Corrected BRC Newsletter - July/August 2026

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre
Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa		For people of all religions
BRC Newsletter: July/August 2026 Dear Friends, We’ve updated Stephen Coan’s feature Smilin’ Through with the correct image of the smiling Buddha , and we’re excited to share that there are still a few spaces available on the retreat: Money As Spiritual Practice - Learn How Money Can Bridge Your Material And Spiritual Life And Become A Form Of Spiritual Practice

Why did the Buddha smile?		Image: Gavin Naicker
Smilin’ Through Walking the paths of the Zen garden at the Buddhist Retreat Centre you will encounter a small buddha statue sitting near the sand and stone garden. On its stylised round head there is a bright open smile, a smile - as in the photograph - undiminished by the stripe of bird droppings dripping from the forehead onto the hands. It’s a smile we can relate to; we’ve all been in comparable situations. From painful to embarrassing. We can likely return the smile in wry recognition. This small statue (minus bird droppings) was donated to the centre a couple of years ago. I first noticed it when leading the annual Wesak retreat in 2025 titled ‘Doing what the Buddha did’. The festival of Wesak, traditionally held under the full moon of May, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. (Wesak is a lunar month in the Buddhist and Hindu calendars, corresponding to May). It has been my privilege to join Louis in leading this retreat since 2005. Along the way Antony Osler dropped by for a couple of years. The Buddha, his life and teachings are the focus of this retreat and each year we would approach them from a different angle. In 2015 Louis and I titled the retreat ‘Why did the Buddha smile?’ Louis died in 2024. Seeing the smiling buddha in the Zen garden, smile in place whatever the circumstances, prompted me to resurrect the title for this year’s Wesak in homage to Louis.

Smiling in adversity		Image: Stephen Coan
All who have visited the centre over the years are familiar with the large buddha statue that Louis sculpted in the early 1980s. Here are some of Louis’s thoughts on the smile: ‘When we look at a Buddha image we see a still figure, sitting in quiet repose in meditation, with his eyes partly closed as if half asleep and a serene smile on this face - distant, it seems, from the mayhem of the world around him. Yet, paradoxically, that smile is synonymous with having come face to face with suffering and having overcome it. This is the very ground of his philosophy: his First Ennobling Truth.’ Traditionally the first noble truth acknowledges the existence of suffering. The cause of suffering is identified in the Second Ennobling Truth as being the consequence of craving, desire, and attachment; these conditions arising out of ignorance that all things are impermanent. The cure for this suffering is the Third Ennobling Truth: Nirodha. Nirvana. Enlightenment. A daunting concept to explain, or is it? The late Charlotte Joko Beck does a good job in a couple of sentences: ‘Enlightenment isn’t something we march toward, and one day, somehow, we grab it. Enlightenment is the ending in yourself of that hope for something other than life being as it is.’ Life as it is. Louis again: ‘You’ll grow old and get sick - you won’t like that. You will lose things you love and be forced to deal with people you loathe. You won’t like that either. But we are an integral part of a universe that works that way, so whether we like it or not, surely it is wise not to deny or avoid this obvious fact but learn to engage it uncompromisingly, as it comes, with all its disappointments and hurts, beauty and loveliness, with compassion, joy and moral integrity. ‘Pain is principally physical; suffering is largely psychological. The two are interconnected. But if you add the one to the other, without distinguishing between the two, your hurt becomes unbearable. ‘Better deal sensibly with your hurts. Don’t add your own stuff to it. Get on with your life.’ Like the buddha in the Zen garden, seeing life as it is and taking our cue from the old sentimental song, ‘smilin’ through’. Stephen Coan Sources: Charlotte Joko Beck, Ordinary Wonder, Zen Life and Practice. For Louis’s account of how he sculpted the Buddha’s smile: https://www.brcixopo.co.za/news-events/centre-news/why-does-the-buddha-smile.html See also the charming sequel: https://www.brcixopo.co.za/news-events/page-7.html - scroll down to ‘The Buddha’s Nose on a Platter’.

Stephen Coan, Louis van Loon, and Antony Osler during the Wesak retreat of 2010		Image: Chrisi van Loon
Cosy Retreats In Ixopo - Guided or Self-Retreat Natal’s best kept secret is its warm temperate weather, and right now Ixopo is enjoying endless sunny days. The aloes and wild honeysuckle are ablaze with colour, and the leonotis leonora is in full bloom - an inviting start to the season. We would love to welcome you for a guided retreat or a self-retreat. Expect cosy fires, excellent vegetarian food, and a caring, nurturing environment and me-time to slow down, rest deeply, and truly relax. This July we have a wonderful line-up of retreats, including psychologist Jason Ross, exploring Buddhism as a form of therapeutic living: “If Buddha Were Your Psychoanalyst” and Albert Osel, offering “From Fear and Anxiety to Well-Being” for those experiencing anxiety and stress. If you are not able to retreat with us right now, please consider booking ahead to keep the Centre viable. Our full range of retreats is published on our website up to February 2027. In our 46th year of operating, we are still here because of you - our friends and supporters - who keep the Dharma seeds flourishing. Thank you for standing with us, and we hope to welcome you soon. And on another note - some spiritual gold: The Dalai Lama has won a Grammy music award for the spoken-word album “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, featuring reflections on kindness, inner peace, and humanity, with music performed by Khan and sons. His Holiness’ message, always, is to be kinder to one another.

Cosy winter retreat		Image: Kim Ward
There are still a few spaces left on the following July retreats: Pixels and Precepts: Finding Stillness In A Connected World Shogan Parker \| 2 days \| 10-12 July We live online - scrolling, swiping, clicking, posting. This weekend retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the constant pull of the digital world and return to something simpler: the breath, the body, and the present moment. We will explore how mindfulness can help us cultivate a healthier relationship with technology - not by rejecting it, but by using it with greater awareness, intention, and freedom. Bring your phone. Bring your habits. Bring your curiosity. Read more No Cure For You: If Buddha Were Your Psychoanalyst Dr Jason Ross \| 4 days \| 12-16 July This retreat explores Buddhism as a form of therapeutic living and will take us from the concept of inherent “lack” (sunyata), through “longing” (“tanha”), to “love” (metta). Along this journey, we will consider the implications of the Buddhist notion of “non-self” (anatta) for the practice of psychotherapy and its practical application to our everyday lives. Read more Fear To Fundamental Well-Being: Healing Relaxation, Yoga And Meditation Albert Osel \| 2 or 3 days \| 17-20 July Albert will offer a relaxation retreat with methods to soothe and balance the nervous system, and heal the mind from excessive negative thought patterns. Counteracting the contractions of chronic stress will help participants access states of bliss, clarity, peace and kindness. Read more Money As Spiritual Practice - Learn How Money Can Bridge Your Material And Spiritual Life And Become A Form Of Spiritual Practice Felicity Hart \| 2 days \| 21-23 July Engaging with money often feels stressful, regardless of our financial situation. It frequently evokes fear and anxiety, with our minds focusing on worries about scarcity, loss, or depletion. These conditioned thinking patterns focus our attention on what is lacking, and over time preoccupation with money can negatively impact other areas of life. Join Felicity Joan to discover how money can serve as a bridge between your material and spiritual life, transforming it into an integral part of your spiritual practice. Read more Embracing Impermanence : A Raku Workshop – With A Taste Of Forest Bathing, Sound Therapy And Reflexology Sharon Paterson, Bernard Chatikobo, Belinda Best and Shogan Parker \| 2 or 5 days \| 24 -29 July Join Sharon for a unique and meditative ceramics/pottery workshop, where we will explore Raku: from preparing and shaping the clay to glazing and firing. Through this creative journey, we will cultivate mindfulness - letting go of expectation and embracing the present moment. No prior ceramics experience is necessary – just an open heart and mind .For an immersive and holistic experience, Bernard will be offering forest basking, Belinda will be offering Reflexology and Shogan will be offering a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on the final evening. Read more Reset for The Latter Half Of 2026: Meditation, Qigong, Yoga And Healing Treatments Brendon Small, Kugan Naidoo, Warren Horsley and Nolwazi Bandezi \| Weekend \| 31-2 August If you are yearning for a serene environment to explore the possibilities that await you in the second half of 2026, this largely unstructured weekend promises to be enriching and rejuvenating. Immerse yourself in the calming practices of qigong, meditation, and hatha yoga guided by skilled instructors Brendon, Kugan and Warren. Additionally, Nolwazi Bandezi, a qualified therapist, will be available for personalized healing therapies by appointment, enhancing your journey of self-discovery. The BRC offers the perfect backdrop for you to embrace the art of simply "being," Read more

The library		Image:Andrew Brown
Conducted Retreats August 2026 Light, Angles And Zen: A Photographic Workshop Andrew Brown \| 2 days \| 3-5 August Although aimed mostly at beginners and those with an intermediate knowledge of photography, anybody interested in using the beauty, variety and inspiration found at the retreat centre to improve their photography, is welcome. The basic technical aspects will be briefly taught and explained, and retreatants will use this knowledge, along with a Zen type of mindfulness and awareness to endeavor to remove some of their “suffering” and improve the way they look at photography. The emphasis will be on fun and looking at the art of photography with a different mindset. Please bring a camera, a tripod, flash units, spare batteries and a sense of humour. Read more Going With The Flow: Integrating Meditation And Mindfulness Into Our Daily Life Bruce van Dongen \| Weekend \| 7-9 August Join Bruce in exploring the roots of mindful awareness through Kundalini yoga. Immerse yourself in the transformative practices of meditation, chanting and the gentle resonance of the gong and crystal bowls for healing relaxation - practices that nurture your mind, body and spirit enhancing inner peace and vitality. Read more A Journey Into Emotional Healing Through The Chakras Rose Rapson \| 2 days \| 10-12 August This retreat offers a gentle to emotional healing through the understanding and balancing of the body’s energy centres, known as chakras. The retreat will combine guided exploration of your body’s energy centres and restorative healing techniques for inner alignment, stress relief and emotional clarity. You will leave feeling lighter and emotionally clearer to continue your healing journey and reconnect with a deeper sense of peace in your everyday life. Read more Feedme Slowly - Somatic Eating And Movement Retreat Nicholas McLean \| Weekend \| 14-16 August The Slow Way Retreat Part 1 Feed Me Slowly - Somatic Eating And Moving Retreat In a world ruled by speed and distraction, The Slow Way Retreat offers a gentle invitation to pause, smell, taste and reconnect with the magic of life through food. Guided by Nicholas, FeedmeGreen founder, we will explore intuitive SomaSensing movement, presence in nature, and of course The Slow Feast - a practice of somatic eating that awakens the senses and cultivates presence. Through slowness, life comes alive. Read more Feedme Slowly - Holistic Gut Healing Retreat Nicholas McLean \| 3 days \| 16-19 August The Slow Way Retreat Part 2: Feed Me Slowly - Holistic Gut Healing Retreat This extended retreat offers a deeper journey into The Slow Way building on from the weekend retreat. It is a holistic yogic retreat uniting nutrition and gut health with nervous-system awareness, and embodied mindfulness. By slowing down and tuning in, we restore vitality, balance digestion, and are more open to feel life's immense energy. Read more Three Treasures For Mindful Living - A Pathway To Balance Bridget Hawkins \| Weekend \| 21-23 August In this retreat, we will explore three fundamental areas of our human experience, the three treasures - a healthy body, a happy heart, and a clear and present mind - to create an awareness of and implement techniques for harmony and balance in everyday life. This relaxed retreat will incorporate blended sessions of yoga and qigong. We will practise various breathwork and meditative techniques and explore our creativity with an introduction to Neurographic Drawing, a mindful, automatic style of drawing developed by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev. The premise is that we are able to rewire our neural pathways when practising this style of meditative drawing. It is a simple therapeutic technique which does not require any artistic experience. We will also take an in-depth look at water crystalography and its spiritual significance by looking at the studies of people like Masaru Emoto and Veda Austin. There will be plenty of time to absorb the stillness of the beautiful surroundings of the BRC with meditative walks and sunset qigong. Read more The Deepening - Find Your Way Back To Nature Healing Bernard Chatikobo and Chris Rooke \| 2 days \| 24 -26 August Born out of Back2NatureSA and now evolved into NatureHealingWithBernard, this retreat is a sanctuary for those seeking true presence and inner renewal. Through forest basking, energy healing, mindful walking and the resonance of mbira music, participants are guided to restore energy, sharpen focus, strengthen confidence, and embody calm - in the midst of life’s struggles. This journey is more than a retreat. It is a return to the quiet intelligence of nature and a reconnection with your inner self. Read more Returning To Being: A Restorative Retreat Marrion Clarke and Carey Would \| Weekend \| 28-30 August When we reflect on how best to support others, we sense a clear and growing need - not only for a beautiful, nourishing space to retreat to, but also for practices that guide us gently back into the fullness of being. This retreat offers a gentle blend of mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, and compassion-based practices - all grounded in present-moment awareness. We will spend time in stillness and in movement, with guided practices to support emotional regulation, embodied presence, and a deeper sense of ease. Whether you are feeling depleted, seeking clarity, or simply longing for deep rest, this retreat is an invitation to return to your own steady centre. Read more A Personal Retreat : Rest, Reflect, and Restore – 15% discount mid-week Join our qualified resident staff, Keelan, Robyn and Dirk on a personal mid-week retreat for some gentle yoga and meditation. Enjoy the tranquillity of the space and embrace the art of doing nothing – seriously. This time out offers a slower rhythm, allowing you to step back from the busyness of life and find peace within. Read more

Rest and restore		Image: Lennart Erikson
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-six 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 - six 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 deeply touched by the many generous gifts received in the form of linen and towels, furniture, indigenous trees, a Kenwood mixer and food processor, vacuum cleaners and Buddha statues. How you can help to keep the Dharma wheels turning at the BRC and to 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 January 2027 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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