This long weekend getaway in the glorious autumnal bushveld will be facilitated by senior Tara Rokpa Therapist Brion Sweeney, from Ireland. The weekend will be structured around the theme of “Mindfulness in Everyday Life”. This will include Tara Rokpa Therapy methods and shiné meditation alongside specific mindfulness techniques given to Tara Rokpa therapists by Akong [...]
by the lazy Buddhist Early this morning, I stood outside in the garden for a few minutes enjoying the stunning golden sunrise. I also bought a bunch of beautiful yellow roses today simply because they were the most glorious sunny colour. And Frikkie (our Dapple Dachshund) and I had quite a few cuddles just because [...]
It’s a soggy Sunday keeping me indoors. This has been one of the wettest January I have recorded since arriving here 18 years ago. Nearly 300mm of rain which is half of our annual rainfall! Greenery is abundant and the grass and weed growth is phenomenal. It feels as if things grow as you look [...]
TO MY UNIVERSAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS A JOYOUS NEW YEAR – 2022 Paulo Senior and Paulo Junior joined us for the Compassionate Living in Difficult Times retreat with Alan and Pippa. This was their first visit to TRC, and hopefully not the last. One more challenging year has come to an end. But economic hardships [...]
A few weeks of spring rains have replenished the valley and brought welcome green growth. The weather is however unpredictable and is not following the usual early summer patterns. Layers of clothing seem to go on and off according to the ever-changing temperatures. For me, a recent highlight was attending our recent Green Tara practice [...]
So winter approaches with its offerings of warm fires and “fresh” days. The landscape is changing, the colour of the sky is fabulous and the mornings and evenings are rather chilly (and we are still in Autumn). Eish winter is gonna be a cold one! Living in the countryside is a bit of a conundrum [...]
Sitting indoors sheltering from a thunderstorm with my petrified dogs wanting reassurance is time for reflections. My so-called retirement time continues to be full of activity both at home, on-site and less so in Rietvaly. The weather has been hugely challenging for the gardens and residents with a period of searing heat followed by heavy [...]
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 [...]
Sitting at my desk enjoying a wonderful side-on view of the valley and bush clad hills beyond, is a treat. Yesterday’s welcome rain has brought greenery and a cool washed look to the previously parched and dry veld. The tinkling sound of the running water through the solar flow forms helps to restore the water [...]
