The Centre

Perched on a ridge at the head of a valley in the Umkomaas river system in KwaZulu-Natal, the Buddhist Retreat Centre is a place of peace, tranquillity and reflection.

For more than forty-five years, people of all religions and none have come here to step away from the pressures of everyday life, to be still, and to get in touch with themselves. The Centre offers a space for meditation, contemplation, study and personal reflection, within a beautiful natural setting.

Although Buddhist in inspiration, the BRC has always been non-denominational and open to people from all traditions and backgrounds. Retreats range from Buddhist meditation and Dharma teachings to yoga, mindfulness, the arts and other approaches to personal and spiritual development.

Environment

The BRC lies on a 125-hectare country estate overlooking one of the great valleys of the Umkomaas river system. What was once an eroded and neglected farm has, over many years, been transformed into a rich natural environment.

Indigenous trees, grasslands, forests and dams provide a home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife. More than 160 species of birds have been recorded, including the rare and endangered Blue Swallow. Walks through the property lead to quiet places, viewpoints and reminders of the area’s past, including ancient cycads, evidence of early inhabitants and tracks of Voortrekker wagons.

The Centre’s buildings, accommodation, meditation hall, library, studio, gardens, labyrinth and Buddha Boma are all integrated into this landscape, rather than standing apart from it.

The BRC has been recognised as a Natural Heritage Site and as a Private Nature Reserve, Nirodha – Place of Peace, for the conservation of its natural environment.

History

The Buddhist Retreat Centre grew from the vision and determination of its founder, Louis van Loon. In 1970 Louis bought Nirodha Farm, then a derelict and heavily overgrown property that was considered unsuitable for farming. Over the following ten years he worked to transform the land and create a place where people could come to practise and explore the Dharma.

The first retreat was held in 1980. From its beginnings as a small retreat centre, the BRC developed into a significant part of the South African Buddhist community and gained an international reputation.

From the outset the Centre was non-denominational and unaligned to any particular Buddhist tradition. Teachers, both lay and religious, from South Africa and around the world have shared their teachings here.

A semi-monastic centre

The BRC has a character that is different from that of an ordinary retreat or holiday centre. It has often been described as having a semi-monastic quality: a place where the rhythms of daily life, work, practice and retreat come together.

The Centre is supported by resident staff and volunteers, while retreatants and visiting teachers bring their own energy, experience and practice. The work of maintaining the gardens, preparing meals, caring for the accommodation and keeping the Centre running is part of the life of the BRC.
This gives the Centre something of the quality of a small community. It is a place where people come not simply to attend an event, but to slow down, participate and experience a different rhythm of life.

Governance

The Buddhist Retreat Centre is operated by the Buddhist Institute of South Africa, a non-profit organisation.
The Centre’s continuing life depends on a combination of retreat income, the commitment of those who work and volunteer here, and the generosity of the wider BRC community. Friends and supporters contribute through donations, Paid-Up-Yogi and other support programmes, helping to preserve the Centre and its work for the future.

Staff

The BRC could not exist without the people who care for it every day.

Our resident and local staff undertake the many practical tasks that keep the Centre functioning: welcoming retreatants, preparing and serving meals, maintaining the accommodation and grounds, caring for the property and supporting the retreats and activities that take place here.

Alongside them are resident volunteers and others who contribute their time, skills and energy to the life of the Centre. Together they create the warm, informal and welcoming atmosphere for which the BRC is known.

Awards and recognition

Over the years the BRC has received recognition both for its spiritual work and for the transformation of its natural environment.
CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest meditation centres in the world, while CNN Travel recognised it as one of the ten best spiritual centres in South Africa.

The Centre was awarded Natural Heritage status in recognition of its work in restoring indigenous vegetation and providing habitat for wildlife. It has also been recognised for its role in protecting the rare Blue Swallow and was granted Private Nature Reserve status for the conservation of the Blue Swallow and Mistbelt Grassland.

These acknowledgements are welcome, but the real measure of the Centre remains the experience of the people who come here and the life that continues to unfold on the mountain.

Woza Moya

The BRC’s connection with the surrounding community extends beyond its boundaries.

In 2000, the Centre facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, a community-based organisation working in the Ufafa Valley. Woza Moya has since grown into a substantial organisation serving people in the surrounding rural communities.

Although Woza Moya subsequently moved from the BRC to its own Community Centre on neighbouring tribal land, the connection has continued. The BRC supports the organisation in a number of ways, including sponsoring accommodation for volunteers, trainers and consultants, and showcasing and promoting the beautiful handcrafted goods made by local women in the BRC shop.

The relationship between the two organisations remains an important part of the BRC’s story and its connection with the people and communities of the Ufafa Valley.