People

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=160 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emoyeni Retreat Centre"><B>HOME</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="intro.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Introduction"><B>Introduction</B></A></div> <div> <B>People</B></div> <div> <A HREF="buddhism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buddhism"><B>Buddhism</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="retreats.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Retreats"><B>Retreats</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="newsletters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletters"><B>Newsletters</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photos.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><B>Photo Album</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="inspiration.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Inspiration"><B>Inspiration</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="community_board.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community Board"><B>Community Board</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="recipes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes"><B>Recipes</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><B>Links</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="roadmap.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap"><B>Roadmap</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="books.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Books"><B>Books</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><B>Contact Us</B></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Visits:</B></div> <div> <B><table width="133" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.hit-counter-download.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.hit-counter-download.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?URL=111680-8685" alt="hit counter account login" border="0" ></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><font style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; color: #330000; text-decoration: none;">Download <a href="http://www.hit-counter-download.com" target="_blank" style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; color: #555555; text-decoration: none;" title="free hit counter">free hit counter</a> code.</font></td></tr></table></B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=60 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05c8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <B>Emoyeni Retreat Centre</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#336699" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2f484070.png" border=0 width="900" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=420 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05c8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B>People</B></div> <div> <B>of Emoyeni</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RESIDENTS</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="793" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 123 WIDTH="148"><bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="123" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Richard Chippindall</B></div> <div> Richard is a co-founder and trustee of Emoyeni.  He holds a PhD in microbiology and was a lecturer in this field at Wits University before changing to a career in psychology.  He is now a practising clinical psychologist and  lives in England.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 335 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 175 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="22d7fad0.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="173" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="335" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Mervyn Croft</B></div> <div> Mervyn is a co-founder and trustee of Emoyeni, and has been living at the Centre since its inception.  He worked in the business world as an IT specialist until his late thirties.  He has been a practising Buddhist for over 30 years, during which time he has visited Buddhist centres in both Eastern and Western countries.</div> <div> Mervyn was a resident at the Buddhist Retreat Centre (BRC) at Ixopo for 13 years, from 1986 to 2000, where he had the opportunity to participate in retreats given by teachers from all the main Buddhist traditions.   He began facilitating retreats while at the BRC, and currently leads a variety of retreats at Emoyeni.  He is responsible for some of the administration at Emoyeni, as well as public relations.</div> <div> One of Mervyn's main influences was Buddhist practitioner and meditation teacher <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="godwin.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Godwin">Godwin Samararatne</A></FONT>, after whom Emoyeni's meditation hall is named.  He also has a keen interest in the "Non-dual" philosophy.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 316 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 182 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2347fb40.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="180" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="316" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Johann van Schalkwyk</B></div> <div> Johann is a co-founder and trustee of Emoyeni, and has been living at the Centre since its inception. He trained as an accountant, but since his student years he has been reading widely in Buddhism,  philosophy and psychology.  He has now been a practising Buddhist for more than 20 years. He has a particular interest in the Pali scriptures, and has long been studying the <I>Majjhima Nikaya</I> and various writings from the Theravadan tradition.  </div> <div> In 1990, after working for eight years in the business world, Johann spent a year as a resident of the Buddhist Retreat Centre, followed by another three years between 1996 and 1999.  Together with Mervyn he helped to set up Emoyeni, and today his role at the Centre is very diverse and full-time, and includes accounting, kitchen management and building maintenance.</div> <div> Johann will be co-leading his first retreat in October 2008.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 268 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 176 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="30b7fa80.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="168" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="268" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Sue Randall</B></div> <div> Sue became a resident at Emoyeni in December 2003.  For the first 8 months she worked full-time (voluntary).  Thereafter she stayed on, working part-time for the Centre and during the rest of the time doing private work.  She has an MA in research psychology and has a particular interest in the area of past-life influences. She is also a writer and editor.</div> <div> Sue and Johann are due to teach their first joint retreat in October 2008 on the topic of karma and rebirth.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 259 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 170 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="31182a20.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="162" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="259" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Maren Bodenstein</B></div> <div> Maren's association with Emoyeni began in 2004 with her running creative writing retreats.  In February 2006 she moved to Emoyeni to be with Mervyn, and she continues to run the writing retreats.   She works independently of the Centre, but assists when she is able to, mainly with gardening.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 225 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 160 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="31b788c0.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="225" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>John Strydom</B></div> <div> John moved to Emoyeni at the start of December 2006, but  rented a local cottage whilst his own cottage was being built on Emoyeni's land.  At the end of July 2007 he moved into his new cottage, with great delight. John is a retired psychologist and has a strong interest in non-dual philosophy... and cooking!  John is doing some of the cooking for Emoyeni, and he also leads some retreats.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="148"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="27" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="148" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="27" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="27" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="587" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 30 WIDTH="783"><div> <B>EMPLOYEES</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 250 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 160 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="31078960.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="250" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Grace Madia</B></div> <div> Grace started working part-time at Emoyeni in June 2006.  Her friendly attitude and hard work have been a welcome addition to Emoyeni's staff, and we have been able to leave her in charge of doing nearly all of the laundry and room preparation.  She also helps with general cleaning inside the buildings and house.  She works for Emoyeni twice a week, and for Maren and Mervyn once a week.</div> <div> Grace lives in Majakaneng with her children and grandchild.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 230 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 152 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="33c73900.jpg" border=0 width="115" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="230" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Danney Madia</B></div> <div> Danney started work at Emoyeni as gardener/groundsman in February 2008. He also  helps out with many other essential tasks that arise, such as fire-fighting, painting and general maintenance. </div> <div> His dream is to get a driver's license and get his own car. Sue is helping him with studying for his learner's license.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="148"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="23" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="148" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="23" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>A special tribute to</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="5" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="148" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 186 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="24a7fb20.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="42"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="256" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="42" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Steven Motlhabi</B></div> <div> Steven has contributed immensely to the creation of Emoyeni.  He is a qualified bricklayer and self-employed building contractor. His expertise and skill have transformed all the dilapidated ruins on our land into the functional buildings we are using today.  The beautiful meditation hall, which he and his team built from scratch, is his pride and joy.</div> <div> Steven and his family live in the informal settlement of Majakaneng, about 20 km from Emoyeni.  At the moment we provide transport for him and his team to get to work at Emoyeni, but he is in the process of realising a long-standing dream of owning his own bakkie.  This will not only make him more independent, but will also open up greater possibilities of him securing building projects further afield.  Steven does contract work at Emoyeni whenever we have a building project.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Past residents and employees</B></div> <div> Each person who appears below has lived and worked at Emoyeni for 3 months or longer.  All have helped to make Emoyeni what it is today, by doing the work that the Centre requires: washing dishes, cooking, shopping, doing room preparation, gardening, mending the roads, painting the buildings... as well as interacting with guests,  attending retreats, and, each in their own way, engaging in spiritual practice.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="348" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#336666" BORDERCOLORDARK="#336666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 238 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2317fae0.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="174" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Thabo Tlale</B></div> <div> <B>2005-7</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="179"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="238" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="179" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 228 WIDTH="150"><bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> No picture</div> <div> available</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Keren Leigh</B></div> <div> <B>2006/7</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="31282a20.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="162" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Robert Palmer</B></div> <div> <B>Feb-May 2007</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 225 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="2d67fa10.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="161" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul Whellock</B></div> <div> <B>2005/6</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="313a0860.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="134" ALT="Rocky" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Rocky (R.I.P)</B></div> <div> <B>2001 - 2006</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 235 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="2447aab0.jpg" border=0 width="122" height="171" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Paul Edwards</B></div> <div> <B> 2005</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="23d8ba70.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="167" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Helga Halvorson</B></div> <div> <B>2005</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 209 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="23f7f910.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="145" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Griselda Fowle</B></div> <div> <B>2004</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2417f8d0.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Lynne Crossley</B></div> <div> <B>2003/4</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 42 WIDTH="332"><div> <B>Michael Rodin</B></div> <div> <B>2003</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 42 WIDTH="332"><div> <B>Vernon Parr</B></div> <div> <B>2003</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 42 WIDTH="332"><div> <B>Simona Scheibitz</B></div> <div> <B>2001</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 42 WIDTH="332"><div> <B>Mario Olckers</B></div> <div> <B>2001</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>