Updated BRC Newsflash - April 2024
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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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BRC Newsflash: April 2024 Dear Retreatants, |
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| Seeing things as the are | Image: Angela Buckland | |
Seeing Things As They AreOur familiar world can be experienced at a number of levels. The reality of an orange is one thing for a thirsty person, another to a quantum physicist and yet another who only dreams about eating an orange or to someone who, under hypnosis, is made to believe she is playing an orange like a trumpet. But even if we are concerned with our actual, lived reality, there are many varieties of experience possible – depending on our state of mind, our psychology. Often, our attitudes and expectations distort and veil aspects of reality that are clearly there to see but which we habitually ignore and side-step for us to live in a world of our own making – a preferred world that is emotionally more rewarding even if it is untrue. The Buddha singled out three conditions with which we seem to have difficulties: impermanence: the changeable, unpredictable nature of things; lack of self-determination: our dependence on circumstances beyond our control, and, arising from that, a sense that all experiences are threatened and fundamentally flawed: a pervasive feeling of unsatisfactoriness. Our psychological reflex is to out-manoeuvre them, to be combative and to create security and dependability in our life and relationships against all odds; to defend ourselves against everything that challenges us and to achieve satisfaction and contentment at all cost. |
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| Be zen | Image: Chantelle Flores | |
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Clearly, these reactions define the conflict and suffering we experience if life. There are more intelligent responses – the Buddha recommended – ones that are in keeping with the real nature of things. These require that we go beyond merely intellectually understanding our situation. We need to re-train the mind that misperceives. This is done primarily through meditation. A somewhat hidden aspect of not living in synchronicity with how things are is that we seed into our consciousness the consequences of such misalignment. Our experiences condition and shape the way our mind operates. Increasingly therefore, with every act of self-centred emotion, we crystallise our wrong perceptions making them harder to uproot. We ensure that if becomes our “karma”. Enlightenment amounts to undoing – not reinforcing – the habitual tendency in our mind to remain attached to delusions that bring us disappointment. Live well, Louis |
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Spotting the magnificent blue swallow |
Image: Steve McKean | |
Getting To Know The Birds At The BRCThe bird retreat over the weekend of 23-25 February was quite an event. Not only was it fully booked, which was very pleasing, but we welcomed a group of learners, teachers and parents from the Knightjars bird club at Northwood High School in Durban. Some were just beginners, but others showed considerable knowledge and the young eyes were very quick to spot and point out birds. We did the usual walks – around the grounds, down the Gavin Relly trail past the stone kraal and back up to the dam, and through the forest to spend some time at Nalanda Rocks before returning through the yellowwood forest. Although there were not large numbers of birds, we saw a good variety that included the Blue Swallows. In addition, three talks were fitted in between load shedding and meals; the usual introduction to the birds of the BRC, a short one on the threatened habitats and birds of the KZN midlands, and a longer one on the evolution of birds and bird flight. This last one was very well received, with everyone commenting how interesting it was and how much they had learnt that they hadn’t been aware of. The weather played along, despite threats of storms, and we were all able to enjoy the peace of the green valley and the mystery of the swirling mists. Of course, no retreat would be complete without the wonderful vegetarian food provided by the friendly staff – even the boys were well satisfied. All in all, a very successful and fulfilling weekend – nothing feeds the soul like sincere appreciation for a job well done. Book early for the next birding retreat from 6-8 December. Steve Davis and Anneli Mynhardt |
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| Birder's paradise | Image: Anneli Mynhardt | |
There are still a few spaces left on the following March retreats:☸ indicates retreats held in noble silence
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| Find stillness at the shrine | Image: Angela Buckland | |
Conducted Retreats April 2024☸ indicates retreats held in noble silence
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| A precious moment together recently with Louis and Ajahn Sucitto and Clover looking on | Image:Nick Halliday | |
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 forty-four 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. 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, 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 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, microwave oven, bathroom towels, indigenous trees and seedlings, books for our library, a generator, garden benches, pillows, towels and linen, geyser insulation blankets, clothing and Dana for our staff, an inverter and beautiful antique scrolls and Imari platters and ceramics, framed prints and Thankas, new tablecloths and serviettes, a brand new Magimix, signage for our forest paths - 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. |
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