Updated BRC Newsflash - August 2024

view it online | 

The Buddhist Retreat Centre

Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

For people of all religions

BRC Newsflash: August 2024

Dear Friends,

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.

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

Change Is Inevitable – The Enabler

The 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
Brendon Small, Rob Havemann, Pam Evans and Rosemary Turner

There are still a few spaces left on the following July retreats:

Find Your Way Back To Nature For Self-Healing

Bernard Chatikobo | 2 days | 24- 26 July
Escape to the tranquil and nurturing environment of the BRC for a transformative and personal healing experience with Reiki Master, Bernard Chatikobo. Take your first step to self-healing and explore the benefits of water, food, exercise and most importantly breath in talks infused with live, soothing musical vibrations of mbira music and conscious forest-basking.
Read more

The Roots Of Sacred Drumming: Exploring Natural Rhythms

Richard Ellis and Marc Kress | Weekend | 26-28 July
In this retreat, we will learn basic drumming techniques and explore rhythmic creativity including a segment on Shamanic, Celtic, and Nordic Viking drum patterns which will be combined with meditation practice and contemplation. A Sound Journey meditation using exotic instruments will also be included. The objective of this retreat is to find a balance between the hands-on experience of drumming and its more profound spiritual effects on the human psyche.
Read more

Qigong For Healing And Vitality

Marc Kress | 1-3 days | 29 July 2024 - 1 August
Qigong involves using gentle exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being and developing a calm, meditative state of mind. Join Marc for daily sessions of qigong over 3 days mid-week.
Read more

Conducted Retreats August 2024

Yoga, Mind, Body and Breath: A Journey To Self Discovery

Marc Kress | Weekend | 2-4 August
The practice of yoga brings the mind and body together, grounding us in the present, connecting us with where we are and what our body tells us about ourselves. Yoga is a process of re-connecting to our body and breath, coming back into the present moment. The ancient yogis realized that in order to be able to meditate effectively requires a healthy, strong body, so they developed yoga postures (asanas), cleansing techniques and breathing exercises (pranayama). Through regular practise of asanas, pranayama and meditation, yoga unlocks the deeper levels of our being.
Read more

Working With Polarities - The Mandala Practice

Clémence Kitching-Barres | 3 days | 8-11 August
This 3-day retreat will focus on the practice of drawing freehand mandalas and was developed over years of teaching practice. The mandala reveals a "snapshot" of our inner cosmos and allows us to create order and centeredness in place of chaos. Clémence will present her study of the mandala through human experience (religion, psychology, astronomy) and we will then explore the polarities of centre and periphery, curved and straight lines, order and chaos, through movement and drawing. We will follow several methods of structuring a mandala to experience the different results they produce in our inner space. No previous drawing experience is needed. Basic equipment, some colour mediums and papers will be provided.
Read more

Nature Nurture Nourish - Mindful Movement And Yoga

Carey Would | Weekend | 16-18 August
Through mindful movement and yoga - at times challenging and at times playful - we will ground ourselves into the body. Through mindfulness-based meditation, with careful, considered attention and compassion, we will explore the mind. With joy, we will immerse ourselves in nature - making simple crafts and playing games, teasing our inner child out - and perhaps find a hidden gem.
Read more

Three Treasures For Mindful Living - A Pathway To Balance

Bridget Hawkins | Weekend | 23-25 August
In this retreat we will explore three fundamental areas of our human experience - The Three Treasures - a healthy body, a happy heart, and a clear and present mind to create an awareness of and implement techniques for harmony and balance in everyday life. This will be a relaxed retreat, incorporating blended sessions of yoga and qigong, meditation and breath work. There will be time to explore our creativity with an introduction to Neurographic drawing - a mindful automatic style of drawing developed by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev. The premise is that we are able to rewire our neural pathways when practising this style of meditative drawing. It is a simple, therapeutic technique which does not require artistic experience. We will also examine and practise breathing techniques and spend quiet time in reflection and meditation in nature which will include forest bathing.
Read more

Relaxation: Opening And Relaxing The Heart And Mind

Pippa Cope | Weekend | 30 August-1 September
Everybody experiences tranquillity from time to time, because this open quality of mind is natural to us all. Yet, often our bodies and minds tighten and freeze to life’s challenges and stresses, even though creative solutions and expansive ideas are most likely to arise from a relaxed state. Healing Relaxation - designed by the late Akong Tulku Rinpoche, a wise Tibetan Buddhist healer - is a simple, highly practical, yet profound programme which helps people repair the strains and tensions resulting from the conditions of modern life and prevents them from developing in the first place. Relaxation and awareness practices can enhance our ability to access calm, expansive states of mind intentionally throughout our day.
Read more

A Self Retreat

Think 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.
Read more

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-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.
CNN Travel awarded another feather in the BRC’s cap by voting it as one of the ten best spiritual centres in South Africa.

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, 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.

The email was sent to:
|