Dharmagiri News Autumn 2007.
www.dharmagiri.org
+ 27 (0) 33 7011138 - This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Dharmagiri, PO Box 270, Underberg, 3257, KZN, South Africa
NPO 028 378 / PBO 18/11/13/1926

H a p p y   W e s a k

(if you have already received this newsletter we apologise for the previous spelling error)

A healthy mind is the greatest gain.
Contentment is the greatest wealth.
A trustworthy friend is the best of kin.
Unconditional freedom is the highest bliss.
-Dhammapada 204

News from JP, Dharmagiri Manager

There are not many places left in this world of ours where you can hear the cry of a jackal or be woken in the middle of the night by an eland chomping at the daisy bush right outside your window.  Where a family of baboons live virtually on your backdoor, buzzards and vultures are regularly sighted and where the rinkhals cobra displays the energy of kundalini to whoever gets too close. What a privilege it is to live and to practice at Dharmagiri Hermitage.

The first quarter of 2007 has been a rather active period at DG. The Summer Retreat ended on the 18^th of February with fare-the-wells to the remainder of the Sangha who had been practicing together for twelve weeks of the rainy season in KwaZulu Natal.

Early the following week Rev. Peter Woods, who is hosting a Christian Contemplative Retreat in June, and David Greybe, who will soon become an Anagarika at Ratanagiri Monastery in Northumberland, arrived to spend a couple of days on self-retreat. Peter is also an IT whiz and the person responsible for the conceptualization, design and upkeep of our brand-new Dharmagiri blogspot. Thank you Pete.

Check out http://dharmamountain.blogspot.com . If you are an experienced meditator and would like to spend some time on self-retreat during quiet periods at DG, please contact the office for more details. We follow a daily schedule of sitting, bowing and chanting, share all the cooking and cleaning chores and take time for reading a studying. It is a perfect opportunity to do formal practice with the resident Sangha in an atmosphere of contemplative silence.

Ajahn Natthiko landed in South Africa from Switzerland in March.  His friendly, socially engaged nature and inspiring retreats held at Emoyeni, Dharmagiri, the BRC and Shakti Kaya were very well received. With encouraging feedback and numerous requests to return to Africa, we are holding thumbs that he will back early in 2008. Venerable Natthiko generously offered most of the Dana received from his visit towards the electrification of our earth rammed kuti which will soon be much more comfortable during the Drakensberg winters. We are very grateful Ajahn Natthiko. Thank you.

Welcome to Judy Tobler from Cape Town who took up residency in March and who also attended the Three Month Retreat. She will be spending the rest of the year at Dharmagiri.  Your presense, practice and assistance contributes towards an ongoing sense of Sangha - may you have an amazing year.

Splashy Fen, the KZN music event of the year which is held across the valley from DG and attracts thousands of people did not "intrude" into the Easter Retreat at all. Andrea and Ken travelled from Cape Town and Jean came from Durban to spend a couple of days in quiet contemplation at the foot of "Wisdom Mountain".  With much gratitude to MP3 technology, recently recorded Dharma talks by Kittisaro and Thanissara were at hand to inspire and motivate.

For the past ten years a small group of ladies from Underberg has met every Wednesday for meditation, Dharma reading and discussion. We are very proud to be part of this ongoing event and are encouraged by their commitment to and practice of the Dharma. Also encouraging for us is the relationship that Dharmagiri has established with three small prison Sanghas.  Unlike most of us they have loads of time to practice but very limited access to Dharma resources. One of the prisoners is currently translating a Basic Buddhism booklet for us into North Sotho and Zulu which, as far as we know will be a first.

As green turn into autumn red and the drama of summer storms are replaced with the evenness of cold nights and bright sunny days, the onset of the dry season heralds it's annual fire warning.  During May, fire-tracers are sprayed and burnt in preparation for the more extensive firebreaks which are burnt in June. These serve as protection against run-away fires during winter and ensures that with the arrival of the first spring rain, all the indigenous grasses will burst back into growth.

We look forward to Kittisaro's return from the States after the recent death of his mother, and Thanissara's return from the UK in August after completing an MA in Buddhist psychotherapy at the Karuna Institute.

The Forest Sangha will celebrate the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinibbana on the second full-moon day of May this year (31-05-2007). We wish all our Dharmagiri Friends and Sangha members a very Blessed and Peaceful Wesak and would like to thank you for your wonderful friendship and support over the years.

Dharmagiri Events
Retreats
June 18^th - July 2nd
Retreat for Christian Contemplatives - Peter Woods - Places Open
August 31^st - Sept 9^th
The Heart of Buddhist Meditation - Thanissara - Wait List
November 16^th - 18^th
Meditation & Chi Kung - Jitindriya and Marg - Places Open
Jan 4^th - 25^th
Cultivating the Bodhisattva Way - Kittisaro & Thanissara - Wait List

Sunday End of Month Meditation Days
Accommodation is available on the Saturday and Sunday nights. The day runs from 9.30am - 4.30pm. Bring
vegetarian lunch to share, please contact the office to check what food to bring.
May 27^th - With Kittisaro
July 29^th - With Kittisaro
August 26^th - With JP
September 30^th - With Kittisaro & Thanissara
October 28^th - With Judy
November 25^th - With Jitindriya

Forest Sangha Retreat at the Buddhist Retreat Centre
Dharmagiri runs in affiliation with the Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo which is situated an hour an a half drive
from Dharmagiri. For further details check the BRC web site.
www.brcixopo.co.za
May 18^th - 20^th - The Wings of Awakening - Kittisaro
August 24^th - 26^th - A Buddhist Way of Life - Kittisaro & Thanissara
December 12^th - 16^th - Meditation & Chi Kung - Jitindriya & Marg
December 18^th - 26^th - Letting Go, Openness & Calmness in Action - Ajahn Sucitto
December 28^th - Jan 2^nd - The Radiant Awareness of Being - Kittisaro & Thanissara