Updated BRC Newsflash - June/July 2025
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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: June/July 2025 Dear Friends,
Stephen Coan brought such a presence and grace to the BRC with his beautiful rendering of Wesak - just doing what the Buddha did - breathing in and out with the settling, sitting, breathing and becoming into a still centredness - there were many breath-taking moments. Thank you to our Sangha friends who came to celebrate the life and teachings of the Buddha and to mark our 45th birthday. Paying homage to the Buddha with the lantern-lit circumambulation, the chanting and incense made for an evocative ceremony under a full moon and starry sky. Recently, we welcomed 42 enthusiastic retreatants to Duncan Rice’s inspiring 3-day retreat, “A Journey Through Patanjali’s Eightfold Path.” This immersive experience was filled with guided candle-lit meditations, breathwork, and invigorating earth, moon, and sun salutations, all culminating in the transformative yoga of the heart. One of the highlights was exploring the significance of the Labyrinth, a powerful symbol of our spiritual journey. Participants created beautiful mandalas using found objects from nature, each one a unique reflection of their inner exploration. Evenings by the fireside were magical, offering philosophical discussions and transformative fire rituals. The sunrise meditation at the Stupa on the last morning was a breathtaking start to the day, fostering a deep sense of connection and collective joy among the group. These three days in the sun were not just about practice; they were a celebration of community and transformation. We have so many enriching retreats on offer in June and July offering healing and recovery through music, movement, nature, meditation and clay. The days are sunny and warm; the fires are cosy at night. With Metta, Chrisi |
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| Doing what the Buddha did | Image: Lennart Eriksson | |
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Stephen Coan who will be leading “Buddhism - the basics - with simple meditation practices” from 14-16 November writes: Wesak 2025: Doing What The Buddha DidOn the closest weekend to the full moon of May the feast of Wesak is celebrated at the Buddhist Retreat Centre. This year the full moon rose on a Monday, so the Wesak retreat was held the preceding weekend from 10 to 12 May. This feast has been celebrated since the retreat first opened its doors 45 years ago in 1980. It has usually been led by the centre’s founding father Louis van Loon, often in tandem with other teachers, including Antony Osler, the centre’s first teacher, and latterly with myself. We had to cancel the retreat in 2022 due to the Covid pandemic. The following year it took place with face masks though by then Louis was too frail to attend and I went solo. What exactly is Wesak? The name is an Anglicisation of Vesak derived from the Pali word vesākha or Sanskrit vaiśākha given to the lunar month of Vaisakha coincidental with May in the Gregorian calendar, which has been selected as the month of the full moon that witnessed the birth, enlightenment of the Buddha. The feast is celebrated around the world, especially in Buddhist countries and communities adhering to the Theravadan tradition of Buddhism. It’s fitting the Buddhist Retreat Centre has opted for this date as the Theravadan tradition - ‘The Doctrine of the Elders’ - is the oldest Buddhist tradition and the one which inspired Louis to create the centre in the first place. Over the years Louis and I led the Wesak retreat under a variety of titles, one I recall was ‘Why Does the Buddha Smile?’ Whatever the heading and whatever the subject matter – usually the life of the Buddha and his teachings – saw Louis speak from a mostly Theravadan position, me from a more Zen Buddhist point of view. The two traditions blended quite happily. This year the title for the Wesak retreat was ‘Doing what the Buddha Did’ and it was held in Noble Silence, occasionally relaxed for talks and discussion. |
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| From seeking to seeing : The heart of meditation | Image: Odette Ryan | |
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On the Friday evening there was an introductory talk in the studio followed by sitting meditation in the zendo. Simply breathing in and breathing out in a cool space on a hill above the Ufafa valley near Ixopo. Just doing what the Buddha did. Why? Because out of this experience Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, and out of his experience came the teachings: the Dharma and the Noble Eightfold Path and all that led to. For a couple of days in May we followed a regime of sitting and walking meditation, some talks, and free time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the centre. At their best in the autumn sunshine. On Saturday evening the moon was rising in the sky when we assembled in the zendo. It has become something of a tradition at Wesak to sit in silence for a while and then read aloud the passages from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Old Path, White Clouds describing the Buddha’s enlightenment while sitting under a pipal tree 2500 years ago. In this reading the question ‘why did the Buddha smile?’ gets an answer. The Buddha having attained a level of understanding that sees him transcend the net of birth and death, smiles. ‘His smile was like a flower blossoming in the deep night which radiated a halo of light,’ writes Thich Nhat Hanh, ‘It was the smile of a wondrous understanding.’ The reading ended we relaxed back into the silence before leaving the zendo wearing our saffron robes to be handed a smoking stick of incense, then walking single file to the Buddha statue guided by a pathway of candles planted into sand-filled brown-paper bags and once there circumambulating the Buddha the traditional three times, thereafter, one by one, placing the incense sticks into a brass bowl at the foot of the statue, making a bow of respect and withdrawing into the growing group of retreatants silently standing beneath the moon and the stars. |
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| Lantern-lit path | Image:Tsunma Tsondru | |
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When all were assembled a short version of the Metta Sutta (Loving-Kindness sutra) from the Theravadan tradition was read aloud: may all beings be happy and secure whatever living beings there may be let not one deceive another just as a mother would protect her only child let one's thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world - may all beings be happy and secure This was followed by the chanting of the Three Refuges (‘I take refuge in the Buddha’, ‘I take refuge in the Dharma’, ‘I take refuge in the Sangha’) from the Soto Zen tradition: namu kie butsu 南無歸依佛 From nearby tree, a Fiery-necked nightjar joined in, two others responding in the distance. Their calls continued as retreatants gradually headed off to hang their robes in the zendo and walk through to the studio for a hot drink of choice and a slice of cake. Noble Silence was lifted and people sat chatting for a while around a warm fire. With Metta, Stephen |
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| Raku- embracing impermanence | Image: Andrew Brown | |
Conducted Retreats June/July 2025☸ indicates retreats held in noble silence
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| Feel that stretch - yoga for health | Image:Odette Ryan | |
Iyengar Yoga: Nudging The Body Into Shape And HealthJudy Farah | Weekend | 4-6 July Iyengar Yoga: Deepening Your PracticeJudy Farah | 5 days | 6-11 July A Retreat Of Rest And Resonance: Reconnect With Your Inner Fire Through Sound, Music And Gentle Movement PracticesChristel Andersen and Eleen Polson | Weekend | 11-13 July Embracing Impermanence : A Raku Workshop – With A Taste Of Yoga, Forest Bathing, Sound Therapy And ReflexologySharon Paterson, Bernard Chatikobo, Krishia Schilz and Belinda Best | 2 or 5 days | 13-18 July
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| Autumn glow | Image: Odette Ryan | |
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-five 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 have been very touched by your appreciative letters, emails and friendship towards the BRC - your spiritual home from home. How you can help to keep the Dharma wheels turning at the BRC and continue its legacy for the future: Become a Spiritual friend by:
The continued existence of the Centre as a sanctuary for healing is dependent on the goodwill and support of our Sangha. Chrisi Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc. |
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