Updated BRC NewsFlash - January 2019
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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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Dear Retreatant BRC Newsflash: 4 to 31 January 2019
The new BRC calendar of retreats from November 2018 to July 2019 is published on our website. You will find it at www.brcixopo.co.za |
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| BRC Buddha Rupa | Image:C. Flores | |
Squawking chickens and Accidental Enlightenmentin the season of Goodwill, Joy, and Loving-KindnessA golden thread running through the great religious traditions is the injunction to their adherents to dedicate any merit they may have acquired in the practise of their religion and direct it towards the welfare of all beings - rather than holding on to it for the benefit of themselves. It is often assumed that this broadly applies to our fellow humans, until one remembers that the founders of the great faiths demonstrated, sometimes very dramatically, that animals and all other forms of life are meant to be included in this well-wishing. There is Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders and saying that whatever harm we do to even the smallest of creatures, we will have done that harm to God and him. Such harm therefore inevitably arcs back to ourselves. Then there is Noah, saving a member of each living species in his Ark; and the Dalai Lama becoming a vegetarian when I whispered to him during a religious ceremony in the far north of India that the squawking chicken that had startled him and interrupted his speech was, in fact, his lunch being prepared…. Such is the power of a seemingly ordinary event to shift our awareness into deeper grounds of awareness. |
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| Wind chime & Labyrinth | Image: L. De Venter | |
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Zen maintains that Enlightenment (Kensho) is, indeed, such a shift in our consciousness. Yet Zen also insists that Kensho is “nothing special”: it is simply a shift in our awareness where we suddenly see and experience everything the way all things really are, in and by themselves, instead of being filtered and distorted through our expectations, desires and delusions. Indeed, when one studies the incidents that gave rise to the Enlightenment experience of the Buddha and his disciples and - much later - as recorded in the Zen and Tantric traditions, one finds that seemingly ordinary events are capable of triggering major Awakenings in us: the sight of Venus in a clear sky on the horizon one early morning; the cry of a new born baby; the sound of a pebble swept up by a broom hitting a bamboo pillar in a monastery courtyard. Such transcendent experiences often happen when it is least expected. Indeed, Zen Buddhism maintains that Enlightenment tends to happen “accidentally”. But the stories usually add that a long routine of dedicated meditation practice is a necessary prelude to make you more “accident prone”...... So there is no getting away from it: back to your cushion. |
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| Reclining Buddha | Image: S. Laurenz | |
Tis the Season of GoodwillThe monasteries of the East have survived for centuries because of the goodwill of the Sangha and communities around them. The Buddhist Retreat Centre has flourished because of the same goodwill and generosity that has flowed its way for the past 38 years of its existence. Your generosity has allowed the Centre to flower as it approaches its 39th year. We have again been blessed with an abundance of gifts, donations, love and support. Chrisi and I and our BRC staff therefore thank all our teachers, patrons, retreatants and supporters. You are the heartbeat of the Centre!! We also thank our sterling resident BRC team - headed by Lien Duvenage with Rudene Gerber and Colin Kemery, Ray Vogel, June Atkinson and Lambro Koutsoyianni who work in harmony with our team of gardeners supervised by Mdu Zikode and our wonderful cooks - Lindiwe Ngcobo, Dudu Memela and Lungi Mbona, and Engakeni Mbanjwa and her team of housekeepers whose loyalty and commitment constitutes the backbone of the centre. There are many others who are equally integrated into its web of activities: Rob Pooley, our friendly beekeeper; Brendon and Beena Hatcher of Brilliantweb and Tokozani Nene with his wise counsel. Finally, our thanks must go to our loyal BISA committee: Pam Evans, Chris Dalzell, Alex de la Rouviere, Rob Haveman and Rose Turner. Collectively, they ensure that the BRC ticks all the necessary boxes to keep our organisational and financial affairs in good order. We wish you all a wonderful festive season and a new year filled with joy, goodwill and loving-kindness. We look forward to welcoming you back at the Centre soon. Live kindly, |
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There are still a few spaces left on the following retreat in December: Being at home: Christmas at the BRC | Tsunma Tsondru | 24-26 December |
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Scrumptious summer at BRC |
Images: S.Laurenz & L. de Venter | |
Forthcoming Retreats: 4-31 January 2019People often yearn for an opportunity to recalibrate their lives and to spend some time in quiet reflection among like-minded people. The BRC provides such a refuge: a beautiful natural environment of rolling hills and acres of indigenous forests where people meet to engage in a range of unusually interesting activities, from talks on Eastern and Western philosophy, psychology and science, to yoga and Buddhist meditation and art. Surely this should ease the most agitated mind? The January programme invites you to embrace the new year with good intentions: incorporate meditation and vinyāsa yoga into your life for a healthier lifestyle choice or to set New year’s intentions with Lucy Draper during her yoga retreat. Johnathan Preboy and Anna Scharfenberg, visiting international teachers, will offer their extended Vipassana retreat. Don’t miss this chance of deepening your practice. Treat yourself to a Self-Retreat where you can wake up to bird song, walk in the mist, rake the sand garden, listen to the wind chimes or meditate in the Zen garden with the mossy Buddha. Time To Reminisce, Reflect And Re-AssessKick-start the new year on a positive note with a self-retreat incorporating meditation and sunrise chi kung and pamper yourself with aromatherapy, sound therapy, relaxation massage and reflexology with visiting therapist, Deborah Don. Enjoy the beautiful environment - the Blue Swallows are back! Finding The Writer In You: The Art Of Writing From The HeartThis is a hands-on inspirational retreat for those who have a story to tell but need help finding the light switch. The beautiful setting of the BRC hills, sky, birds, trees, windchimes and stars will be that catalyst. Vinyāsa Yoga And MeditationVinyāsa yoga helps to still the mind and allows us to become more focussed and mindful in everything we do. Yoga is accessible to everyone: it is not about how flexible or strong you are, but about how present you are - on and off the mat. New Year Intentions And Yoga RetreatIn this retreat, we will integrate our body, heart and mind in a gentle, unfolding process of yoga and mindfulness, providing the opportunity to reflect on what inspires and energises us. Mindfulness - Always Available Everywhere: A Vipassana RetreatVipassana (Insight) meditation is based on Mindfulness, which is always available without limits or cost. The challenge is how to realise it. This retreat is an invitation for beginner and for experienced meditators to practise Vipassana. A Vipassana Retreat: The Search For TruthVipassana (Insight) meditation uses mindfulness to search for the mental and emotional patterns that cause humans to suffer. The aim is to overcome suffering and to be fully alive. This 4-day retreat is an opportunity to deepen one’s meditation practice. The Profundity Of Solitude - The Enjoyment Of Being Still And AloneEnjoy some “alone” time on a Self-Retreat in the beautiful, indigenous setting of the BRC with chi kung, meditation, communing with nature, and enjoying the delicious vegetarian food for which the BRC is justly renowned. |
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| A bench with a view | Image: C Flores | |
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Chrisi |
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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 thirty-eight 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, recently. In 1989, the BRC was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Mandela for turning an eroded farm into the natural paradise it has become 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, eighteen years ago, on the estate. Their vision is for all people in the community to be healthy and productive, living in a safe and clean environment, with good access to services and social justice. The Centre continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways by contributing Dana, sponsoring their trainers', visitors' and Directors' accommodation, and showcasing and promoting their wonderful crafts in the shop such as the sock monkeys, cushions, bags, scarves, beanies and stationery. The Woza Moya Crafters are local women who receive ongoing training and support to enable them to create these unique and charming best sellers. This year as a result of retreatants' Dana (Generosity), the BRC was able to donate R18,000 to Woza Moyà to further enable their good work among the community. Become a friend of the Centre and find out more about the BRC's "Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends" projects all of which help to ensure the continuity of this non-profit organisation. Thank you for the abundance that has flowed to the BRC over these last months in the form of “Paid-Up-Yogis” and Sangha Friends’ contributions which have enabled us to refurbish the ladies’ Lodge bathroom, tile the entrance to the dining room and install a tea station in the Lodge for those hot cups of milo on the cooler misty nights. We are grateful for the truck-load of indigenous trees, herbs, seedlings and plants, a new granite kitchen server, a new canvas parasol for the outside umbrella, kitchen utensils, garden tools, books for our library, beautiful beige towels, soft new pillows, Woollies duvet covers, a coffee plunger, a marvellous collection of illustrated books on the Sumie tradition, some of which have been long out of print, a beautiful silk scarf for Louis from Sikkhim to use during the Chinese tea ceremony, Elsa Pooley's book on flowers for the library, a generous donation towards installing LED lights to reduce our energy consumption and stunning photographs from Andrew Brown and "Fairlady" magazine featuring the BRC. Recently the Centre received a marvellous donation of tables, crockery, ceramics, pillows, cushions, curtains and lanterns, as well as boxes of seedlings, fruit, cheese and olives, and a beautiful new noticeboard. We welcomed a Bosch power drill, and the high-back oak chairs that now grace our meditation hall and a generous donation towards the re-paving of the entrance road to the BRC. We have been so touched by your appreciative letters, emails, support and friendship towards the BRC - your spiritual home from home. The "Buddha Buzz" is that we now have pure natural honey produced from the estate. The project started when Rob Pooley, an apiarist from Botha’s Hill, was consulted about the influx of bees into the buildings. He suggested placing catcher boxes to entice the bees away from the buildings, and to relocate them to an apiary site above the Deer Park. This worked remarkably well and over 40 hives were relocated to the apiary. However, the drought of 2015/2016 had a devastating effect and with a dearth of food, it led to a reduction of hives to 30. Good rains at the beginning of 2017/18 brought a wonderful resurgence to the flora, especially the Halleria Lucida (Tree Fuschia) which abounds at the Centre, and so far we harvested 450 kg of honey. Without the help of Colin and his staff during the drought in helping to feed the bees with a mixture of glucose and water, the results would not be so positive. May our bees remain happy and busy and may the honey flow. Chrisi Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc. |
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| www.brcixopo.co.za | 039 834 1863 | 087 809 1687 | 082 579 3037 | 031 2095995 |
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