In Remembrance
The truth of impermanence can be so very painful at times, as we lose those we love and cherish. The sudden death of our dearest Ngakheni Mbanjwa is a reminder to savour the precious moments of our lives and interactions with each other.
We will deeply miss and always remember Ngakheni's loving friendship, her incredible loyalty, integrity and her joyful and generous presence, not only expressed through her most beautiful flower arrangements but also through her welcoming open heartedness, her radiant smile and the many moments shared together in and out of silence.
May Ngakheni and her family know how loved and appreciated she was and may she rest in peace, forever in our hearts.
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“Infusing Mindfulness with Metta” from 7-12 November will be dedicated to the memory and life of Ngakheni Mbanjwa.
In our nourishing and shared silence, we will explore the themes of impermanence and inter-connectedness, inspired by the wisdom and compassion practices of the 4 immeasurable Brahma Viharas, “temples of the heart” in which we can take refuge. It is an honour to offer this deeply transformative retreat which is open to beginners and experienced practitioners. We will open the heart and still the mind, integrating Buddhist wisdom and practices with psychological insights, poetry, qigong, relaxing massages from the incredible Nolwazi of @nenoskincareclinic and replenishing time in nature.
Please join us for a life-changing week of deep healing and inspiration.
Sue Cooper
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There are still a few spaces left on the following October retreats:
Nomfundo Zama | Weekend | 17-19 October
The rate and scale of calamity can make us feel powerless. This retreat reminds us that we are not. 'Dreaming is a Birthright' creates a sacred space where dreaming becomes a tool for hope, connection, and guidance and emphasizes that dreaming is more than rest - it is an active dialogue with ancestors, spirit, and self. It is our birthright to be guided and held by our dreams. Honouring African spiritual traditions, we will help participants harness their dreams for personal empowerment, deeper self-awareness and alignment with their life's purpose. We will incorporate mindful movement, breath and body, techniques for dream recall and interpretation, healing circles and meditation. Nomzamo Mji, an integrative yoga teacher, will be co-facilitating the retreat.
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Richard Ellis and Marc Kress | Weekend | 24-26 October
In this retreat, we will learn basic drumming techniques and explore rhythmic creativity which will be combined with meditation practice and contemplation. A Sound Journey meditation 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.
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Paul Dorrian | 4 days | 27- 31 October
This form of qigong is composed of eight different exercises which provide to the practitioner a silken-like quality, hence its English name, ‘The Eight Pieces of Brocade.’ It has been suggested by many scholars that it is based on the exercise system that Bodhidharma gave to the Shaolin monks eight centuries earlier. Each of these flowing and gentle exercises has been designed to strengthen and re-energise a specific part or organ of the body.
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Khenpo Gompo, Geshe Jamyang, Tenzin Yeshi | 2 days | 28-30 October
The BRC is privileged to host senior Tibetan monks in Ixopo. They will lead prayers, meditation, and chanting sessions. We invite you to join us for this unique experience that promises to uplift and deepen your spiritual journey.
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Nilam Narsee | Weekend | 31 October-2 November
Join Nilam, a wellness expert, for a transformative weekend retreat where the harmony of mind, body, and spirit awaits you. Immerse yourself in a holistic journey that blends traditional hatha yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. You will leave feeling revitalised, inspired, and equipped with tools for lasting wellness.
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Conducted Retreats November 2025
Sue Cooper | 5 days | 7-12 November
This retreat is an immersion into nourishing and ennobling silence and is an opportunity to cultivate and deepen your meditation practice with a heart-based focus. Sue offers an integration of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of this path of compassionate awareness, combining more than 40 years of meditation practice with her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.
We will draw on the support of nature and the teachings that are revealed by practising in the exquisite environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, where the truths of impermanence and our inter-connectedness with each other and with nature express themselves daily, through the beauty and wisdom of the ever-changing conditions.
We will cultivate a safe and nourishing home within, inspired by the wisdom and practices of the Brahma Viharas (the Four Immeasurables), which deepen our capacity for loving-kindness (metta), spacious inner freedom, appreciative joy and compassionate wisdom and action.
In addition to the silent and guided meditations in all postures, there will be daily qigong, gentle, mindful movement and additional, optional massages offered to enhance our embodied experience. Please note: This retreat carries a teacher's fee for all retreatants, offered on a sliding scale. Please contact Sue directly on for further details, including reductions if needed and to arrange a recommended pre-retreat session.
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Stephen Coan | Weekend | 14-16 November
Looking for an entry point into Buddhism? Then this is the retreat for you! Who was the Buddha? What is Buddhism? Is it a religion or a philosophy? What are its teachings and practices? These questions and others will be addressed in this retreat which will examine the life of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path while at the same time foregrounding the simple meditation practices - sitting and walking - from which the experience-based teachings emerged. A schedule of talks, discussion, and practice held within the supportive frame of Noble Silence will also include time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the centre.
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Paul Dorrian | 2-5 days | 17-21 November
Tai Chi - ‘the cultivation of energy’ helps regulate one’s system and prevent disease, thereby leading to the maintenance of good health and well-being. Most people associate Tai Chi with flowing, graceful movements. Yet there is much more to the practice of this ancient Chinese art. Paul will demystify Tai Chi using the Yang style, which can be traced back to Ch’en Wang Ting (1597-1664). In this 2 or 5-day retreat, Paul’s intention is to inspire retreatants to further investigate Tai Chi and to find a teacher near their home.
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Helen Altman | Weekend | 21-23 November
This retreat is an invitation to integrate Ayurveda into your daily lives in simple ways that have a profound healing effect on your health and well-being. Our daily retreat rhythm will include gentle somatic and therapeutic yoga practices, pranayama, restorative yoga nidra, walking meditation, visualisations, guidelines, notes and talks around Ayurveda and living an Ayurvedic lifestyle. All within a contemplative framework of silence to allow us to deepen our connection with our Prakriti - essential nature. No previous experience is required and this retreat is suitable for all levels and ages.
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Shogan Parker | 2 days | 25-27 November
This mid-week Zen retreat is suitable for those with a regular meditation practice or prior retreat experience who feel ready to spend a day in silence, stillness, and simplicity. It offers a simple, structured, and spacious container in which to reconnect with presence, nature, and the still point within. The emphasis is on returning to what is already here - without distraction, without pressure, without needing to be anywhere else. Come sit with us - there is nowhere else to be.
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Bruce van Dongen | Weekend | 28-30 November
Join Bruce in exploring the roots of mindful awareness through Kundalini yoga. Engage in meditation, chanting and the gentle resonance of the gong and crystal bowls for healing relaxation. Delve into practices that nurture your mind, body and spirit, allowing you to embrace inner peace and vitality while finding harmony in nature.
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We invite you to take a break and join us for an unstructured personal retreat at the BRC. During your stay, you can participate in meditation, yoga and qigong. Or, simply enjoy the tranquillity of the space - doing nothing seriously. A self retreat offers a slower rhythm, allowing you to step back from the busyness of life and find peace within.
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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-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.
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 and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife proclaimed part of the estate as “Nirodha 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 - five 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:
- Booking for a retreat – we have a broad range of retreats on offer until the end of June 2026
- Offering a donation
- Pledging a monthly contribution of R50 or more
- Joining our Paid Up Yogi scheme which involves paying a contribution forward whereby your credit can be used at any time in the future towards a retreat, with a 10% discount
- Gifting a voucher to a friend or family member
- Supporting our film “Bodhi Is Light”
- Purchasing our popular recipe books
- Organising a group visit midweek
- Supporting our GoodMoodFood take-away prepared meals
- Booking a mid-week self-retreat with the option of qigong, yoga and meditation
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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Open The Heart And Still The Mind : Infusing Mindfulness With Metta And Compassionate Wisdom
