Updated BRC Newsflash - August 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: August 2024 Dear Friends, |
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| Meditation hall at dawn | Image: Lennart Eriksson | |
Silence And Diversity‘We are all one in silence, and a diversity of voices,’ writes the Trappist monk Thomas Merton in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. For the ancient Greeks silence was about as transcendent as you could get. The Greek mathematician Pythagoras is said to have studied the connexion between number and music and Andrew R. Burn in the Penguin History of Greece describes how Pythagoras found ‘by stopping a lyre string at three-fourths, two-thirds and half of its length, one obtained the fourth, fifth and octave of its note. Seeing that number controlled both sound and shape, he leapt to the intuition that this was the secret of the universe; that numbers are the elements of things, rather than water or any other substance known to sense.’ This idea was later extended to astronomy by Pythagoras, or his followers, who claimed the speeds of the planets then visible from earth ‘judged by their distances, are in the same ratio as the musical concordances.’ Pythagoreans said the sound of their movement formed a harmony, the ‘music of the spheres’, which to our ears, accustomed to it from birth, is silence. Nice thought. But while we may be one in silence, as Merton says, we remain a diversity of voices. Human voices, wielded to express feelings, opinions and deeply held beliefs. We all know where that can lead. |
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| A view of the dam in winter | Image: Lennart Eriksson | |
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One approach to vocal diversity and difference is that of the Greek philosopher Socrates who adopted a dialectic, described by Karen Armstrong, as ‘a rational version of the Indian brahmodya, the competition that attempted to formulate absolute truth but always ended in silence. For the Indian sages, the moment of insight came when they realised the inadequacy of their words, and thus intuited the ineffable. In that final moment of silence, they had sensed the Brahman, even though they could not define it coherently. Socrates was also trying to elicit a moment of truth, when his interlocutors appreciated the creative profundity of human ignorance.’ Armstrong, in her book The Great Transformation, examines what is known today as the Axial Age, the time between 800 and 300 BCE when there appears to have been a tectonic shift in the way people thought about their existence in the world, among them Socrates, the Buddha, Confucius, Jeremiah and Lao-Tzu. According to Armstrong those ‘who came to Socrates usually thought they knew what they were talking about, but by systematically making them aware of their ignorance, Socrates led them to discover an authentic knowledge within, which had been there all along. When this finally came to light, it felt like the recollection of an insight that had been forgotten. This illuminating, almost visionary discovery, Socrates believed, would inspire right action.’ Buddhism takes a similar view, seeing ignorance as a form of delusion, the main obstruction to living the good life, hence ‘right understanding’, ‘right thought’ (seeing things as they really are) feature in the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path together with ‘right action’. Back to silence and diversity. Armstrong goes on to say that in the 14th century CE, Greek Orthodox theologians, borrowing from the Axial Age, suggested that any statement about God should have two qualities: ‘it must be paradoxical, to remind us that the divine cannot fit into our limited human categories, and aphophatic, leading us to silence. A theological discussion, therefore, should not answer all our queries about the ineffable deity, but should be like a brahmodya, which reduced contestants to speechless awe.’ Sitting down with others in the meditation hall, the zendo, or a room in your home, strike the bell and let the sound lead you into the silence. The music of the spheres. Awesome. Stephen Coan |
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| A time for restoration and renewal |
Image: Jen Miller | |
Change Is Inevitable – The EnablerThe teachings on impermanence are a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy. All that arises must dissolve and change is the only constant. Change happens and it is not the change that causes us to suffer, but rather our resistance to change. Without change, we would not be able to be better and grow. As the BRC enters a new era without Louis, the Mastermind behind its origins and development, we can clearly see how a directed energy to shape things as they change can lead to wonderous things. From the eroded farmland that Louis bought to the beautiful place that the BRC is now, the wisdom and compassion that has been poured into its development are evident. Louis has set up a legacy and his long-term vision continues to serve the BRC as it continues through times of change. As Chrisi takes the helm officially, she and her team face a sea of change which will have both rough waters and some stunning days to come. This is nothing new to the team and their unwavering dedication to keeping the BRC growing is admirable. This place has touched the lives of so many, helped them use the tool of change to become better people and thus contribute to the world around them when they go back home. We hope that everyone who has been touched by the magic of Ixopo will offer their support to the BRC to continue to be a light in this world. Everything is in place as long as the resources are available. So, please continue to support the Centre by attending retreats or making donations as feels right for you. With Metta The Buddhist Institute of South Africa (BISA) Committee |
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| Hands in motion | Image: Andrew Brown | |
There are still a few spaces left on the following July retreats:
Find Your Way Back To Nature For Self-HealingBernard Chatikobo | 2 days | 24- 26 July The Roots Of Sacred Drumming: Exploring Natural RhythmsRichard Ellis and Marc Kress | Weekend | 26-28 July Qigong For Healing And VitalityMarc Kress | 1-3 days | 29 July 2024 - 1 August |
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| Garden meditation | Image: Chrisi van Loon | |
Conducted Retreats August 2024Yoga, Mind, Body and Breath: A Journey To Self DiscoveryMarc Kress | Weekend | 2-4 August Working With Polarities - The Mandala PracticeClémence Kitching-Barres | 3 days | 8-11 August Nature Nurture Nourish - Mindful Movement And YogaCarey Would | Weekend | 16-18 August Three Treasures For Mindful Living - A Pathway To BalanceBridget Hawkins | Weekend | 23-25 August Relaxation: Opening And Relaxing The Heart And MindPippa Cope | Weekend | 30 August-1 September A Self RetreatThink peace over pressure and serenity over stress. Enjoy some time at the BRC mid-week, with nourishing vegetarian meals, sunrise meditation and nature's healing embrace to colour the mood of your day. There is no better place than the BRC to rejuvenate the body and mind to guide you into presence and stillness. |
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| Drink in the serenity | Image: Lennart Eriksson | |
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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