Extraordinary Buddhist Teachers visiting the Region

Mind and Life Dialogue

We are delighted to tell you that an historic Mind & Life Dialogue will take place from 17–19 August in Gaborone, Botswana, just 160km from the Tara Rokpa Centre.

Tickets are now available for purchase by the general public. The theme of the dialogue is “The Practice of Botho/Ubuntu and its Renewal in African Society and Globally.”

Due to political sensitivities, the organizers of this Mind & Life Dialogue are promoting the event initially through word of mouth. Please use careful discretion when sharing information about this event.

The goal is to create viral awareness in Africa, and not elsewhere, so please prioritise reaching the people of the region and refrain from reaching out to the wider global audience.

Here are a few helpful guidelines for communicating by word of mouth: Please avoid sharing information that is searchable, public or permanent.

Please do not post information about the Mind & Life Dialogue on social media or on web sites.
Please prioritize reaching people in Africa when you share the news by email.
Please consider using this message as an email template, so your contacts also know to use discretion.

Examples of discrete, non-public sharing which is desireable:

Spoken
Email to select individuals (using this template)

Please visit BotswanaDialogue.org to get all the details and to purchase tickets.

As a complement to the historic Mind & Life Dialogue, TRC is holding a series of retreats with well-respected international teachers, focusing on practices to cultivate peace, kindness and compassion. The retreats will provide the opportunity to explore the concept of Ubuntu/Botho as a way of relating to the self, our loved ones and to the world around us.

As our regular guests know, the Tara Rokpa Centre (TRC) is a rustic retreat centre, focusing on health and healing, spiritual development and the preservation of the natural environment. New visitors to the Centre will find it located in the Groot Marico District, 250 km from Johannesburg and 160 km (100 miles) from Gaborone, nestled in a wooded valley, surrounded by perennial streams, in the North West Province of South Africa. The water is pure, the air is unpolluted and the night sky is fantastic.

Guests may wish to combine the Dialogue with a retreat and a safari. In this case, en route between Botswana and TRC is the well-known Madikwe Game Reserve, a popular safari destination, where guests can meet Africa’s Big Five.

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For these retreats, please complete the online booking form: https://goo.gl/forms/kp3VByarzR3Tc97N2

Calendar:

Friday 11th – Tuesday 15th August
Standing Like a Great Tree: The Practice of Fierce Equanimity
A 4-night retreat in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Led by monastics and dharma teachers from Plum Village, the retreat will provide an opportunity for participants to create peace within themselves by cultivating heart wisdom and relaxing into the wonders of the present moment. Joy, clarity and insight will be nurtured through the creative expression of yoga, dance and meditation. Full details on: http://www.tararokpacentre.co.za/TNH-Aug-2017

Thursday 17th – Saturday 19th August
Mind and Life Dialogue at the University of Botswana, Gaborone.
Please visit BotswanaDialogue.org to get all the details and to purchase tickets.

Sunday 20th – Saturday 26th August
The Power of Compassion: from Healing the Self, to Transcending the Self
A 6-night retreat with Choden, co-author of the book ‘Mindful Compassion’, with Paul Gilbert. The retreat will focus on compassion practices, helping to find place of stability within ourselves, and vital to the integrity and sustainability of the world we live in. Choden was a monk in the Kagyu tradition for 7 years. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Aberdeen, where he teaches an MSc in Mindfulness.
Full details on: http://www.tararokpacentre.co.za/mindful-compassion

Wednesday 30th August – Thursday 7th September
Retreat with Drupon Rinpoche and Kating Lama
This is the first visit of these great Buddhist teachers to South Africa. Drupon Rinpoche is a meditation master in the Kagyu tradition. He is Khenpo and Retreat Master at Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland, and Thrangu Monastery in Nepal. Kating Lama has been named successor to Lama Yeshe Rinpoche to take over as Abbot of Samye Ling and all its associated Buddhist Centres, such as TRC.
More information on: http://www.tararokpacentre.co.za/Kagyu-Sep-2017

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Accommodation:
There are three retreat venues on the 280 hectare property, comprising old farmhouses and eco-buildings, such as the Octagon meditation hall. The Main Site is used for healing, spiritual and educational retreats and accommodates 28 people in twin/double rooms and a dormitory. Tara’s Valley is used for personal practice, accommodating 7 and the Training Centre is used for Tikologo environmental training, and accommodates 10 participants. The rooms are simple and rustic, and there is a male and female dormitory. Other accommodation, for large retreats, is available in local farmhouses. All vegetarian meals, snacks and bedding are provided in the accommodation price.

Check in/out:
Check in from 4-6pm on the first day of the retreat. Check out after lunch on the last day of the retreat.

Transport:
Minibus transport will be provided to the Tara Rokpa Centre, for visitors coming from O R Tambo Airport (Johannesburg, South Africa), or from Gaborone, Botswana, before or after the Dialogue. The Centre can be found on Google Maps at https://goo.gl/6cd06e.

Weather:
In August, the average daytime high is 25°C and average nightime low is 6°C, but it can drop to below freezing at night. You are advised to dress in layers and bring a hat, scarf, gloves and a fleece jacket for the evenings, as the dining hall is outdoors.

Please bring:

Casual and comfortable shoes and clothing (for meditation, walking, hiking, etc.)
Bathrobe and slippers (for use in communal bathrooms)
Extra towels (TRC will provide one bath towel for the retreat)
Alarm clock (TRC is unable to provide a “wake-up call”)
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Reusable water bottle
Toiletries and personal care items

Visas:
Participants will need to ensure they have valid visas for South Africa.

Overseas Payments:
These are possible via Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card through Payfast: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/tararokpacentre
A deposit of R1800 will be required to reserve your place on the retreat, with final payment due one month before the retreat begins. Deposits are transferable to other participants, in the situation where you are unable to attend.

For these retreats, please complete the online booking form: https://goo.gl/forms/kp3VByarzR3Tc97N2

See you there!

Sincerely, the TRC Team

2017 Retreat Calendar