Volunteers

TRC is a special place. Where else in this fast-paced world do you find 280hectares of land run solely by volunteers? It’s not an impossible thing to find, but it’s definitely a rarity. 

This 280 hectares of land, where healing, environmental work, community support and dharma practice takes place, is strongly supported by the hard work of those who have felt a tug-of-the-heart to be here. 

At present, the centre is run by Pippa Cope – a mighty strong woman who has managed to lay the foundations for TRC. She has spent 13 years turning this land from a farm into a retreat space. She is beautifully compassionate and helpful towards the individuals of the informal settlement, and whenever something needs to be done, they always go to Pippa first. She stays here in deep dedication to Akong Rinpoche and serves as an inspiration to us all. 

Then there are the two permaculture enthusiasts – Coen & Megan - who have managed to get the environmental wing up and running. With their 3 year dedication to the centre, they have managed to start Tikologo which has added many beneficial elements to the landscape, such as: swales, a chicken coop, an orchard, a nursery and zone 1 garden that has truly enriched the previously bare soil. Their tireless work is enhancing the land and their water harvesting focus will aid the centre in many years to come. 

Alan, stays at the retreat centre. He is our Dharma Holder and serves as retreat support when people choose to come and spend some time in the serenity of Tara's Vally on personal retreat. He is or guiding light in this valley and every one who passes through here, especially the long-term volunteers, are grateful for his presence. We sometimes even joke that we should all wear bracelets that have WWAD printed on them...so that whenever we are in doubt we could look down and think 'What Would Alan Do?'

I am working in the office here – it’s not exactly a position that people are queuing up to fill but it’s kept me here, in this special place. I have learned more than I ever could have anticipated and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world. In fact, it has been so tremendously beautiful, that my TRC experience could serve as an offering. 

November hasn’t brought much rain but it has brought two new volunteers. First to arrive was Chesley – our smart cookie from Harvard. Chesley has a wonderfully sunny disposition and has completed her Biology degree and is enjoying her traveling fellowship from Harvard. After two years that has been set aside to see the world, she is hoping to study medicine. She has been swimming in waterfalls and river eyes and enjoying quiet evenings watering the TRC gardens. 

Then we have our nomad – Alex – whose travel route has been: London, Poland, Mozambique, and now, TRC. She is a great character who has a beautiful spiritual journey both behind and ahead of her. 

 

So, now that you know a bit about the team, here is what we got up to yesterday:

We packed the car with dogs, people and sandwiches and headed off to the Marico Oog. We arrived and set up an umbrella where we sat together and ate sandwiches and naartjies, and then we swam. And boy, did we swim! We jumped from rickety diving boards, and swam together through tunnels. Then, we made a team effort to swim over the actual eye. We swam through the fence and then made it to The Eye. 

The water was a deep, rich blue and the beams of light converged at the bottom, making for a spectacular sight. We sat on top of barrels that rest in the water, holding up a barge, and we chatted, meditated, sang and had fun playing ‘barrel wars’. 

Then, after a long day in the sun we headed home – to TRC – the place where all of our hearts rest each night. Our home where, together, we learn & grow, and at the same time, we help others, because TRC holds space for so many people who pass through here, providing much needed healing and rest. So, with that in mind and after a beautiful day together, we all closed our eyes with a soft smile on our faces, thankful for our time here.

Jami Selikow

Doe Oog in Groot Marico

Stay Positive

Almost everything we can read, see and think about anything in the world is an illusion, most especially in the "political" world. There is no substance to it. Remember impermanence of all things, even our sun will one day die. Focus on your own heart. This means ground yourself in caring for others, for all living beings, ground yourself in your own goodness, your peacefulness, your calm inner knowing that you are fortunate to be alive, that you are loved and your presence in this world is like a precious treasure. Appreciate small things. Walk on the grass, lean against a tree, watch birds, feel the sun's warmth, or rainfall on your skin, or watch the snowfall. Realise how mother Earth supports us all with vast generosity. Notice how bees work for the whole hive, for all of nature, offering sweetness, without expecting anything in return.
Enjoy this moment, now. Sing. Laugh. Keep positive.

Love,
Khareen Pech

Heat & Rain

The Heat came wafting through the land and decided to settle in our precious Valley. We don’t blame it, it’s really beautiful here, but we wouldn’t mind if he was simply a passing guest. Maybe a day or two, but more than that…well, we’re just not that much of a gracious host. 

River Swims

Waterfall Swims With New Friends From Happy Toes

We did do our best to keep him happy – we continued to work but made sure to travel to water each day for a little swim, we’re sure he enjoyed watching that. We also put pitchers of iced lemon and mint water from the garden on our lunch table, he must have really loved that. And at night, we all slept on top of our bedding, perhaps that made him giggle. 

When beautiful clouds began to grow in the sky, we rejoiced at the hint of Rain. But she passed over. Maybe Rain and Heat had a bit of a quarrel, we’re not sure – we don’t like to get involved in drama. So, we simply carry on, doing what we do – running this beautiful space that is Tara Rokpa Centre. 

Thirsty Orchard

Thirsty Dogs

We make sure all the buildings are up to scratch – cleaning the bedding and adding small touches that welcome our guests. We continue to nurture our gardens – ensuring the environment is looked after while at the same time providing organic food for our guests. We feed all the animals – because they’re adorable and we love them. 

And in the liminal spaces, we hold hope in heart that Heat and Rain resolve their conflict and merge once more in the sacred space of our Valley.  

Jami Selikow

A Sweet Lullaby of Raindrops

Strawberry popcorn

Sprouts after the rain

Each night the Valley has been singing us a sweet lullaby. The harmonious hush and hum falls in the pitter-patter of a raindrop blessing. Her valley-dwellers find serenity between sheet and blanket as her melody lowers us into our slumber.

When dawn greets the day and yawns emerge from sleepy faces, we are all one coffee away from a hard-days work. So up we get, as the freshly selected eggs crack into the pan, and by the time the coffee has infused, we are ready to fill our stomachs in preparation for the day ahead.

 With farm-hats on head and drawstrings tightened, we step into the gardens, orchards and fields. The sweet smells of rain-soaked soil fill the air as we bend our backs to toil the land. Beds are prepared and seeds are sewn, with a hope in heart for yet another night of rain.

After a beautiful day spent with the land, we prepare our dinners – smoke moves through the atmosphere and families gather in the chitter-chatter of the day gone by. And sure as anything, when we all tuck in at night, the sweet Valley remembers the hard work of those who call her home, and she fills her folds with her honeyed harmonies of rain on a thirsty ground.


Jami Selikow

Zone 1 Garden - near the TRC kitchen

Refining Our Minds

Three years after the passing of the beloved Akong Rinpoche, a group of Dharma brothers and sisters gathered under the guidance of Ken Holmes as we set out on a journey through the 7 point mind training of Lojong.

Ken served as the precious mentor, we were his open audience and Tara Rokpa Centre was the space in which this was all held. Amidst the teachings, Ken lovingly shared stories of the tremendous Bodhisattva work that Akong undertook in his life, and our hearts filled with inspiration, and love for the man that founded the very centre in which we sat.

After many precious opportunities to practice, we took some time out to sing Ken’s song that was written the day before Akong Rinpoche’s passing. Understandably, when the news of Akong’s death spread to all those who had a deep connection with him, it was a time of great pain, and so, Ken had not managed to look at the song since then.

With time gone by, Ken felt that this stay at TRC was the time to revisit these lyrics. With his recorder on, we sat together in the shrine room, learning the tender lyrics that poured from Ken’s heart. The sweet sounds from his guitar moved through us and filled the room. We tapped into our individual experiences of Tara Rokpa Centre and managed to sing his song with meaning, love and profound joy.

We spent a great deal of the 9 days discussing karma, and I think it became clear to see just how grateful we could all be, that our karma had lead us here, to TRC, together, with Ken, his teachings, and of course, his guitar.

Deep down in Tara’s valley
Is a rare and special place
That envelopes you in its beauty
And restores you with its grace
And restores you with its grace

Up high on Temple Hill
As you connect with the mandala wide
Both mind and nature thrill
Under colourful African skies
Under starlit African skies

In her flowing life-filled rivers
Waters fall, no trouble at all
Baboons croon and long grass quivers
Nature flows and harmonies call
Nature flows and harmony calls

The sun ablaze high in the heavens
Or crackling fire around which we sit
Energise, synthesise, warm the bones of the wise
Who meditate, integrate and therapise
Who meditate, integrate and therapise.

But as mother, Tara Earth is supreme
Holding and loving you in her arms
In a thousand hues of browns and greens
She heals and protects with secret charms
She heals and protects with secret charms

Tara’s wind, with its thousand perfumes
Brings pure, fresh air lifting up the mind
While in mud and brick of temple and rooms
Twisted life-knots relax and unwind
Twisted life-knots relax and unwind

Deep down in Tara’s valley
Is a rare and special place
That envelopes you in its beauty
And restores you with its grace
And restores you with its grace

Ken Holmes, Oct 7 2013

Jami Selikow

A First Time Retreat Treat

Having never been to a yoga retreat before, I approached my weekend at the Tara Rokpa Centre with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation. The theme of the retreat was Yoga and Mindfulness, but a previous title had been Yin and Yang Yoga, concepts that became familiar through our practice over the weekend. We were led through the retreat by Lucy Draper-Clarke and Steven Heyman, the perfect example themselves as a teaching duo of the balance found in yin and yang.

Partner Yoga session

Our daily routine consisted of a gentle morning yoga and mindfulness class, followed by breakfast. After this there would be another yoga class, tea break, yoga class and then lunch. If it sounds like an endless cycle of yoga and eating then that is not an entirely inaccurate description! But the food at the centre was so tasty and the yoga classes were so inspirational that I would happily have followed this yoga-food cycle on repeat forever.

In the afternoons we had a choice of activities; on the Friday a hike and on Saturday a trip to the Eye, a local attraction where you can swim in beautiful crystal clear water surrounded by water lilies. This was definitely a highlight for me and not an experience to be missed. In the evening we’d have dinner and then a pre-bedtime class to end the day. As it turned out my initial feelings of nervousness about going on a retreat were completely misplaced. The Centre is the perfect haven away from the bustle of Gauteng and the ideal location to take a break and unwind from the chaos of daily life. The retreat itself was a masterpiece of teaching, perfectly balancing the need to both challenge and nurture the students through their yoga and mindfulness practice. But personally for me the best part of the weekend was the wonderful people I met there. I was so inspired by everybody on the retreat and the different stories they had to tell me about the journeys they are on. I’m very grateful to have been part of such a special weekend and cannot wait to plan my next trip to the Tara Rokpa Centre.

The Yoga Tree, with Steph, Heather and Dina

 More photos on Heather's Facebook Album, here.

Yin and Yang Yoga Fun

• Nourished.
• Softened.
• Strengthened.
• Holding on, Letting go.
• Slow. Silence.
• Delicious.
• Senses, sensual and sensitive
• Awake, Present.
• Playful.
• Connected.

These were some of the words I wrote down after the 3-day Yoga and Mindfulness retreat led by Lucy Draper-Clarke and Steven Heyman at the Tara Rokpa Centre in the Groot Marico district.

Relaxing by the Farm Dam

Nourished - I felt completely and utterly nourished during and after this retreat. Johannesburg can be quite a draining and dry city: I felt parched when I arrived and full, sumptuous and juicy when I left.

Softened - Learning to soften. Soften the mind. Soften the body. There was an incredible balance of actively working with the mind and the body through yoga. The yin yoga practice before going to sleep was especially lovely in softening into the body, softening into a place of compassion, softening into the dream space in preparation for sleep.

Strengthened - On the Friday we could choose between a Compassion workshop with Lucy and an Inversion workshop with Steven. I decided to do the inversion workshop which was hard work, but really fun. Strengthened in so many ways and realizing the journey of strengthening different parts of the body for ‘going upside down’.

Holding on and Letting go - Noticing – through both the mind and the body – how we hold onto things – how they should be and then consciously, mindfully attempting to let this go and be present to what is.

Slow and Silence - On one of the last days we just walked in silence. But we walked really slowly. Like as slow as humanly possible. Have you ever done this? It is quite a beautiful thing: giving time to walking and sensing all the things involved in walking. Often we ate in silence too. Eating slowly. Noticing every bite. Investing in slowness and silence. Yes.

Delicious - While we are talking about food – the food at Tara Rokpa is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! Mmmmmmmmmmm!

Jumping in at the Eye

Senses, sensual, sensitive - Listening with all the senses. Maybe its because Tara Rokpa is a really special magical place or maybe its because on retreat you really pay attention. And when we pay attention everything becomes a heightened kind of experience. Engaging the senses on this retreat was especially wonderful and something I brought back to Jo’burg.

Awake and Present – What follows on from this is a feeling of being really present in the world and really awake to what is. This can be scary in some ways (ignorance is bliss), but it can also be really enlivening and a really honest way to live. I felt more awake and energized in my body through the yoga and mindfulness practice. Thank you!

Playful – The play force is strong with these two facilitators! And that's why I went. I often find that sometimes we can take ourselves a little bit too seriously to be the best that we can be in all the things we do. When we adopt a playful outlook on life it’s more about trying things out, possibly failing, laughing at oneself and then trying again. The contact yoga was especially fun! I was given the opportunity to lead a short experience in play on the Saturday night. We walked, we ran, we shouted, we were also zombies. It was a lot of fun and a great way to connect :-)

Connected – not at all with my phone! With myself, with the people that I got to know better there, with my relationship to my thoughts and my mind and my body, with sleep, with food, with all the senses, with the natural world, with the earth, with water, with the air and with what is.

Thank you Lucy, Steven, Pippa, Megan and everyone else and all the dogs and wonderful wild things at Tara Rokpa.

See you soon.
Anthea Moys