I recently got a puppy and observing her interactions, she has taught me a a few lessons. The distinct noise of the puppy food packet being opened brings great excitement and joy to Ellie the puppy. I thought, imagine if one could have such joy at hearing the sound of the meditation gong being rung, [...]
Lama Yeshe Rinpoche with Lamas Tsondru, Zangmo and Rinchen at Samye Ling during the Kagyu Monlams During March, our southern African centres had the privilege of hosting Lama Rinchen Palmo, one of the lamas in the Samye Ling mandala, for 3 weeks. Lama Rinchen is based in Belgium at Kagyu Samye Dzong [...]
Tara Rokpa Centre remains beautiful even after fires, the charred remains of trees interspersed with bright new shrubs and seedlings. I have never seen buds look more hopeful. I was burned out too on arrival, so smiled at my reflection in the landscape. This was my first visit, and my sense of where I was [...]
by the lazy Buddhist I had the good fortune to welcome 2024 while attending Donal Creedon’s wonderful online retreat. The retreat theme was Peace and it was based on Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche’s reminder that the nature of mind is already peace. During the introductory talk, Donal spoke of the Quiet room that can be found [...]
by the lazy Buddhist Sravasti Abbey is an American Buddhist monastery that came up on my YouTube feed. I watched the welcome video on the home page of their website and there was a sentence that has stayed with me - We try to instil every task with the Buddhist values of non-harming, mindfulness, compassion [...]
Beyond Violence Retreat with Dónal Creedon 25 Nov to 18 Dec 2022 Last morning - the survivors! Misty sunrise Early morning smoke offering Morning Tara Puja in the Tara Shrine room Teaching session Gentle movement with [...]
December, 2022, with Dónal Creedon by Anton Krueger, Jan 2023 This was my first time back at the TRC in three years, and I’m happy to report that everything is still standing and it’s greener than ever. There’s still a dead tree at the farm pool, but the new trees on the lawn are [...]
Goodness, I am showing my age. Way back in 2007, when Clive Holmes visited South Africa, I was fortunate enough to attend his Better Health through Meditation Retreat at the Randburg Centre. It was in the good old days, long before Drupon Rinpoche pointed out that taking notes was not the best way to benefit [...]
On my first visit to India, after attending teachings by H.E Tai Situpa, I decided to go to McLeod Ganj where H.H. Dalai Lama was giving all-day transmissions at his monastery. Anyone who has visited this monastery will know that approaching and entering it is not straightforward for a first-timer. I arrived when the teachings [...]
A Contemplation from Alan Muller "With shamata practice, we learn to detect impulses in their early stages. We can check an impulse toward anger before exploding like a volcano. If we do not recognize that impulse, then the repetition of angry outbursts strengthens the tendency toward anger and creates its own karmic energy, it's own [...]
