The view outside my back door. The first of the colloquially named ”Piet-my-vrou” (red chested) cuckoos arrived back yesterday. It always heralds spring in my mind. They stay with us, laying their eggs in the host’s nests until the autumn takes them to warmer climes. Their incessant calling can be heard on all [...]
Daily Life Dharma by the lazy Buddhist At the start of 2020, who could have imagined what this year would hold? It has been an extraordinary time. Within my small circle of contacts, some people lost either their lives or family members to Covid-19. Some were sick for two weeks and recovered fully and a [...]
Synopsis: A piece on what is occurring in Rietvaly - a community of people struck by poverty, yet not stuck in their ways. Duration: 10 minutes Reflection Breathe in. Count three exhales. With each exhale think of what makes you grateful. Kagiso, Jackson, Kedifentse and myself were asked, "What challenges are faced by the community [...]
Brenda bids farewell to TRC Brenda and Masi at the Training Centre Like so many people around the globe, I find myself mourning life as I have known it for the past two years, as retreat manager at TRC. I enter a new and uncertain chapter, due to the Corona virus. It has [...]
Searching for the Right Frequency Synopsis: a piece on language barriers at the Power House, and how we sometimes don't notice how differences in speech can leave room for a lot of misunderstanding. Yet, all of that can be a catalyst for insight into a person and community, and allow for an immense sense of [...]
Being at TRC without retreats is a new feeling. The mind must find a subject to occupy it. Usually I have something to think about after the mindfulness teachings or practice, then lunch or dinner. Then back at it again. There is a clear cut shedule. Now that there are no retreats, I have learnt [...]
News from our Managers: Pippa and Brenda Pippa's Snapshot of Activity from Lockdown in Tara’s Valley Life here is full of the many challenges and opportunities offered to all at present. We are so fortunate to have a pristine environment with clean air, clear water and abundant open space. It does feel like the late [...]
Musings by Mokgadi Sekete, TRC Volunteer Knowledge is important because it enriches our understanding of what we are confronted with. Our perception of someone else's knowledge can sometimes take away from learning from one another. At times, knowledge may be seen to be more valuable than the human, so much that intellect has become a [...]
Genuine humility has been rare to find in a stranger. Most times people, and myself, opt for the cold shoulder, or the awkward stare when I look up that comes with the occasional nod or smirk that says, ‘Hi, I’m friendly’. It’s almost as if I want to get the greeting out of the way [...]
We continue to enjoy the best summer rains we have had for many years. The rains have led to abundant growth, as well as challenges around maintenance, with leaking buildings, broken lawnmowers, electricity breakdowns on top of load shedding and often impassable dirt roads. But the saturated earth seems to be bursting with thanks. At [...]
