BRC Newsletter - December 2025 / January 2026

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre
Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa		For people of all religions
BRC Newsletter: December 2025 / January 2026 Dear Friends,

Presence		Image: Andrew Brown
Nowadays, no-one is able to feel on top of the world all the time. Emotional ebbs and flows are normal and come with being human. We can take comfort in some of the life-learning gems from Maria Popova from "The Marginalian" and try to apply them in our own lives to find moments of joy. Be generous Choose joy Forgive forgive forgive Presence is far more intricate and rewarding as an art than productivity Build pockets of silence into your daily life

Choose joy		Image: Andrew Brown
Let the tranquillity of the BRC be your sanctuary this holiday season. Take a moment to slow down, allowing yourself the gift of inner peace after a challenging year. As one retreatant commented, "I went to the retreat in search of stillness, but the true gift was discovering that it was inside me all along." Spending Christmas at the BRC is a great alternative to the frenetic commercialised Christmas in the cities . At its deepest level Christmas celebrates the embodiment of spirituality. It crosses boundaries between the various religions and reminds us of the need to adopt a spiritual path and to integrate its teachings in our daily life. Spending New Year at the Centre is a good time to take stock, to reflect on our moment-to-moment reality as we bid farewell to 2025 with gratitude and welcome 2026 with open hearts, ready to make the most of whatever comes our way. With Metta, Chrisi and The BRC Family

Tranquillity		Image: Peter Kloppers
There are still a few spaces left on the following December retreats: When Beauty Happens Accidentally: Japanese Brush Painting And Ceramics Ingrid Adams, Sharon Paterson, Bernard Charikobo, Chris Rooke and Shogan \| 4 days \| 12-16 December Japanese ink painting offers a unique approach encompassing ceramics, meditation, qigong, forest bathing, a tea ceremony and an ambient atmosphere. If you are suffering from stress, anxiety and exhaustion these processes will calm and refresh you. No painting experience is necessary Ingrid will teach the classical Japanese brush painting techniques using the, traditional materials: solid pine-soot ink, a hollowed-out slate to liquefy it, a bamboo-stemmed brush and absorbent mulberry paper. Sharon will offer the ceramics and explore various glazing and firing techniques. Chris will lead qigong and Bernard will introduce us to 'forest bathing' with traditional Mbira music for healing and harmony. Shogan will conduct a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. Read more Transformation Through Mindfulness Nolitha Tsengiwe \| Weekend \| 19-21 December Through being and accepting what is happening within us, staying with experience and learning to see more clearly we can taste into a mind and heartfulness that is larger than our habits that keep us stuck. The practice of Mindfulness supports us in discovering who we are beyond our limiting histories, stories and ideas. This retreat will be held in noble silence; there will be dharma teachings as well as interviews, guided meditation and qigong with Shogan. Read more The Four Immeasurable Gifts At Christmas Tsunma Tsondru \| 4 days \| 23-27 December Christmas is a time of the giving of gifts. Yet the very best gift we can give is not anything tangible or material. The unlimited and ultimate gift would be to be happy without end, at peace without end, to give happiness and peace to all, without end. The Four Immeasurable Gifts are the ultimate gift. They are boundless equanimity, loving kindness, compassion, and joy. Take time out at the BRC to slow down into the moment and unwrap the Four Immeasurable Gifts. We will discover them through meditation, contemplation, journaling, and by just being present. William (Shogan) will be offering sunrise qigong. The retreat will be held in an atmosphere of introspection and silence.

Zen sitting		Image: Lien Duvenage
Conducted Retreats January 2026 Tune Into 2026 And Kickstart The New Year With Qigong, Yoga, Meditation And Healing Treatments Brendon Small, Marrion Clarke, Diane Franklin and Nolwazi Bandezi \| Weekend \| 2-4 January It is difficult to make decisions about important issues in your life when you are immersed in them. If you feel you need a gentle, uncluttered space to tune into what lies ahead for you in 2026, this largely unstructured weekend will prove useful. Experience sunrise qigong, yoga and meditation with Di, Marrion and Brendon and relax with healing treatments with Nolwazi Bandezi, a qualified therapist. The BRC provides an ideal opportunity to be in a sympathetic space to experience what it is like to "just be". Read more In 2026 - Receive Clear Insights And Guidance To Plan Your Year Ahead Christel Andersen \| 3 days \| 5-8 January Christel has used the ancient Science of Numerology to empower and guide her clients for more than 20 years. It is an incredible personal development tool which brings wisdom, clarity and affirmation, in profound ways and a valuable guidance tool for planning a year ahead, making major life decisions, or simply understanding your current life situation. Come and join Christel for this informative mid-week retreat. Read more Cultivating Mind-Heart Resonance Through Emotional Awareness And Mindfulness Shanil Haricharan \| Weekend \| 9-11 January Join us for a transformative retreat as we explore the intricacies of our unpredictable world and strive to nurture a life filled with authenticity and purpose. Inspired by the insights of philosophers such as Krishnamurti, Buddha, and Aristotle, we will embark on a journey of self-awareness, acknowledging that understanding ourselves is essential for navigating the challenges we encounter. Drawing on the insights of Jungian psychologist James Hollis and the poetic wisdom of Rumi, we shall confront the challenges that impede our growth and discover how to embrace our authentic selves. Read more Traditional Hatha And Raja Yoga Duncan Rice \| Weekend \| 16-18 January Join Duncan for a weekend of reflection, rejuvenation, relaxation and restoration. The retreat is based on the ancient practices of hatha and raja yoga and is open to all levels of ability, including beginners, who wish to understand the fundamentals of yoga and develop, or deepen, their own practice. In the tranquil environment of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, we will discover how shatkarmas (cleansing techniques), asanas (postures), pranayama (control of the breath), mudra (gestures to manipulate and stimulate the energies in the body), bandhas (energy locks with the body) bring us into equilibrium. These traditional practices will help us to develop awareness of body, mind and breath. Read more Time To Renew Your Fire - A Weekend Retreat For Burnt-Out Phoenixes In Need Of Soul Rekindling Elana Bregin \| Weekend \| 23- 25 January Take back your life, it’s the only one you’ve got! Unsettling changes, prolonged stress, life crises of one kind or another can leave you feeling dangerously close to burn-out and struggling to regain your sense of balance, purpose and passion. This recalibration workshop is geared at those who feel they have lost the compass. Under the experienced guidance of creative journey guide and author, Elana Bregin, you will be led through the gentle process of rebuilding your inner fire and reclaiming the joie de vivre. Amid the quiet beauty of the BRC, well supported by the Centre’s delicious meals, cosy fires and revitalising ambience, we will open our senses and heart chakras and start the conversation with our deeper selves that relaxed attention enables. There will be periods of writing reflection, group sharing, inspirational walks and uplifting talks, to help us get back in touch with who we really are and want to be. Read more Nowhere Else To Be – Zen Sitting Shogan Parker \| 2 days \| 27- 29 January This Zen retreat is suitable for those with a regular meditation practice or prior retreat experience who feel ready to spend 2 days 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. Read more Healing Qigong For Health And Vitality Dr Hu Jin-Yun \| Weekend \| 30 January-1 February Explore this ancient Chinese practice that boosts one’s health and vitality. Participants will learn the key techniques of how to master qigong and incorporate it into their daily lives, effortlessly. These techniques are easy to learn, are useful and powerful. The healing power of qigong works on both the physical and spiritual level - if it is done correctly. These techniques include breathing, timing, warm-ups, postures, movement and mind projection. Dr Hu will also introduce Chinese medicine for detoxing, lowering cholesterol, decreasing body fat and relieving water retention. This retreat is designed to suit beginners, as well as those who have practised qigong previously. Read more A Personal Retreat 10% discount mid-week 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. Read more

Qigong		Image: Martin Randall
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.
www.brcixopo.co.za \| 066 395 4682 \| 082 579 3037 Share: \| Follow us:
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