BRC Newsletter - Updated March 2026

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

Buddha in repose		Image: Andrew Brown
Disappearing Buddha Asked to appoint a successor before his death the Buddha declined. The dharma, the teachings, were primary. They spoke for themselves. There was no need for a successor. A retreat ‘Buddhism: the basics’ which I led last year examined the Buddha’s life and teachings. The teachings - the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path - offer few difficulties when it comes to explanation. They are rooted in the human experience. The Buddha himself is more elusive. According to tradition Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born in 563 BCE and died aged 80 in 483 BCE. However modern scholarship differs, some scholars placing his death closer to 400 BCE or between 420-380 BCE. This flexibility in dates is troubling: are we dealing with an historical figure? Standard methodologies of history and biography come to grief pretty quickly. Biographies of the Buddha only began appearing centuries later and were likely written from a partisan view - my school of Buddhism is better than yours! In addition, it was some centuries before the teachings themselves were expressed in written form, prior to that they were passed on via an oral tradition, a very sophisticated one.

Disappearing Buddha		Image: Andrew Brown
Regarding the Buddha himself, Rupert Gethin, a distinguished scholar of Pali and a practicing Buddhist has noted: ‘The historian must recognise that he has virtually no strictly historical criteria for distinguishing between history and myth in the accounts of the life of the Buddha.’ So what are we to make of this seemingly magical figure invested with superpowers of mind and body (there is plenty of evidence of this in the vast array of Buddhist scriptures)? In recent times one approach has been to demythologise him and turn him into a rationalist philosopher along the lines of Socrates, rendering him more acceptable to modern mindsets. In a new book, The Buddha, another eminent Buddhist scholar, Donald Lopez Jr., has gone against this trend by putting back the myth, in effect remythologising the Buddha. In doing so he draws on Buddhist sources but also brings to bear more recent writings from Gustave Flaubert, Oscar Wilde and George Eliot. It is a remarkable book. I was struck by one of Lopez’s observations: ‘The dharma (in the sense of the truth) is not something that is the creation of the Buddha but something that he discovered and then revealed to the world.’ This is in accord with Buddhist tradition which to put words in the Buddha’s mouth, goes something like this: ‘Look, I have found these teachings to be true for myself, but don’t take word for it, try them for yourself and if they is helpful and they work for you that’s fine, if it doesn’t that’s fine too.’ The Buddha found something that was there for anyone to find. When he refuses to name a successor, someone whose word is the final say, he’s not kicking the ball down the road, he’s kicking it straight at you. Catch. The Buddha himself disappears leaving behind an enigmatic smile. And the teachings. Stephen Coan

Moving into stillness		Image: Odette Ryan
We have good news! Many of you have asked over the last two years when Dr Ian Weinberg will be offering his memorable retreat “Psychoneuroimmunology: Enhancing The Mind-Body Connection”. As he is completing his doctorate in neuroscience at the moment, he is unable to lead a residential retreat in Ixopo. By popular request Dr Weinberg’s original BRC retreat “Enhancing The Mind-Body Connection” is now comprehensively online. The online program is now available through the BRC at an exclusively reduced price of R3,500.00 (the current selling price online is R14 000.00). The purchase price includes the 5 modules program, online diagnostic, workbook and slides as well as access to the three-monthly Zoom webinar. For a description of the course (similar to the original three day Retreat) see www.neuronostic.com/courses/expanding-consciousness/ “ Should you wish to enrol, please contact the office at and we will send you all the information.

Hatha yoga		Image: Odette Ryan
There are still a few spaces left on the following February retreat: A Yoga And Meditation Retreat - Moving Into Stillness Hannelize Robinson \| Weekend \| 27 February - 1 March Yoga teaches us the ability to remain present, calm and stable no matter what situation we find ourselves in. This practice helps us to thrive in the external world that is always changing and simultaneously allows us to disconnect from our daily lives. This retreat offers a reprieve from the sensory overload and constant stimulation of modern life and how to manage stress and promote overall well-being. Read more

Gifts from nature		Image: Wanda Hennig
Conducted Retreats March 2026 The Mindful Feast : A Foraging And Foodie Retreat With Yoga, Meditation Kaz Wilson and Dael Lithgow \| Weekend \| 6-8 March Embark on a wild and delicious journey of deep nourishment for your body, mind and spirit and join us for a ‘nourish in nature’ retreat with Kaz, a passionate nutritionist and wild forager of superfoods and edible medicinal plants. Kaz will blend these gifts from nature into her intuitive cooking demonstrations - think sweet potato brownies, banana tahini ice-cream, sweet and savoury coconut chips, chickpea chocolate hummus - creating a unique culinary experience. With the principle of “Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food” she will share pointers from her ‘Grow A New You’ programme, incorporating food demos to empower you to take healing into your own hands. This retreat will also integrate yoga in nature promoting a holistic approach to wellness. Kaz will be joined by Dael, who will connect mind and body through science and meditation. Read more Change Your Mind - A Mindfulness Retreat Mark Joseph \| Weekend \| 13-15 March In the 1980’s Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness into western medical focus. He was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism at the time and wanted to introduce his eastern learnings into a secular western framework. He was highly successful, and his work spread worldwide from the university of Massachusetts USA in the form of MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). His definition: ‘Mindfulness can be cultivated by paying attention, in a particular way, on purpose and in the present moment, with three attitudes of non-reactivity, non-judgement and open heartedness’ became the cornerstone of Mark Joseph's work. He found it wasn’t about converting South Africans to Buddhism but sharing the heart of practices that transformed his mind and heart. Mark became fascinated with the collaboration of HH The 14th Dalai Lama and science, especially with the work of neuroscientist Richard Davidson and author Daniel Goleman and has been running mindfulness workshops for many years incorporating neuroscience and performance psychology. In 2016 he created the ‘Mindfulness teacher training program’. And pioneered the growth of mindfulness not only in the corporate world but also in training psychologists and individuals in mindful therapy. The essence of this program will be shared in this 2-day retreat and combines key points around how mindfulness contributes to: - Focus and attention management - Stress Management - Insight and Innovation - Psychological safety - Emotional Intelligence - Self compassion - Empathy - Wisdom Experience the merging of the eastern and western forms of mindfulness to provide you with an approach to cultivating a daily practice and how this will affect your positive mental well-being. Read more A Hatha Yoga Retreat Cheryl Lancellas \| Weekend \| 20-22 March Settle into a weekend of rest and restoration with gentle movements, sound journey and breathwork. Together we will explore breath as medicine for the nervous system, restorative yoga and yoga nidra evenings, reflection, journaling and conscious group processing, emotional alchemy, release and renewal. You will leave softer, clearer, steadier — not changed but revealed. Read more The Way Of Ubuntu: Exploring Traditional South African Healing John Lockley and Nomusa Mthembu \| 3 days \| 27- 30 March Participants will experience a traditional South African healing ceremony over three days during which they will learn to connect to their Ancestors (bones), Dreams, 'Umoya' (spirit) and one another. 'Ubuntu' means 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. It is a circle of interlinking relationships connecting the seen and unseen worlds. The ceremony will involve a plant cleanse, using medicinal plants to cleanse the spirit and open the heart. Included will be an in-depth discussion on 'African cosmology' and the understanding of ancestors, plant medicine and dreaming. The retreat will focus on educating people about South African traditional spirituality and lead participants on a spiritual journey to rediscover their own ‘soul’ or what is termed ‘umoya’ in Xhosa and Zulu culture. John will be assisted by his colleague Makhosi Nomusa who is the resident Zulu Sangoma. Please bring a plastic basin which will be used for medicinal foot healing, a dream journal, pen and paper to take notes, a meditation blanket and an open mind. This retreat is suitable for all therapists, healers and those with a desire to heal South Africa. Read the Odyssey magazine article on John Lockley. Read more

John and Nomusa
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 October 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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