” - Marshall Rosenberg When interacting with others, we often find ourselves triggered and then communicate in ways that hurt or harm - ourselves, the other, or the relationship between us. Our conditioned ideas of what it means to communicate, especially during times of conflict, frequently results in a loss of connection. Judgement and defence, as well as the strategies of criticism, insults, blame or put-downs are commonly used in our attempt to be heard or to meet our need to be “right”, “good” or “winning”. Despite our best efforts and intentions, we habitually become “violent” with our words and then feel the pain of disconnection. This retreat explores the principles and practices of mindfulness and nonviolent communication (NVC), to foster connection and minimize the suffering of outmoded ways of engaging. We will practise both intra-personal and inter-personal mindfulness in order to cultivate skills of empathy, compassion and a better understanding of self and other. You can expect daily mindful meditation practice to support the empowering and enriching teachings of NVC, gentle exercise, and some down time for rest and relaxation. Read more Compassion in Action Lucy Draper-Clarke \| Weekend \| 26-28 May When faced with a world in crisis, what do you do? Run and hide, fight and burn out, or freeze in overwhelm? Guided by ideas and practices from the book entitled ’The Compassionate Activist', Lucy will facilitate you on a journey to skilful engagement, addressing issues of personal, social and environmental transformation. By combining practices of mindfulness and compassion with activities for engagement and shadow integration, we can find a way to transform the world from the inside out, and transform ourselves from the outside in. Read more A Personal 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. Resident staff members Venessa Muller and Nelson Alvares will be in situ to offer guided meditation and guided walks. Read more

Reclining buddha		Image: Angela Buckland
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, towels and linen, clothing and Dana for our staff, an inverter and beautiful antique scrolls and Imari platters and ceramics, framed prints and Thankas, new table cloths and serviettes - 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, to everyone who comes to the Centre - you keep us open and viable - and to our teachers who keep the Dharma wheels turning. 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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