BRC - SANGHA SUPPORT - Letters from lockdown - 21 April 2020

The Buddhist Retreat Centre

Dear Friends and Supporters

We want to thank you for your generous and heartfelt response to our appeal for assistance over this dire time. We have been deeply touched by your PUY contributions, donations, offers of help and letters of encouragement. We are indebted to you. Your caring gestures invigorate us to maintain the Centre in readiness for your return. We are missing you all in Ixopo and holding you in our hearts.

On Gratitude

On the 26th day of lockdown, we are all appreciating the things in life that we have always taken for granted...being able to walk on the grass, freedom, being healthy, being able to hug someone, feeling safe.
At this time when our usual comforts have been reduced, we may like to reflect on the things that are still available to us such as the air we breathe, the sun that warms us and the earth that holds us.
As I see it, We have two choices: to be grateful or to be fearful.

Recently, I was moved by a story from ‘Wisdom Shots’.
In Italy an old man who had recovered from the corona virus was told he had to pay for the ventilator that he had used. When he started crying , the doctors asked him why he was crying... was it because he had to pay for the ventilator? His answer made all the doctors cry. What he said was that it was not the money he had to pay that made him tearful; it was the realisation that he been breathing God’s air for 75 years and had never paid for it. He owed God for the air he breathed freely for so long....Makes you think, doesn’t it?

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Gratitude is an empowering emotion. Gratitude supports our immune system, it makes you strong. Fear makes you weak. Practising gratitude during times of heightened fear and anxiety helps us to cope and lifts our mood. When you are grateful, you can’t be fearful.

Take good care.

With gratitude and affection,
Louis

On The Road Less Travelled In These Uncertain Times

As the sun sets on the BRC on day 26 of lockdown, we watch in awe as the light plays games with the evening sky. As the sky darkens and the birds' singing fades, the crickets start their evening chorus – oh the African evenings are always so unique even in lockdown well, at least for us at the BRC. Gently today’s curtain drops and tomorrow as the African sun rises it’s the dawning of a new day.

07h30…nothing has changed. Silent breakfast, and then gathering together to discuss what needs our attention just for today … today is our priority, tomorrow the future and yesterday the past. So we focus on the now.

The maintenance team shifts into gear over a cup of coffee while eagerly awaiting their plate of food. When the food is laid in front of us we give thanks remembering how blessed we are to have a bowl or plate of food when so many out there have nothing but a sunrise or a sunset.

It’s time to get the weed eater and the rakes out and moving in single file we all make our way to our designated part of the vast lawns and gardens to remove the autumn foliage from the damp grounds. Together we make light work of this early chore and then retreat to daily work in our respective departments - kitchen, laundry, shopping or office - it all has to be taken care of.

At lunch we briefly discuss what is happening out there because in reality it has had an impact on the BRC and our loved ones that are not with us. We can’t control what’s going on around us but we can control what is happening inside of us. Yes, we have open spaces to wander and take in the breath-taking beauty of nature - something that many have never had the opportunity to experience … we have a sacred place to meditate and all this together with our amazingly thoughtful, generous, loving BRC followers and friends gives us hope that tomorrow will bring love, peace and joy to all.

As we say our goodnights to each other we end our day with gratitude and appreciation as we lay our souls to rest tonight.

With love,
The BRC Team: Lien, Annie, Colin, Mdu, June, Lungi, Lambro, and Enkhakeni

John Homewood has taught his ‘Shift’ retreats at the BRC for many years, and is a loved and admired teacher.
Here is his “Sangha Support” message for the week

The Third Virus - The One You Want To Get

3 Viruses

The topic most on people’s lips at the moment is the Corona Virus. I guess this absorbs more of people’s attention than anything else, and for good reason. Do a Google search for Corona Virus and 5 340 000 000 search results appear!

Now the way I see it is that there is not one, but three viruses doing the rounds at the moment – all three capable of infecting us and altering our future.

Virus 1
The first and most obvious one is the one called Covid19. This is the one most people are focused on and yet it is the least important. I won’t address this one here, as most of us have indigestion already from all the information/disinformation about this one.

Virus 2
The most dangerous virus in my opinion, is not this virus, but rather the virus that we have all been in contact with, and many people are infected with, one which is doing way more major damage to people’s physical, mental and spiritual health than the Covid19 virus; this is the virus of fear.
We know from a physiological point of view the damage that fear does to the body, the damage that it does to our immune systems and mental functioning, which has been well researched and documented. You are far more likely to catch a virus when you are in a state of shock or fear than when, say, you are in love!

While virus 1 it seems is spread by air and contact, virus 2 is spread verbally and electronically person to person, and most infections can be traced back to the media, both mainstream and social media. Transmission and infection rate are high, and increases the body’s susceptibility to virus 1 by lowering the body’s immune and energetic systems.

The Energy Vampire
There are scientists who describe the Covid19 virus as an ‘energy vampire’, as it has no means of generating its own energy and needs to take massive amounts of energy from its host to survive and replicate.
The first two viruses are the ones we should be protecting ourselves and our families from and limiting our risk of infection. With regards the Corona Virus, there are many ways being recommended as well as enforced to protect you from that. The 2nd Virus, and by far the most damaging one long term to humanity, can be mitigated right now by switching off the TV, making only limited use of social media as prescribed below, and being extremely mindful of what we hold in our hearts as well as the words that flow from our mouths. 

Virus 3
And the third virus, well it’s hardly a virus, but let’s for this conversation liken it to a virus, which is love. Love can also be spread like a virus, transmitted person to person, either by close proximity or electronically. This is the one that will boost your immune system immensely, and help heal the world at the same time. Isn’t this the one we should actively be spreading at this time?

But What Is Love? 
Love is compassion, empathy and caring. Love flows through the portal of acceptance and non-judgement. Love allows others to be exactly who they are. Love is our felt sense of connection with life in all its myriads forms and expressions. Love is our true state of Being.

Being Mindful
Be mindful of which one of these viruses you carry and which one you transmit to others. 
Use this time to reconnect more with your inner Being. Make the present moment your main focus, rather than mind/time. Pay more attention to what IS, rather than what isn’t.
Remember, all healing is ultimately the healing of fear.

Now is the time to be mindful of which world we want ourselves and our children and grandchildren to live in: A world infested and controlled by disconnection and fear, or a world awash with the loving embrace of connection. The choice is ours in that whatever we feed, grows.

A New Earth
The world will never be the same again. Besides the risk of infection, there are the daunting changes that have been imposed on our lives and livelihoods. The instability and uncertainty of this time creates immense stress and anxiety for many people, which is understandable. However it’s to realise and accept that the ‘old world’ was already unsustainable, and as such had to die. This transition is now an opportunity for a New Earth to be birthed. As any parent will attest, giving birth is no fun, but once over, the result is well worth the pain. 

To end, I’d like to leave you with a quote from the book A New Earth, written by Eckhart Tolle, the very last sentence: “A new species is arising on the planet. It is arising now, and you are it!”

Up-coming Retreats At The BRC
I look forward to connecting with you all on my upcoming BRC Retreats. The dates below are subject to the lockdown being lifted on the 30th April, but it will be a wonderful gift to consider giving yourself - to spend time out of lockdown,  immersed in the peace and freedom of spirit that the BRC offers you. 

Book now to avoid disappointment:

20 - 24 May: AWAKENING TO FLOW Retreat: Re-aligning and shifting your life - Opening to Abundance
24 - 26 May: GOING DEEPER INTO FLOW Retreat extension - Applied knowledge creates Wisdom

The Real Gift Of The BRC
Why do many of us love the BRC so much? There are probably as many answers as there have been retreatants, but I suggest the main reason is, because when we go there, we discard the world of ‘time’, ‘busyness’ and ‘doing’ behind us, and reconnect once more with our true essence, which is Being. We are made to feel cared for by the kitchen, and held by the peace of the grounds. We feel a greater sense of connection with ourselves, as well as with the world of nature and stillness. We get to touch our inner essence. We become more present with what is. And that presence is Love. 

In truth, we can, right now, in this time of lockdown, reconnect to that place of peace and presence within us, provided that is, we are not infected with a virus more dangerous than the Corona virus!

With Metta,
John

Integral Life Coach and Consciousness Teacher
Founder Mind Enhancement Systems & Wisdom to Nourish
Facilitator https://johnhomewood.net/workshops/AWAKENING The Shift Experience

There Is So Much Wisdom Out There For The Taking

Links To Talks By Western Teachers

The links below are examples of talks available on YouTube, teachers' and other websites compiled for the ”Eclectic Buddhist Group” compiled by Shawn Comrie. The list is not conclusive and is subject to corrections.

Tara Brach: (Theravadin/ Psych) 
Many good talks for free at her website
www.tarabrach.com

Antony Osler: (Zen/Monastic) 
South African form of Zen. Runs Retreat Centre on his farm in the Karoo
Written books such as "Stoep Zen," "Zen Dust"
www.stoepzen.co.za/retreats.html

Rodney Smith: (Theravadin Monastic/Psych/Phil) 
Runs the Seattle Insight Meditation Society.
Many good insightful talks and teachers there.
https://seattleinsight.org/

Roshi Ohara: (Zen/Monastic) 
Runs a Zendo in the middle of New York.
"The Path of Awkening"
https://youtu.be/8vix96g4Glw
https://villagezendo.org/teachers/roshi-enkyo-ohara

Noah Rasheta: (Secular) 
Runs a nice Secular Buddhism Page on Facebook and many talks on Youtube etc

Alan Watts: (Zen/Phil/Mysticism. R.I.P. 1975) 
Many of his talks and videos on Youtube. A number of Facebook Pages.and still has a large following.
"Time & The More It Changes"
https://youtu.be/uvc-sxtH7kQ

Stephen Batchelor: (Secular) 
Into exploring the basics and of 'Westernising' Buddhism. Written many books.
https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/index.php/en/ 

Ayya Khema: (R.I.P. 1997) (Theravadin/Monastic)
Has many Youtube Talks. Look for her 1995 Retreat
"1st 1995 Retreat talk and on Meditation."
https://youtu.be/36TyCVDC8KA

Pema Chodron: (Tibetan/Monastics/Psych) 
Many good talks and books. Youtube:
"Going to Places that Scare You"
https://youtu.be/sLw5QFaFUgI (Audio only)

Joanna Macy: (Tibetan/Psych/Environmental activist))
Founder of 'Insight Dialogue.' Some good talks around. Youtube:
"No Self as Good News"
https://youtu.be/FoXpDNygyM0

Jack Kornfield: (Theravadin/Psych) 
Many good talks, books
https://jackkornfield.com

Robina Courtin: (Tibetan/Monastic) 
Outspoken Australian nun. Many talks on You tube
"Robina Courtin at Findhorn"
https://youtu.be/xsmda-Upwqg

Stephen & Ondrea Levine: (Theravadin/Psych/Death & Dying: R.I.P. 2016)
Talks on Youtube and Website: Good books on Death/Dying. "Who Dies?" "Healing into Death and life."
"Concious Living, Concious Dying."
https://youtu.be/HyEsMMPS_OQ
Website & Memorial Tribute:
http://levinetalks.com

Anushka Fernandopulle: (Theravadin/Monastic) 
Theravadin monastic but with Western viewpoint.
https://www.anushkaf.org/

Amita Schmidt: (Theravadin-Western Sectarian) 
Has had a personal journey with deep depression and talks from experience.
https://amitaschmidt.com/about-amita/