BRC Newsflash - October/November 2020

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre
Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa		For people of all religions
Dear Retreatant BRC Newsflash: October/November 2020

Buddha boma in the mist		Image: Angela Buckland
We were all overjoyed to see Richard Chippindall again who offered his inspiring “Saying Yes To Life” weekend recently. Linda Zama’s message of appreciation eloquently sums up the retreatants’ gratitude and response to his retreat: Again thank you for having given a gift to remember after a very challenging time. The Centre, its ambience, gardens, hospitality and the good food re-energised and re-assured us that everything is fine. The cherry on top of course was RJ. He was the best choice for the silent meditation and our group. What a sensitive teacher in a broken world. The silence was especially appreciated as the sangha gathered around the blazing log fire over what must have been the coldest weekend of this year. It reminded me of the time when it snowed in Ixopo in September about 20 years ago, The water pipes froze and we had to truck in water for retreatants who didn’t much care about that inconvenience as they enjoyed this rare spectacle and made snow Buddhas! Fortunately it didn’t snow over RJ’s weekend…. Our mid-week sangha continues to grow with Marc Kress offering gentle, restorative yoga and meditation daily. How privileged we are to have Marc’s quiet, re-assuring presence - encouraging mindful practice.

Marc Kress		Image: Marc Kress
The new BRC programme from January to August 2021 has been published on our website. It is an interesting range of retreats with something for everyone, from bird-watching and creative writing to yoga, qigong and tai chi and introspective meditation retreats. Steve McKean, from Conservation Outcomes, has been keeping a vigilant eye on our Blue Swallows. He was fortunate enough to observe one at close quarters when he was was ‘buzzed’ by a stunning male Blue Swallow while visiting the nest sites recently. BirdLife South Africa and Conservation Outcomes have formed a partnership in KZN to conserve this critically endangered bird and its endangered mistbelt grassland habitat. Having been recognised as Custodians of the Blue Swallows 25 years ago, the Centre has had breeding Blue Swallows for many years and a significant part of the property consists of mistbelt grassland. To secure this unique habitat and the Blue Swallows, the BLSA-CO partnership and the BRC are working together to bring the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme to Ixopo. This would mean obtaining a level of legal conservation security for these birds and their habitat. While this will also add to the attraction of the area for nature lovers and particularly birders, the Stewardship also recognises landowners as custodians of their land, including its biodiversity and supports the wise use and management of the natural resources. We feel very fortunate to have been invited to participate in this vital programme for the future conservation of the hills that are too “lovely beyond the singing of it”.

Rolling hills		Image: Angela Shaw
“There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond the singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys in Africa.” - Alan Paton. Ian Weinberg will be offering his stimulating and thought-provoking retreat “Psychoneuroimmunology” in Ixopo from 11-13 December in which he will explore how positive mind states can promote optimal wellness on a physical, emotional and psychological level. In these uncomfortable times in which we are challenged at every level of our being, Ian’s expertise and insights will provide one with practical tools to explore integrated wellness, and to understand how our thoughts inform our immune system - and how by reframing the way we react to the world around us, we can completely alter our health and quality of life. He has been immensely generous in offering his PNI Programme online, with all proceeds going to the BRC. This fund-raising initiative will close at the end of October, so if you can’t attend Ian’s residential retreat, don’t miss the opportunity to attend virtually. Thank you to everyone for supporting this fundraiser! I enclose Ian Weinberg’s “Delicious Meanderings” below. Wishing you peace, Louis

African harrier hawk		Image: Andrew Brown
Delicious Meander When last did you disconnect your mind and create the space for unfettered meandering? Why? Because in this way we get to quieten the distractions of fear, expectation and loss. It is this space which spawns delicious new possibilities - new bonds and relationships of ideas, words, colour, sounds, maths and things. Thereby we soar into the eternally sustaining world of the imagination - the crowning of life in so many ways. And so it was that Einstein used his imagination to imagine what imagining individuals would perceive of the same occurrence from different subjective perspectives. Thus was Relativity born with its art form of E=mc². Shortly thereafter quantum physics demonstrated that human imagination engaged directly with energy thereby creating a changed physical reality. This led the physicist Sir James Jeans to proclaim “The universe looks more and more like a great thought than a great machine.” Thus does the unfettered meander become the wellspring of imagination and curiosity - something to embrace and cherish. For it is our birthright. It is the source of deep gratification and wellness and in many ways the co-creator of our environment. Seize the day and play. I just did! Yours in imagination, Ian Weinberg
Meander in the labyrinth		Image: Chantelle Flores
Yes, we are open in Ixopo and it is time to put that spring back into your step There is no better place to reboot and rejuvenate and to get in touch with nature than in the beautiful, tranquil surroundings and open spaces of the BRC. All health protocols and Covid-19 regulations are in place - with social distancing, sanitizing and masks - for your safety and well-being.

Listen to the windchimes		Image: Chantelle Flores
Forthcoming Retreats: October/November 2020 People 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 - where silence is a precious commodity. Choose practices such as yoga, qigong and meditation to live with more meaning, purpose and joy. Treat yourself to a personal retreat where you can wake up to bird song, walk in the morning mist, rake the sand garden, listen to the wind chimes and meditate in the company of the mossy Buddha.

Blue skies over the stupa		Image: Chantelle Flores
Conducted Retreats in Ixopo: October/November 2020 Deepening Your Emotional Intelligence Through Mindfulness: Gaining insights into your emotional intelligence for resonant relationships Shanil Haricharan \| Weekend \| 30 October- 1 November Research on emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) suggests that a person’s ability to perceive, identify and manage their emotions is essential to making good decisions, taking optimal action to solve problems and coping with change. According to Daniel Goleman, emotionally intelligent people are aware of their own emotions (self-awareness) and they effectively manage their emotions (self-management). In addition, they are aware of the emotions of others (social awareness) and are adept at managing the emotions of others (relationship management). Each one of us can acquire and improve our EI - an essential part of our personal development. Self-awareness - an EI competence - cultivates our empathy, and nurtures our compassion and caring. The subject of mindfulness has received huge interest from practitioners and researchers alike, with a growing body of research linking mindfulness to cognitive, physiological, and psychological benefits. Interestingly, current research shows a positive relationship between mindfulness and the development of emotional intelligence competencies. This interactive retreat supports participants in their personal development journey through gaining insights into their emotional intelligence and mindfulness, and identifying and developing behaviour that positively impacts their well-being and relationships - in our volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Read more… A Yin Yoga Retreat Jennifer Chapman \| Weekend \| 6-8 November Join Jennifer in taking it slowly, and aligning your body with your mind and emotions. During this restorative Yin yoga retreat, we will rest and stretch, and flow calmly from one posture into another. Read more… Fully Human Activism: The way of gentle activists who make a difference Graham Williams \| 2 days \| 11-13 November We are urgently called to action in two distinct capacities; to serve as hospice workers to a dying culture, and to serve as midwives to an emerging culture - Will Keepin Environmental degradation, economic suffering and social conflict are rampant. Despair, anger and fear abound. Scientists maintain that “humans are eating away their own life support systems at a rate unseen in the last 10, 000 years”. Many want to act, to get involved but don’t know what to do, or where to start - at home or in their social lives and workplace. They feel powerless and unable to make a difference. On this retreat we will learn the way of the gentle, contemplative and effective activist: a model of connecting to a higher source, to others and ourselves. We will leave with a framework for being and doing - the ‘must’, ‘should’ and ‘could’ do’s that we can work with. For more information, contact: . Read more… Buddhism, Existential Philosophy And Psychology: Can Buddhism effectively treat the struggles we face in life? Jason Ross \| Weekend \| 13-15 November It is often our personal struggles that bring us to a retreat setting. But, is Buddhism meant to be a form of psychotherapy? This retreat will explore the potential of traditional Buddhist practices such as Vipassana as a means of better understanding and effectively addressing our personal struggles. We will look at how we can combine ideas from secular Buddhism, existential philosophy and psychotherapy in order to go beyond ourselves and “embrace the totality of experience”. The retreat will include qigong (chi kung), meditation and short periods of silence. Read more…. The Courage To Be With What Is? The practice of Buddhist Psychotherapy Jason Ross \| 3 days \| 15-18 November After gaining some insight into the true nature of our problems, we are often left with the sense of “What can I do about it?” Buddhist Psychology encourages that it is through the ability to “be with what is” that true solace lies. As a follow-up from the weekend theory, meditation and discussions, Jason invites you to embark on a more in-depth therapy process of intensive sitting, writing and therapeutic conversations. This will include a move from a foundation of Vipassana practice to an exploration of Korean Zen methods. Read more…. Release, Relax And Restore - With Yoga Margot McMaster \| Weekend \| 20-22 November Given the current stresses and strains, we will turn to the ancient practice of yoga and use this as a base to journey through our subtle chakra system in the search for release, reassurance and vitality. Using yin yoga, kundalini yoga, trauma release and vinyasa flow, we will slowly unlock, unblock, re-energise and re-connect to each one of these energy centres in our body. The retreat will begin with a Chakra Check^TM so you can discover where you are currently blocked, locked or limited and you will learn techniques to help you shift back to strength, vitality and serenity. Read more…. Going With The Flow: Integrating meditation and mindfulness into our daily life Bruce van Dongen \| Weekend \| 27-29 November The aim of this workshop is to develop the tools that enable us to arrive gently and lucidly in the present moment, being aware of the ebb and flow of our moods and emotions and learning to be mindful instead of reactive in our interactions with others. Using the techniques presented, we will learn to train our minds to be centered on the present so that we can flow with the river of life instead of fighting against the current of our conditioning. There is great joy in being present, no matter what is happening. We will explore Kundalini yoga, which is a combination of stationary and dynamic poses and qigong (chi kung) techniques. These practices increase our energy level and give us the capacity to be fully present and integrated in our bodies and minds. This is a meditation-centered practice - not a physical yoga practice. The workshop will be varied to allow retreatants of all ages and levels of experience to derive great benefit from this very old tradition. Bring comfortable clothing and a sun hat. Read more...

A space to breathe		Image: Angela Shaw
Online Programme: October/November 2020 Yinsight Yoga: Yin Yoga And Mindfulness Meditation 24 October \| Despina Forbes \| Donation 90 minutes \| 8:00-9:30am Yin yoga and meditation can be experienced as a practice of cultivating well-being. Combining the practices of Yin yoga and mindfulness meditation creates powerful possibilities for insight, transformation and healing on all layers of being - body, mind, and heart. Yin yoga combines aspects of Hatha yoga, the concept of the modern meridian theory in Chinese medicine, Taoism and mindfulness meditation practice. It is designed to improve the flow of chi/prana (the vital energy of the body) through the energetic channels (or meridians) to improve overall emotional well-being, joint mobility, immunity and organ health. Yin yoga supports a quiet, slow, nourishing and grounded practice. When we cultivate the skill of awareness during meditation with an attitude of kind curiosity and notice the experience for what it is, we can pause, acknowledge and respond in an appropriate way. Cultivating the skill of awareness opens us to possibility, conscious choice and space to create paths for growth, insight and joy. Read more and register Transition Online For Women: Would you like to transition beyond current challenges into a better place than you were before? (maximum 10 participants) Monique Beekman \| Donation directly to Monique Part 1: 14, 21, 28 November Part 2 and 3: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 December 2 hours \| 7:00-8.30/9:00am OR 10:00-11.30am/12:00pm “ If you bring forth that which is within you, what you bring forth, will save you...." If you do not bring forth that which is within you....What you do not bring forth, will destroy you”.... Have you been feeling lost, blocked or stuck? Transition online is designed to support you through the effects of the emotional and mental challenges you have experienced during 2020 in a way that resolves even age old trauma and transforms not only your present, but also your future. 'To have what you do not yet have, you have to go where you have not been. There is no other way.’ With this in mind, we are thrilled to bring you TRANSITION ONLINE to deeply and profoundly resolve relevant and related issues. Read more and register An Introduction To Somatic Movement 14 November \| Lisa Firer \| Donation 90 minutes \| 4:00-5:30pm Join Lisa for a taster of somatic movement. These gentle and mindful body-based practices help release chronic tension and pain, reduce stress and develop compassionate awareness of your body. Leave the session with a few movements to take away and join the in-person retreat at the BRC next year to learn more. Read more and register Zen Pen 15 November \| Dorian Haarhoff \| R450 (please reference as ZenPen) 3hours 15 mins\| 09:30am-12:45pm Looking at your image in a clear stream, you answer the question by your very presence I invite you to a zoom Zen Pen wordshop. Why Zen Pen? Zen (Chinese chán ‘quietude’) invites us to be present, to live and write simply. Pen (Latin penna ‘feather’) refers to both practising the art of writing and to the implements we use for writing. It also invites us to play in a safe place - as in playpen. In this wordshop we explore the connection between writing and meditation. Both these states of grace slow us down so we can live in the moment. They increase our awareness and wake us up. We look with new eyes and hear with new ears. We write and meditate on the many changes and transformations we experience as we journey along the river of our lives. We consider how creativity steadies the boat and how writing helps us dip the oars into dark water so we may navigate the river safely. Read more and register

Zen garden		Image: Angela Buckland
Lungi’s Sunburst Spectacular With the spring rains geening the hills, it seems appropriate to mention one of our all-time favourite dishes at the Centre: Ixopo Green, our famous spinach pie - a delicious blend of spinach, mushroom and feta, topped with a crisp layer of herbed fresh breadcrumbs. Our recipe books would not be viable without mentioning Lungi Mbona, our talented cook, who has been part of the BRC family for twenty years. With her incredible eye for detail and flavour, it is always easy to spot a dish that has been created by her, be it a salad, bake or dessert. The dishes are always presented in colourful combinations and delicate flavours. If you would like to buy the The Cake The Buddha Ate, Plentiful and Quiet Food we are able to courier the books to your door. Please email: .

Lungi Mbona		Image: Angela Shaw
Psychoneuroimmunology With Dr Ian Weinberg - In Your Home Ian Weinberg, a neurosurgeon and pioneer in PNI, has led his renowned retreat “A neurosurgeon probes wellness and performance: Psychoneuroimmunology: PNI” for 12 years, twice a year, at the BRC. His retreats are hugely popular and always fully subscribed to. Ian is offering to assist the BRC to raise funds to ensure its continuity. He has uploaded his full, comprehensive, PNI weekend retreat onto his website in 5 edited modules: See www.neuronostic.com under COURSES – ONLINE MENTORING COURSES. The programme includes slides in PDF format, an online diagnostic and workbook. This fund-raising venture closes at the end of October, so please consider purchasing his online programme through the BRC at a significantly discounted price (R1,500) relative to the online listed price (R5,500). Proceeds will go to the BRC. To register, please contact the office at for details on registration and payment.

A light within		Image: Angela Buckland
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 thirty-nine years, people of all religions and none have come to experience peace and tranquility. 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. 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. The BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa Valley, twenty 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 in a variety of ways by contributing Dana, sponsoring their Directors, trainers and visitors' 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. As a result of retreatants' Dana (Generosity) in 2019/20, the BRC was able to donate R 24,000 to Woza Moya to further enable their good work among the community and to help support the 50 children who attend the Woza Moya play school. Please continue to support the BRC to get back on its Dharma feet by becoming a friend of the Buddhist Retreat Centre (a non-profit organisation) and find out more about the BRC's Paid-Up-Yogi and Sangha Friends’ projects. We have been very touched by your appreciative letters, emails, support and friendship towards the BRC - your spiritual home from home. Chrisi Visit our website for further information, directions, image gallery etc.
www.brcixopo.co.za \| 087 809 1687 \| 082 579 3037 \| 031 2095995 Share: \| Follow us:
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