The Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa

12/10/2025

Set in hilly grasslands amongst dams, indigenous bush and forests, the BRC overlooks one of the great valleys in the Umkomaas river system. Walks lead to many interesting sites and viewpoints on the property, including evidence that Bushman lived there and Voortrekkers and Settlers passed through.

12/10/2025

Help Us Reprint "Plentiful"!

Dear Friends,

Our third cookbook, "Plentiful," is still in high demand, with our last copy just sold! To meet this continued interest, we are looking to reprint our fifth run, but we need your help.

We require R70,000.00 as a deposit for a reprint of 500 books. Unfortunately, due to the size of the book, this is the smallest print run our printers can accommodate.

If just 155 people pre-order and pay for their copies of "Plentiful," we can raise enough funds for the deposit. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy our delicious recipes to tempt any palate, but also to share the joy of cooking with friends and family by gifting a copy.

We would be so grateful for your support. If you love our cookbook or know someone who would, please consider ordering and pre-paying for your copy today at R450 per book.

Thank you for being a part of our culinary journey!

The BRC

Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to order.

11/10/2025

In a world filled with uncertainty, it’s easy to feel powerless. This retreat offers a space where dreaming becomes a powerful tool for hope, connection, and guidance and honours African spiritual traditions.

Dreaming is more than just rest; it’s an active dialogue with our ancestors and ourselves.

Read more here: https://www.brcixopo.co.za/eventdetail/1216/dreaming-is-a-birthright.html

Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

10/10/2025

Expel the Fire from Your Heart. Pa Tuan Chin Qigong
Teacher: Paul Dorrian
Cost: 4 nights accommodation + R350 surcharge
Dates: Monday 27 October 2025 - Friday 31 October 2025

Pa Tuan Chin is a C12th A.D. Qigong Form which was developed by the Chinese general Yueh Fei, who was also well versed in traditional Chinese Medicine, Calligraphy and Martial Arts. This Form is composed of eight different exercises which provide to the practitioner a silken like quality, hence its English name, ‘The Eight Pieces of Brocade.’ It has been suggested by many scholars that it is based on the exercise system that Bodhidharma gave to the Shaolin monks eight centuries earlier. Each of these flowing and gentle exercises has been designed to strengthen and re-energise a specific part or organ of the body. Overall, the combined exercises, known as the Form, also assist in improving the practitioner’s physical structure, breathing and link to universal Chi. Paul will teach this Form using the original sequence that Yueh Fei developed.

Paul Dorrian is a former international management consultant, author and speaker. His interest in improving employee wellness in the work place led him to teach Chi Gung and Tai Chi Chuan. Paul has studied these disciplines under various teachers in the UK and Spain, and with the late Master Dr Nico Snyman, his current teacher Master Marleen Bilas and with his Grandmaster Dr Lin Feng-Chao. He now teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang style and Chi Gung in the Pa Tuan Chin, Healing Sounds and Zhan Zhuang styles at his school, the Lin Li School of Tai Chi Chuan, and with private students, in Pietermaritzburg.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

09/10/2025

UPCOMING RETREAT

Rumi And His Messages: Bringing Rumi’s Wisdom Into Everyday Life
Teacher: Leonina Kaestele
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
Dates: Tuesday 14 October 2025 - Thursday 16 October 2025

Jalaluddin Rumi’s poetry (1207–1273) offers a profound source of strength and insight that helps us stay grounded and resilient in daily life. Rumi was a Persian poet, mystic, and Sufi master. His poetry speaks to love, loss, longing, spiritual awakening, and the human experience - themes that are universal and inter-generational Though deeply rooted in Sufism, his verses transcend religious boundaries, appealing to anyone seeking meaning or connection. His words are mystical, yet accessible. Rumi captures complex emotions in simple, evocative language, making readers feel seen and understood with its emotional depth. His teachings encourage introspection, self-love, compassion, and a sense of oneness with the universe - values that are timeless. Even in translation, his poetry carries rhythm and imagery that feels alive, often lending itself to song and meditation.

This mid-week retreat invites you to explore Rumi’s timeless wisdom, a guiding thread that fosters stability, joy, and personal growth.

This workshop offers a hands-on, experiential approach to Rumi's teachings. Through reflective exercises, we will explore selected quotes and connect their meaning to real-life situations and personal experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to engage deeply, applying Rumi's wisdom to enrich their own lives and gain tools for navigating daily challenges with grace and insight.

Each session includes reading, discussion, and personal reflection exercises designed to integrate Rumi’s timeless messages into everyday moments.

The Rumi Workshop is ideal for professionals (therapists, caregivers, social workers) or anyone seeking self-empowerment and personal growth.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za to make a reservation.

08/10/2025

Buddhism is neither theistic nor atheistic; it is non-theistic. It therefore does not challenge or compete with other religions. Hence, followers of all religious denominations and philosophical persuasions are welcome to attend any retreat program. No membership, allegiance or conversion is expected or required.

07/10/2025

Sacred Drumming: Exploring Natural Rhythms
Teachers: Richard Ellis and Marc Kress
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R500 surcharge
Dates: Friday 24 October 2025 - Sunday 26 October 2025

Drumming and music-making are ancient ways of transcending our routine lifestyle, opening ourselves to spiritual realms of healing and creativity, which is experienced as liberating and rejuvenating. This is because the universe is a flux of pulsating rhythms and drumming connects us to these rhythms, thus facilitating a change in consciousness and a sense of belonging and well-being, which, in turn, promotes deep relaxation and healing. In this retreat, we will learn basic drumming techniques and explore rhythmic creativity including a segment on Shamanic, Celtic, and Nordic Viking drum patterns which will be combined with meditation practice and contemplation. A Sound Journey meditation using exotic instruments will also be included. The objective of this retreat is to find a balance between the hands-on experience of drumming and its more profound spiritual effects on the human psyche.

Richard Ellis has been a drummer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for the past forty years. He was a founding member of The Usuals with Kenny Henson. He formed the first all-percussion group Interitmo with Mike Mazzoni in 1997, and in 1999 started the first Drum Circle in Durban at the Bat Centre.

Marc Kress has been playing drums and percussion for more than 20 years and has been extensively involved in corporate team building and drum circle events. Marc has played in various bands such as the Interitmo Drummers and Mlilo. He has also collaborated with Richard Ellis in various percussion projects, sound-journey workshops and The Durban Drumbeat Festival.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information or to make a reservation.

03/10/2025

Dreaming Is A Birthright
Teacher: Nomfundo Zama
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
Dates: Friday 17 October 2025 - Sunday 19 October 2025

'Exploring African Spirituality And Dreaming African Spirituality' offers a profound framework for inner work, creating a sacred space where dreaming becomes a tool for transformation. This retreat emphasizes that dreaming is more than rest; it is an active dialogue with ancestors, spirit, and self. Within African spiritual practices, dreaming serves as a guide, revealing paths to healing, growth, and clarity. Participants will be guided through practices that cultivate inner stillness and self-reflection, learning to facilitate a better life experience by unlocking their dream space. Honoring African spiritual traditions, this retreat helps participants harness their dreams for deeper self-awareness, personal empowerment, and alignment with their life's purpose.

Day 1: Grounding and Ancestral Connection
Opening Ceremony: Honoring ancestors and setting intentions
Workshop: Understanding dreams in African spirituality
Guided Meditation: Connecting with ancestral wisdom
Group Discussion: Sharing personal experiences with dreams
Evening Ritual: Ancestral dream invocation

Day 2: Dreamwork and Personal Empowerment
Morning Meditation: Grounding through nature
Interactive Session: Techniques for dream recall and interpretation
Healing Circle: Using dreams for emotional and spiritual healing
Closing Ceremony: Affirming dreams as a birthright and tool for personal growth
Join us for a transformative experience that honors African spirituality and reclaims dreaming as an inherent birthright, providing tools to navigate your spiritual journey with clarity and purpose.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

02/10/2025

From sock monkeys to singing bowls - you will find them all - and more - in the BRC shop.

The BRC has credit card facilities, come and browse!

30/09/2025

RUMI And His Messages: Bringing Rumi’s Wisdom Into Everyday Life
Teacher: Leonina Kaestele
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
Dates: Tuesday 14 October 2025 - Thursday 16 October 2025

When I am silent, I fall into the place, where everything is melody - Rumi

Jalaluddin Rumi’s poetry (1207–1273) offers a profound source of strength and insight that helps us stay grounded and resilient in daily life. This mid-week retreat invites you to explore Rumi’s timeless wisdom, a guiding thread that fosters stability, joy, and personal growth.

This workshop offers a hands-on, experiential approach to Rumi's teachings. Through reflective exercises, we will explore selected quotes and connect their meaning to real-life situations and personal experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to engage deeply, applying Rumi's wisdom to enrich their own lives and gain tools for navigating daily challenges with grace and insight.

Each session includes reading, discussion, and personal reflection exercises designed to integrate Rumi’s timeless messages into everyday moments

What to expect:

• Meditations on Rumi’s quotes

• Talks and Guided Imagery to deepen your experience

• Reflection on poetry and creative writing

• Talks on applying Rumi’s wisdom in everyday life

The Rumi Workshop is ideal for professionals (therapists, caregivers, social workers) or anyone seeking self-empowerment and personal growth.

Prof Leonina Kaestele lectures at Hochschule Niederrhein, in Mönchengladbach department of Social Work. She owns her own institute in Munich (www.institut-imago.de) where she teaches Imagery, Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) and other modalities.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

28/09/2025

Practical Consciousness - A Simple Guide To Raising Your Consciousness
Teacher: Dash Singh
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R300 surcharge
Dates: Friday 10 October 2025 - Sunday 12 October 2025

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, finding harmony can feel like an elusive dream. This retreat will unlock the secrets of mindful living and conscious growth. Discover practical tools to cultivate clarity, calmness, and insight. Through affirmations, meditation, journaling, visualizations, and more, immerse yourself in a soul-nourishing experience filled with enriching discussions and deep rest. Together, let's tap into the power of our minds and forge meaningful connections. Let’s also connect with a growing community dedicated to awakening consciousness and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and conscious living.

Dash Singh is an entrepreneur, Consciousness Advocate, Inspirational Speaker and businessman who is dedicated to aligning his passions with the universal ethos of consciousness. With a rich background spanning over eighteen years, Dash has embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Inspired by renowned thought leaders such as Dr Wayne Dyer, John Kehoe, Tony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, and Dr Shefali, he has immersed himself in the study of consciousness and personal development.

Total cost of the retreat depends on the type of accommodation selected. Please email bookings@brcixopo.co.za for more information and to make a reservation.

Welcome to 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 more than forty years people of all relig...

27/09/2025

"He (Louis) was adamant to throw the doors of Buddhist practice right open and demonstrate that if dhamma practice can happen with every breath and step we take, it can be there too when we plant a tree or fly a kite."

Read more here: https://www.brcixopo.co.za/newsletters/view/1/275-brc-newsletter-september-october-2025.html?tmpl=component

Beautiful image by Andrew Brown.