October 2001
Newsletter
Fire in the Magaliesberg! That was the call two weekends ago - first on the Friday night, helping a neighbour put out an extensive fire on his farm, finishing at 3.30 a.m. Then on the Saturday, in the heat of the day, struggling to fight a fire which started on another neighbour's farm, and driven by a fresh wind raced through part of Emoyeni, up the valley of the recently acquired property next door, over the firebreak and deep into the mountain around Castle gorge. All that in minutes! Fortunately, all the other firebreaks held - the house and its surrounds were untouched, and we managed to stop the fire before it got to the borehole and the area where the new Retreat Centre is planned to be built. Fire is, of course, a regular event in the Magaliesberg and while feeling sad for all the trees that took another hammering, much of the scrub and thick, tinder-dry veld grass has been burnt, opening up the landscape for fresh new growth. The Rain God smiled in compassion and the day after the fire, sent soaking spring rains to help ease the wounds and stimulate the process of healing the veld. In just a few weeks we can expect the charred landscape to be well on its way to being transformed into one filled with the brilliant green of new growth.
Fire and destruction, death and the process of healing and recovery have also very much part of the major world events in past weeks. For many it has been a time of pain and fear and uncertainty, with possibilities of catastrophe rippling through the mind. As these events continue to unfold, let us send a rain of wisdom and compassion to guide the decision makers on all sides of the conflict.
Over the past few months the clearing up of Emoyeni has continued, more fences have come down and the scrap-metal merchants have carted five large truckloads away, including 6 car wrecks. There is still quite a bit more to go, but we are making progress and the land is responding beautifully as it opens up. The renovations to the main house have continued as we improve the accommodation facilities for guests and slowly get into shape to begin holding more retreats. Shortly, we will start work on the shell of the old house past the vegetable garden, which, when completed will provide one double and four single rooms.
The Auction that was organised by the Johannesburg group on the 1 September to raise funds for Emoyeni was a lot of fun. With good food, an amazing variety of things to bid for and lots of generosity, about R1700 was raised - and we still have a couple of new Swatch watches to find buyers for. A big thank you to all of you who organised the event and to everyone who supported us!
The flow of generosity and support for Emoyeni has continued in recent months with a major donation of R15 000 from a benefactor, 2 electric lawnmowers, garden furniture, a large desk, books for the library and many other useful things. It is so encouraging to feel the warmth of your friendship and support in this gradual process of establishing the Retreat Centre.
From early November we will have a new resident living and working at Emoyeni. Simona Scheibitz, from Germany, recently completed a Masters degree in Economics and after talking to our friend Tineke in Germany. asked us whether she could begin her world travels with a 3-month period working at Emoyeni. It will be great to have a feminine presence here, especially as we draw closer to having a more retreats at the centre.
Have a look at the Retreat Programme further on. We are fortunate to have Stephen & Martine Batchelor conduct a weekend retreat at the beginning of February and Rob Nairn lead a 3-day retreat over Easter, in which he will explore the important Buddhist insight of Emptiness. From now until the end of January, Emoyeni will continue to hold a meditation retreat on the third weekend of each month - the "Quiet Mountain, Clear Sky" retreat. In addition Chanmyay Sayadaw, abbot of a Meditation Centre in Burma, will conduct a short introduction to vipassana retreat in December and Mervyn Croft a 4-day retreat over New Year. Apart from these retreats you are welcome to visit Emoyeni anytime and enjoy some quiet time in the beautiful landscapes of the Magaliesberg.
Mervyn
JOHANNESBURG SANGHA
111 12th Street, Parkhurst ~ Tel: 788-8276
All of a sudden we now have a lovely new place for the Johannesburg group to meet. Moyra Keane, Paule Sachs and Joan van Straaten recently decided to pool resources and have rented a large house in Parkhurst. Dhamma Friends of Ixopo meetings can now resume on a more stable basis This is such good news as it provides a Buddhist venue in a central location for regular meditation practice and for other events. Lets give them lots of support!
WEEKLY MEDITATION: Sundays at 6.00 p.m.
OBITUARY
Molly van Loon
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Molly van Loon on Sunday 30 September, as the result of a stroke suffered a few weeks earlier. Molly together with Louis, her husband in those years, played a significant role in establishing the Vegetarian movement in South Africa in the 1960's and 70's, and with Louis co-founded the Buddhist Institute of South Africa and the Buddhist Retreat Centre near Ixopo. Her forceful character and intuitive insights contributed greatly in helping the Dharma to take root in South Africa and we honour the creative role she played in those pioneering years. In more recent times, her Budhhist art collection became her main medium for communicating Buddhist principles to others.
