Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat

DHARMAGIRI – UMVULENI MOUNTAIN  A Place of Opening Remembering Learning Growth Dreams & Connection offering Insight Meditation, Mindfulness Dharma Teachings & Interfaith Retreats Indigenous Wisdom, Plant-Based Diet & Healing Modalities   Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat is on the border of South Africa and Lesotho near Underberg, KZN. It was founded in 2000 by Kittisaro (from the U.S.A) and Thanissara (from the U.K), two former Buddhist monastics trained in the Thai Forest Tradition, and is guided by them and Chandasara (from S. Africa), a former monastic who also trained in the same tradition, and Sacred Mountain Sangha, an affiliated community of South African and International Dharma practitioners. We who practice, guide, and teach here, hold a dream that healing and liberation is the birth right of all. This is catalyzed through contemplative practices that reconnect with the core of who we are, beyond the masks we wear, at the timeless level of our being. We offer guided silent meditation retreats, self-retreats, and a range of shorter retreats that promote physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We uphold an ethos of open inquiry and self-empowerment, while offering teachings and practices that encourage the cultivation of mindfulness, insight meditation (vipassana), compassion, integrity and wisdom. Our intention is to help all people find peace and clarity in their lives and to live harmoniously and harmlessly with each other, our communities and world.

By Bongani, December 2019

My journey to Dharmagiri was a form of deeper happiness. I learned a lot of  philosophical knowledge on how to face the reality of life. Buddhism is a philosophy that is focused on the mind and its complexity which includes delusions, misunderstanding and cravings. These factors are formally described as suffering in buddhist philosophy. Fortunately, Dharmagiri offers various tools for all people regardless of gender, age, race, creed or religion to attain a state of higher consciousness and mindful practice which gives understanding of why the sufferings of life occur and how to transcend these sufferings.

The postive energy that I experienced at Dharmagiri is also supported by the exposure to nature, noble silence, observation of the five ethical precepts, the Sangha (Spiritual Community), and the healthy food that is offered; when these ingredients are put together they create energy which harmonises the inner-self which is the true self.

I personally recommend Dharmagiri for everyone who wants to connect deeply with their inner-self. Spiritual aspirants at the beginning stages of their practice and those that are at advanced levels will definitely benefit from the retreat courses offered at Dharmagiri, the place is supportive for attaining spiritual progress.

 I did a self retreat for two weeks and I feel mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually recharged. This a blessing that every being deserves to experience.

 

Feedback from “Awakening the Heart of Compassion” with Sue Cooper – 25^th Sept – 3^rd Oct.

To Sue, I cannot tell you enough how much the retreat has saved me and shown me the way to live again. From the bottom of my heart I am deeply appreciative of your wisdom, love and care. To everyone who makes Dharmagiri possible, the silence of the place is healing and a sacred energy certainly has a powerful energy. I wish to thank you for looking after us in every way. The food has been outstanding, opening the possibility for me to become vegetarian. I’ve felt incredibly held and supported with healing energy since I arrived. With love and peace – Stephen Laverack x

Dearest Sue and the Dharmagiri family – A deep thank you from the bottom of my heart. This has been a transformative and compassionate week, held so tenderly by Sue’s caring and skilful teaching and nurturing. Such beautiful people that formed the Sangha – thank you. And tp the staff of Dharmagiri, you are angels – thank you for everything. I will be back to feel the ground of sacred Dharmagiri. All my love and sincere gratitude – Margie

Sue and the Dharmagiri Team, My gratitude is boundless for allowing this space for me to return home to myself. Everyday has been filled with a million beautiful moments that have woven together to form a tapestry of healing softening and grounding. I hope we meet again. Love and gratitude, Tom

Sue, thank you for creating and holding a space of such compassion and presence that I felt safe enough to ‘bear the unbearable’ and return to myself and body in a way that feels more whole, peaceful and present than I perhaps ever have experienced. Chandasara, thank you for exquisite presence and gentle awareness and strength. Martin, thank you for the infinite loving care of the buildings and environment which makes possible our healing and deep psychological, spiritual work. Penny-Jane, thank you for your ever present warmth, efficiency and support which hold this system together. Margarethie, what can I say? The food, the hugs, the love. xxx Sally

Dear Sue, the staff at Dharmagiri and all the fellow travellers, Thank you for holding this beautiful space with such delicacy and warmth: it has been a rare treat. Take great care. With much love. x

Dear Sue – it has been so restorative being held by your loving, gentle, knowing presence in this incredibly beautiful, raw, authentic space… where the majestic strength of mother mountain is held so preciously by the soft Sangha who tend to the land and lovingly nurture all those whose feet land here looking for softness in an often brutal World… thank you, thank you, for your teachings and love, and to Chandasara, Martin, Penny-Jane and Margarethie for taking such good care of us and everything you do to keep Dharmagiri open and accessible to weary travellers… may you be blessed. Always. With much love and deep gratitude, Ayesha

EAT, PRAY, LOVE – All gloriously packaged right here, thank you – Chornay

Dear Sue, Words cannot fully express my gratitude for your generosity, kindness, compassion and dedication. You embody the teachings in such an amazing way. I have been deeply touched by the theme of authentic presence that has been so deftly woven into the teachings of the retreat. There are so many, many examples of authentic presence at Dharmagiri that create such a container within which I am able to touch into my authentic presence – This magnificent sacred mountain; The quiet, solid presence that is constantly here in you Chandasara – thank you for being you! Martin – thank you for your beautiful;, creative and lovingly made paths – brought me so many steps of joy. Thanks you to for the walk up the mountain and the warm cosy fires, ringing the bell in the mornings and taking out photo. Penny-Jane, thank you for your gentleness, your smile, generosity and care – so nurturing. Margarethie, I feel so nourished by your wonderful food – made with such love. I also appreciated your warmth and your ready smile and the twinkle in your eye. I also appreciate the attention to detail in making us feel so welcome and at home. I will be taking so much back with me. Until we meet again. Much love and gratitude – Ingrid

 

Feedback from Chandasara following ” Unchain the Mind”, a weekend writing retreat with Bobby Marie

 Allowing thoughts to arise and flow, words on paper, creative ideas, powerful voices in a complex, contradictory, unjust and confusing world.  And when we let them go, we discover deep inside, a quiet, a field in which new and authentic thoughts are free to sprout.

That we struggle to turn our thoughts into powerful and original writing, is not simply about our grasp of the rules of grammar or vocabulary.  It is about the inner blocks and censors that have settled in our minds.

In this retreat we worked with writing and meditation within the natural and quiet beauty of Dharmagiri to see these inner blocks, oppressors and censors clearly, and to by-pass them in order to allow the flow of words on to the page with sincerity and honesty.  This was not a traditional “writing skills workshop”.  It was a space where we could explore the power of our own words in the form of writing.

Bobby  offered us a space, some ideas and support to assist us to design own writing practice that would allow our thoughts to flow freely as words into writing.  The retreat combined a process of meditation sitting, walking, or just being quiet, with writing – with filling blank pages with words.

The writing that emerged during the retreat follows in a compilation of our pieces put together by Bobby after the retreat together with a description of the processes that Bobby used to help us write freely and to offer each other our experiences as listeners when we read out some what we had written to each other.

The retreat was a fascinating journey into flowing with and through words with each other – learning of each others’ struggles – life struggles and writing struggles – reflecting on different viewpoints and  how we navigate our way through these differences – sharing moments of pathos with each others’ suffering, moments of joy in playing with each others’ words, and moments of surprise as we discovered what others hear from us – at times quite different from what we imagined we were conveying!

It was also a wonderful exploration of the interplay between form and formlessness: between letting words flow out as thought forms into word forms on paper, and then allowing all the words to dissolve back into the silence of meditation – going beyond the words and forms to merge into the background awareness where we watch it all appear and disappear back into stillness again.

So we wanted to share the experience which for each of us was so very rich – and here it is!

 

 

 

Feedback from Being Dharma – July 2018 with Kittisaro and Thanissara

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for wonderful retreat. Blessings Moyra

A precious gift from start to end with so many benefits that will carry me on. With love, Vicky

Words fall silent before the beauty and depth of the past 10 days – Jonathan

Dharma, Dharma, Dharma – everywhere here – from the power of the mountain to the beauty of Kittisaro and Thanissara. I will hold in my heart the the exquisitely compassionate practice I’ve discovered here. From my heart to all here, Dow

Dear Teachers, Thanks from the heart for your deeply intimate, integrated & peaceful sharings of your lives experiences and paths. It was a great privilege to sit and listen deeply to your accumulated but also immediate and spontaneous wisdom and compassion. I also loved the fluid and gentle attitude towards the unfolding of the days on retreat; working with the present rather than any preconceived ideas of a program, and I felt energised by the intuitive, heart-felt style. Also lovely and enlightening for me to hear your often very amusing anecdotes about Ajahn Chah whose biography I will seek out and read eagerly and admiringly on return to Cape Town. All things being equal, Anja will reengage with you next year in April & I hope I also have the opportunity to reconnect some time with your authentic

Feedback from Understanding Our True Connection with Nature with Mandaza & Chandasara

Mvuleni has always been a powerful presence embracing Dharmagiri in its lap. After this transformative retreat with Mandaza, through him she has woken up the ancient, sleeping ones within her heart. They have begun a palpable, sacred drum beat. And now, within and without, the pulse of her heart is reverberating across the Worlds, reminding us how much she loves us all. Thank you Mandaza for waking Mother Nature up within our own hearts. I can’t imagine a better way towards healing the damage we have inflicted on our Earth. Nor a more profound way to heal ourselves. – Robyn

A retreat with Mandaza, a precious gift. Being with the mountains and bubbling stream. Listening. Thank you Dharmagiri for this beautiful retreat space. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. – Sandy G

A very inspiring retreat – action – inspiring. Many thanks and all the very best to all of you! – Chris

A rich and enlightening experience. Thank you all so much. – Carol

Wonderful (heart) – Ulli

A most memorable experience. Thank you to the enlightened ones, the staff and Dharmagiri for this life changing experience. Memories always close to my heart. Thank you God for this opportunity! Dharmagiri : Always. – Love Lorraine

Thank you for providing a place to learn and grow. I leave with an unexpected enthusiasm to live gently on this earth. To all of you who work here I wish you so much peace and happiness. x Lynne

Chandasara, Dharmagiris resident teachers reflections after Mandazas Retreat “Understanding our True Connection with Nature”

The theme for this retreat was: understanding our true connection with nature.  What emerged from the experience for me was not so much ‘understanding’ as waking up to a living oneness with nature – of being gently reabsorbed into nature –  the sense of separation between ‘me’ and ‘nature’ softly fading away and being replaced by a vivid sense of oneness, of belonging, of being of the same fabric.  Something perhaps like Thich Nhat Hahn’s ‘interbeing’ including all and everything.  Mandaza spoke of it as the great spider web of Spirit that interconnects everything in the universe.

On reflection it seems to me that this sense of separation is something that I unconsciously create when I withdraw from an active relationship with the abundance all around me – because it was through consciously engaging with this abundance that the vibrant sense of oneness sprang out of its dormancy and into life.

On the first day of the retreat we were awakened to the earth.  We sat outside on the rocks and grass in the beautiful spaces cleared by Martin, beside the stream flowing and babbling down from the mountain, and were asked to identify all the other communities present there with us: the grasses, mosses, flowers, trees, soils, minerals, insects, mammals, birds – in the earth, on the earth, above the earth.  Our group identified over 70 within a very short time.  We looked at just some of their roles and contributions to the web of life.  In simply bringing this to mind, an awareness of the abundance of interconnected support all around us arose together with an awareness of our forgetfulness as humans – of our dismissive disregard for all that gives and supports our life  when we imagine ourselves to be separate and superior.  We blindly blunder on in our arrogance, caring little for the source of our lives or for the wellbeing of future generations.

This led to a lot of discussion about how this way of conceiving ourselves leads to such flagrant abuse and destruction of that upon which we depend for our lives and wellbeing.  Mandaza spoke of all that we receive from the earth and how the earth receives all our waste, transforming it into fertile life-sustaining nutrients.  He asked how often we say ‘thank you’ to the earth, how often we give back to the earth by seeing, feeling, noticing, appreciating, tending and caring for the earth and all her communities?  Later in the day we were encouraged to take a handful of seeds and go out to the places on the land that we feel a special bond with and express our gratitude by giving some seeds back to the earth as a gesture of recognition and thanksgiving.  It is difficult to describe how powerfully meaningful and moving it felt to do this. And the earth took her rightful place as our mother.

On the second day of the retreat we were awakened to water.  We began by talking about water – its qualities, attributes, roles and contribution.  A rich dialogue followed about water – the beauty and functions of its various forms like ice, snow, rain, rivers, ocean, mist, steam; its volume and extent on the earth and in our bodies and all other bodies, its network of streams and rivers and oceans, its life-giving and sustaining role, its role in circulating carbon dioxide, cleaning the air and maintaining the atmosphere, its molecular structure and capacity to respond to sound and other forms of energy, the pleasure we feel in playing and bathing in water….and so much more.  And then Mandaza asked us, each one individually, instead of speaking about water as if it is something separate from us, to speak as water about water’s contribution to the web of life: “I am water, I ……”  And water came to life within us.

In the afternoon Mandaza took us each through a water ritual at the stream after which we spent time on our own outside contemplating our individual experience of the ritual.  In the evening we began to talk about dreams and listening to the messages that come through our dreams – both for ourselves individually and communally.  So began the process of integrating the dream world into the healing of our wholeness.  Each morning then began with a dream circle where we shared the dreams we could remember from the night before and shared what we saw in each others’ dreams.  And the messages lived among us.

Dialogues continued through the remaining days on our purpose as humans on earth, on our relationships with our partners, families, children, elders and ancestors, on race and gender, on what love is, on the languages that we use – of love and hate and gossip, on leadership, on service, on prayer, on healing, on forgiveness and justice in our personal and national lives, on living in peace. Interspersed among the dialogues were meditations, laughter, play, song, and drumming. And the birds and butterflies came to join us.

I was left feeling both immense joy and sadness.  Joy at the taste of fulfilment of a deep yearning from childhood for this immersed attunement with all that is – and sadness at the tragedy of what has been lost and devalued through the alienation and arrogance of human hubris. May we yet have the humility and courage to ask for the help we need from the wisdom keepers among us for the wellbeing and joy of present and future generations of all life on our planet.

Feedback from: Still Clear Water – Transformation through Mindfulness with Chandasara and Nolitha. 30 March – 8 April

Thank you for inviting us to serve in a very special way – the kitchen provided a special place for our personal retreat – Anthony & Jennifer – who cooked at the Easter retreat 2018.

Gratitude is a word that does not begin to convey the inch I leave with. Snakes, lizards, vultures anve reminded me I exist. Much love to the mountain for abiding with me in joy and chitter chatter. Nolitha & Chandasara your dance is spellbinding, crystal clear and moved me. I use inch as a metaphor for this journey in which practice makes practice. Martin the Saint of Dharmagiri, the candles were so pretty tonight. Thanks for the guided walks, they make my heart clap – Lorna.

Thank you for the gift of this place, for the teachings, the love, the support. It’s been a wonderful time! – Andrew

Sebene Selassie – Sacred Experience
I had one of the most beautiful and profound retreat experiences Ive ever had at Dharmagiri. The energy of the mountain mixed with the serene and simple retreat center was a powerful combination for inward reflection. The staff were attentive and kind and almost seemed to be on retreat with us even while doing their jobs. There is something incredibly sacred about this center and you can feel it in the private and shared spaces. The accommodations are comfortable and well taken care of and the meals are nourishing and wholesome. im planning to come back (from the U.S.) next year for another retreat and would recommend it to anyone.

 

Moyra Keane – Finding a place of belonging
Dharmagiri has been a place of extraordinary connection to nature, Africa, the Dharma and Sanga. I find staying there profoundly affecting while at the same time homely and welcoming. Kittisaro and Thanissara are extraordinary teachers – the retreat centre has a sense of timeless Belonging

Robyn Sheldon – Inspiring and rejuvenating second home
I love Dharmagiri; I love the expansive mountain with its fresh air and exhilarating walks at the end of a day of sitting. I love the integrity of the teachers. I love the fact that it feels like home; it settles into my bones the moment I first sit on a cushion after arriving – like a deep out-breath. I love the spaciousness of non-judgment and humility there. I love the laughter and warmth which can so often be missing in retreat settings. I love the conscious awareness of our wounded country and how that is held with tenderness and compassion. I love the many prayers that have honoured Kwan Yin, so that her palpable presence now over-lights the entire mountain. I have such gratitude for Dharmagiri in my life. Thank you Kittisaro, Thanissara and all the many wonderful people who have created and maintained her over the years.

 

Peter Woods – Ancient energies converge in African Wilderness
I have been retreating to Dharmagiri for some years and still cannot adequately describe the transcendent, transcultural but above all transformational energies inherent in the Mvoleni (Zulu=Place of Rain) mountain. What Kittisaro and Thanissara have created here as the fruit of their Buddhist monastic practice and quintessential humanity taps into and continues centuries of shamanic activity in this valley. This legacy continues in a lineage of creative residential and visiting teachers offering profound teachings and also on silent, solitary self-retreats. The comfortable accommodation and lacto-vegetarian menu enhance the homecoming to your true self. In the end, you will simply have to come and experience the magic first hand.

 

Feedback from Solwazi Johnson & Nobantu Mpotulos retreat: Reclaim Health & Wellbeing – December 29 to 2nd January 2018

Thank you very much for a very diverse and interesting retreat.  I learnt a lot of new techniques and approaches and made some major breakthroughs in my meditation practice.  A wonderful sangha and the beautiful, tranquil place with its friendly staff made it even more enjoyable.  May peace and happiness be upon you all.  Chris, iMonti, EC.

Passionate leaders – a committed sangha – all together a true transformation.  Thank you.

We would very much welcome anyone from the group to join us for practice at our house in Durban North. Jono and Cathy

Beautiful place, beautiful practice.  Thank you for holdng the space so gently and with wise ease – Solwazi, Nolitha and Nobantu! Melani.

A whole drawn together by a beautiful group of people, held gently by Solwazi, Nolitha and Nobantu in a soft space. Christi.

Thank you, Dharmagiri.  Been here for 15 days, but even from the first night I got a sense of coming home.  As I am new in South Africa that was a very nourishing feeling to me.  The quiet welcoming and accepting atmosphere feels relaxing and the astonishing nature that holds the place births a connecting to the truth of our nature within and without.  Much love from Lise from Denmark.

 

Feedback from Sue Coopers retreat: Open the Heart and Still the Mind – 26^th September to 1^st October 2017

Wonderful to finally make the “pilgrimage” here.  As ever a sacred space and time to reflect. Deep thanks to staff at Dharmagiri and Sue Cooper.

A true blessing – a sacred space of being & becoming. Thank you Dharmagiri for everything, & Sue for wholeheartedness.  Doreen

My heart is full of gratitude, Love, Laughter & Lightness. Thanks for your hospitality – it feels like home away from home.  Ntsai

My deepest gratitude to Dharmagiri, the teachings, Martin, Chandasara & Peter! Time stood still and the heart is open.   Andy

Looking back it seems impossible that I managed to find this peace. Nothing is accidental & I feel I am called back here. How inconvenient that is it on the other side of the world! Even more impossible is that I am able to make it back this year. I hope to make this my yearly pilgrimage. Thank you to Chandasara & Martin for holding such a supportive & nurturing presence. Thank you to Peter for his generous contribution to this time. Thank you to Sue – words cannot convey her support & compassion. Thank you to Dharmagiri. Until next time.   Michelle USA

I call this the place of my rebirth.  Chornay

To Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat, my heart is larger & fuller for having been here. Thank you for the kindness & generosity of those who, from the beginning, made this sacred place possible, & to those who continue to support & nurture it’s life. Thank you to Chandasara & Martin for holding the space so beautifully, & to Peter for his delicious & thoughtful food. Love,  Francis

This place reminds me of the mountain area where I grew up in Switzerland. I could deeply connect to my very damaged inner child & continue with great hope, my process of recovery. I am eternally grateful for the heart gifted people running & helping to improve as much as possible this wonderful place, supporting our journey. Thanks to Chandasara, Martin, Peter, Sue, my wife, the other friends & fellow retreatants for this amazing support. Dharmagiri & the sacred mountain will be

Feedback From Dharmagiri June/ July Month Retreat

Deep thanks to Dharmagiri and all our retreatants, from South Africa, the US and the UK, who accompanied us during our recent month of retreat. How precious to have the opportunity to share silence, sangha, and a wealth of good teachings together on this beautiful sacred mountain – bowing before dawn to mantra and the sound of the wood fire, seeing sunrise on the hills before morning chanting, and sitting together later as the birds quieten and darkness falls at the end of the afternoon. Thanks also to our wonderful cooks Peter, Chris and Christopher and to Martin for taking such good care of us and safely leading our weekly silent walking day. And to Jane for her logistical support and transporting our participants. Altogether a truly nourishing retreat experience which we are looking forward to offering again in future.
With bows,
Jaya and Chandasara

Feedback from A Taste of Freedom on the Sacred Mountain with Sue Cooper

My first retreat, but certainly not my last! the healing and self love and kindness I was able to connect with here at Dharmagiri surpasses the last decade of therapy and medication. How grateful I am to have found this retreat with such an amazing teacher, mountain, food, energy and people at this exact time in my life. I am confident these teachings will aid in my traversing this journey of life. With much love, kindness and gratitude. – Michelle.

Thank you Sue for an amazing experience. I am so grateful for the amazing & beautiful landscape that opened my heart. Thank you Dharmagiri for introducing me to the Good Enough Mother; I am hoping that I too would learn to listen to the cries of the world with ease. – Mdadi.

Sue, Martin, Chandasara, Meryl, and the cat. There aren’t enough words od facial gestures I can muster to show my gratitude. Sue, your teachings applied will last for the rest of my life. Martin – yes, I know there are snakes! Chandasara, thank you for being my chemist. Meryl, you need to do cooking reteats! The cat, stay classy. With all my heart, most love & light to each of you. – Jovana.

Thank you very much for this beautiful place. Thank you for the retreat. Martin, Meryl & Chandasara you made our stay a blessed one. May you be well. – Teboho.

My heart feels well. My mind has found ease. There is a holy peace at Dharmagiri, that passes all understanding. I am blessed to have shared this Noble silence with such exceptional sisters whose witness and testimony have helped me. I am moved & so grateful to Sue for sharing her gift & teachings. Enkosi to all at Dharmagiri. May it always be a resting place for weary travelers. Makube chosi kube hele. In light & love.  – Ntombi.

It’s such a honor, such a privilege to return to Dharmagiri. Chandasara & Martin’s kindness & generosity reach deep into the soul. Meryl has nourished & sustained us from her kitchen. And Sue has again astonished & amazed us with her teachings, merging together the East & the West, weaving gently & tenderly the wisdom & compassion of the physician of the soul & of the Boddhisatva of compassion. My all beings be well, be at ease, & know peace. – Kelly.

Thank you for holding us in such peace & harmony Sue. Everything was perfect. Thank you meryl, Martin & Chandasara. Much gratitude. – Anja.

With gratitude, so expressing my deepest thanks for the beautiful retreat you held Sue! Sue, Chandasara, Meryl & Martin holding us in harmony, calm & peace touched my heart. Your dedication & love is incredible. May the Triple Gem bless you. – Judith.

Feedback from the Yatra retreat with Chandasara & Martin

Thank you for the amazing food, there are few places that I can eat. I am grateful for the environment created at Dharmagiri by Martin and Chandasara, to get in touch with self & my higher purpose. – Philip

Here I found a place to be amongst the sacred mountains in the care and togetherness of beautiful souls. Thank you for helping me to honor the call of love inside of me … and you. Gabrielle
Meditating, yoga, eating, talking & walking. I carry a memory of the last day as we wandered back from lunch at the big rock: strung out along the path with the Drakensberg Escarpment in the distance, blue sky above – reminding me of what I came to seek. – Dan

My brief retreat at Dharmagiri left me with one clear mission: to return for more. The location, Chandassaras guidance, and the handful of amazing retreatants created the perfect Triple Jewel. Dharmagiri offers a unique experience in part because it is so small, setting a natural limit to the number of participants, and hence ensuring more repeated, deepening interaction with the whole group (if there is interaction, which there was on this particular retreat). What a privilege to watch and hear a handful of other pilgrims unfold as they pursued their individual paths. Kittisaro and Thanissara, thank you for creating such a magical haven. Chandassara, thank you for your gentle and wise guidance. Dharmagiri is half way across the world for me, but as I noted, Ill be back. – Nicolas.

Feedback from Healing through the Enneagram with Anita Craig.

Thank you Anita for sharing your knowledge & wisdom with us. I feel truly blessed & humbled at your capacity & willingness to give us all the “pattern for the key” which will help us to unlock the door to greater knowledge. Thank you to all at Dharmagiri for opening your doors & hearts to me. I will return. – Eve

Thank you Thanissara for inviting me. Thank you Anita and the team; Ian, Jane, Eve, Peter, Chandasara for making it such a rich transforming and healing experience. Thank you Martin, Meryl & Paul for the loving care & protection. I love Dharmagiri.  – Fortune

Feedback from Qigong & Beyond with Max Weier

A sacred space, a sacred place, The opening & encompassing chi has lovingly encompassed me. I shall return once more as the sacred mountain calls. – Sharleen

A perfect balance ……. the Qigong, energy of Master Max and the generous cpmpassion of Dharmagiri & its staff. Our humble thanks and good wishes. May we meet again soon. – Dianne

Oh so good to be here again. Thank you Max for your abundance & spirit. Thank you Martin for the steadfastness with which you keep the fires burning, stable doors up & afdalkkies just right. Thank you Chandasara for the joy of witnessing your new Dharmagiri branches & Paul for the fine food & the swim at Riverland. For all that I may or may not pick up when I return to life as usual, the long breath of Qigong will keep me inspired. A deep bow to you all. Namaste, much love, – Lorna

Thank you Max for this settling and balancing of the chi. This has beena precious time out of a busy space. Thank you for holding this sacred mountain sanctuary. Love, – Mari

Thank you Max for focusing our awareness, expanding our awareness of inner body in balance with the outer physical body, in balance with the world around us. This has been a precious sacred time and I hope to return to Chi Kung on the sacred mountain. Thank you Chandasara for your quiet steady presence, to Martin & to paul for the wonderful food. Much love, – Lyndy

As a machine needs service and maintenance, so too do our hearts & souls, body & minds. Dharmagiri is a workshop for our being, a sacred space, where lovingly & gently the mechanics of our consciousness are tuned and centred by skilled engineers. We are blessed by this love. – Ian & Daniella

i leave with a sense of sacred spaciousness deep within. Thank you Max for your generous spirit which which you sared your Qigong. Thank you Martin & Chandasarafor your quiet & gentle care. Thank you Paul for your nourishing food & especially for the Portuguese custard tarts!!! Thank you Dharmagiri & thank you Thanissarar & Kittisaro. Deep love,  – Barbara

Feedback from LucyDraper-Clarkes retreat: New Year Intentions & Yoga January 19th to 22nd

Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome. What a wonderful group of practitioners.

Thank you for this sacred space where we can come to nourish our souls – as well as our bodies! with Pauls delicious food. Lucy was wonderful & I will certainly be back.

Thank you for this wonderful & gentle introduction to the world of the retreat. My mind & my heart feel very full. Travel safe everyone.

Feedback from Sue Coopers Integrated Awakening: Opening the Heart retreat 30th Oct – 5th Nov 2016:

Dear Martin, Chandasara and Paul, Thank you for a beautiful, nurturing space and retreat which enabled us to really relish our time here.  Blessing to you all.  – Elloise.

Paul – the food was epic.

Thank you so very much for your loving kindness and compassion in making this space a special experience.  Thank you for your silent support and the most fantastic food.  Thank you.  – Michelle.

 May this beautiful soul sanctuary be kept alive to nourish the kind hearts of searching souls.  It has been an honour to feel so loved by the generosity of those that have made dharmagiri possible.  Namaste.  – Blaire.

 Thank you Paul, Martin, Chandasara and Sue for holding us with such love and care.  I feel immense gratitude at all the gifts I am taking away with me.  I have loved spending time on the mountain again, loved the thunderstorms, rain, wind, beautiful sunsets, sound of the jackals.  My soul feels replenished.  Much much love. – Ingrid.

 I found a different and vibrant side of me here.  I will be eternally grateful.  Thank you for creating this space.  – Lidalize.

 Dear Chandasara, Martin and Paul, my deepest and sincerest gratitude for your love and nurturing.  This is an amazingly and beautiful gift to us all.  – Andy.

Thank you Martin, Chandasara and Paul for such wonderful care and support and fabulous food, fire and friendship.  Love and metta,  – Sue.

 I am so grateful to this place, a real treasure I feel it is.  Thank you chandASARA, Martin and Paul for the lovely food, and the quiet support.  It is a true and wonderful gift that I was allowed to find this place, the mountain was calling me, but I have found far more than that.  I will be back, inshalla, next year.  – Sonja.

 Thank you, thank you for this beautiful place, which has created such a fertile ground for the nurturing I feel.  I feel so whole and cared for and light.  Michelle – USA.

Open the Heart, Still the Mind – Meditation & Psychospiritual Retreat with Sue Cooper:
This was a most special place for us to revitalise body, mind, soul & spirit. We have been blessed with three very different retreats this year and certainly grateful to be called to this ancient land and mountain & to be taught in a most wise & caring way, the oldest teachings of wisdom & love. Thanks to all & especially to Sue for opening our hearts and mind:  – Jenny

 

Quantum Theory & Self Reflection with Gavin Robertson:
Thank you, Gavin and everyone at Dharmagiri for a most insightful weekend. I feel  like Ive reached places in myself that have been inaccessible for a long time and am going home with a new clarity! – Kate

 

Walking the Berg: From Separation to Seamless Reality with Dain Peters & Thanissara:
I left the desert, where I learnt what the heart wants, the mind requires, and the imagination feeds. I was waiting in the oceans, where I found out what the body needs. To finally arrive in the mountains, where I understood what the spirit grounds. Thank you with all my heart. – Melissa

Beyond Identity: Exploring Race & Culture in South Africa with Nolitha Tsengiwe & Chandasara:
What remains with me from this retreat is both a sense of the immensity of the task of bringing about healing and reconciliation in the relationship among races in South Africa and a sense of respect for the courage and resilience needed in working towards that healing and reconciliation. It seemed apparent to me that we are all in need of restoration of our basic human modesty, dignity, and relatedness out of our respective internalised conditionings of privilege and oppression.

Insight Dialogue with Ajahn Sukacitto:
The most striking aspects of this retreat for me were the broadening of interpersonal empathy and connection it made possible, the heightened and sustained level of mindfulness it enabled, and the deepening of insight it facilitated through meditative dialogue.

Healing the Cracks with Ajahn Sucitto:
My heart feels full after spending an awesome week with mountains, mist and fellow pathfinders. Deep love and gratitude for leading us Ajahn. – Bronwen

Being Dharma with Kittisaro & Thanissara:
I dont have words enough… Thank you for finding, creating, being Dharmagiri. Thank you, Kittisaro & Thanissara, for being “off the map” for so long and cultivating this beautiful, profound and integrated expression of the Dharma. Love – Sebene 

Dharma Based Mindfulness with Kittisaro & Thanissara:
I had an incredible stay here and Ive learned a lot during the retreat. The beautiful surroundings helped create this magical place together with Kittisaro & Thanissara, Martin, Chandasara. Im really grateful for this opportunity. – Josefine

Keeping it Simple with Katrin auf der Heyde:
Tough, exhilirating, gentle. A varied, rich and humble retreat. Dharmagiri is an amazing establishment. I am deeply grateful for the experience of the last 4 days.  – Stephanie.

Gratitude, disciplince, joy. I spent most of this journey on the verge of laughing, and for that I am very grateful. Thank you. – Zak

Calming the Mad Mind: Knowing the Illuminated Heart with Kittisaro & Chandasara:
Snow-capped mountains this morning as were leaving. Weve had all possible weather conditions on this retreat, like the impermanence of everything, ever-changing. Profound teachings in this magical place. Such incredible kindness and generosity, and many luminous hearts. Feel inspired, humbled, incredibly privileged to have been here. Deep gratitude and love, – Tom & Isabelle.

Ubuntu Tour 
What an amazing experience! – Eric
Pure magic – thank you! – Gail
Returning – as magic as ever. – Hal
One of my favourite places – peace and solitude. – Marie
A sacred place and magical visit. – Beth
Its such a beautiful space. – Brain
Such an amazing place. – Dorothy