Dear friends,
This past year at Poplar Grove has been busy and interesting. The main project for 2009/2010 was the building of the koppiekamer, a hermitage built into the side of a rocky hill near the house; that is now complete and we have already had a retreatant in residence for a six-week solo retreat. There are now ten comfortable rooms for single persons or couples, so we can accommodate as many people for retreats as we can handle. For short-term guests the cottage has proved to be popular, especially over the holiday seasons when people are on the road – we are, after all, in the middle of the country and in just the right place to stop over and take a breath.
As I write this, our new end-of-year project is under way with much dust, bashing and banging - a new pitched roof in the zendo, an addition that will make the room more spacious and symmetrical while retaining its barn-like atmosphere.
The retreats at Poplar Grove for 2010 were well-attended. We had two StoepZen retreats and a successful Alexander Technique retreat run by Marguerite van der Merwe, as well as some informal weekends where different groups came to spend time in the open air and take part in limited meditation.
On the family front, Margie swam the Midmar Mile, Emma was working at hotels in Oxford and Inverness, while Sarah worked as an au pair in Texas and Chicago. Both daughters will soon be back in South Africa to start their university studies – Emma doing a B.A. in Pietermaritzburg and Sarah doing Chiropractic at the University of Johannesburg. The farming carries on throughout the year under Margie’s supervision and she will be down-scaling her school activities in order to concentrate more on our guest and retreat facilities. For myself, I am still away from home for about half of each month in legal suit-and-tie while for the rest of the time I am at home on the stoep or leading retreats at Poplar Grove or elsewhere.
Many people have asked for their names to be added to the mailing list for visits and retreats and we hope we have captured them all. This newsletter is about our activities at Poplar Grove for 2011.
STOEPZEN AND ZEN ART RETREATS IN APRIL AND JUNE 2011
StoepZen Retreat: April 2011
The public holidays for Easter, Freedom Day and Workers Day are close together this year and we have decided to hold a continuous retreat from the evening of Friday (Good Friday) 22 April 2011 through to mid-day on 1 May 2011. As before, this is a time we have set aside for our own Zen practice and you are invited to share it with us. It doesn’t matter if you cannot attend for the whole period; we will fit you in if there is space.
The Poplar Grove StoepZen retreats are each open to a maximum of 10 people. They follow a simplified monastic schedule adapted to the Karoo farm venue, they contain both group and individual practice and they are not aligned to any particular school or institution. The retreats are hosted by Margie and myself together, while the formal aspects will be led by me in a way that should be comfortable for both beginners and experienced meditators. Persons attending for the whole retreat period will be given priority and you are also welcome to arrive a day earlier or leave a day later if that suits your travel plans – our starting and ending times are arranged to give you time to travel to and from Colesberg at a pace that is unhurried (in fact, the travelling is part of the retreat).
Each retreat is conducted in silence. The daily schedule begins with a group walking meditation at sunrise followed by formal practice in the zendo (the meditation barn) with chanting, sitting and walking meditation; after breakfast there is a talk and continuing meditation together with individual Zen-style interviews, then a light work period and a short meditation; after lunch there is personal practice and rest time, followed by gentle loosening-up exercises, a sunset group walking meditation and sitting meditation in the zendo; the day winds down with supper followed by an informal discussion or reading, and ends with a bedtime meditation. There are three simple vegetarian meals each day. The thrust of the retreat is not endless zazen (formal sitting meditation) but a continuity of attention in everything we do.
Accommodation is provided in ten single rooms for individuals or couples. Most rooms have shared ablutions and only some have electricity. Bedding is provided but not towels or toiletries - a torch is recommended, as well as loose comfortable clothing and walking shoes (croc sandals tend to let in the duiweltjie thorns so they may not be suitable for long walks in the veld). People booking for a retreat will be allotted whatever accommodation is available on a first-come-first-served basis but requests will be complied with where possible.
Zen Art Retreat: June 2011
There will also be a Zen Art retreat at the beginning of winter from the evening of Saturday 11 June 2011 to mid-day on Sunday 19 June 2011. This differs from the standard StoepZen retreat only in that there will be a two-hour creative art period in the afternoon of each day.
The daily art session will be led by the well-known artist, meditator and Zen student JP Meyer. JP is a renowned visual artist of long-standing with a number of successful exhibitions to his name and he will lead his creative sessions in a way that integrates the experience of creativity with the practice of Zen.
For the Zen Art retreat, participants will be asked to bring their own drawing/painting instruments while JP himself will provide the paper and/or board on which to draw or paint. An additional charge of R50 per day will be levied for the materials provided by JP so the total charge per day will be R350. Persons booking for this retreat will be given the contact details of JP so that he can advise them on what art materials to bring and where to get them.
Money Matters and Bookings
A standard daily charge of R300 per person per day will be levied for the retreats (R350 for the Zen Art retreat). In traditional Buddhist style, the teaching is offered free. However, the daily charge does not cover the ongoing renovation costs or the cost of equipping the facilities – any contributions towards these expenses will be gratefully received.
People have been extremely generous with gifts of money and household items this year and we would like to thank them for that here. Generosity is an important aspect of our practice and it makes a great contribution to maintaining and improving the facilities; it is also an expression of appreciation for the work that is done here and it allows people to feel that they are a part of the place.
A booking form and directions are attached below to this newsletter; please fill in the booking form and send it to Margie (the instructions are on the form). Margie will let you know if we have been able to fit you in. Last year we had a few instances where people had booked and cancelled at the last minute, too late for those who had been turned away to change their plans and attend; we will therefore be requesting a non-refundable 50% deposit at the time of booking.
GROUPS, GROUP RETREATS, SOLO RETREATS ON REQUEST
During 2010 a number of groups held retreats at Poplar Grove by arrangement. Some were book clubs and bird clubs, some were personal growth groups, some were groups wanting to hold their own retreat in a formal setting, while some individuals did a solo retreat. Usually, Margie and I host the visitors by providing the farm and meditation facilities plus accommodation and meals - sometimes we also give basic meditation instruction or talks on Zen. This flexible arrangement worked well and persons or groups who want to make such a plan can contact Margie about it.
Marguerite’s Alexander Technique workshop/retreat has not been included in this newsletter because of scheduling difficulties but, if she is able to lead such a retreat later in the year, we will send out a separate notice for that.
GUEST ACCOMMODATION
Remember that the self-catering guest cottage is available at various times when retreats are not running. The cottage has two rooms but adjoining extra rooms are available for larger families or groups. The main bedroom of the cottage has an en-suite bath and toilet while there is also an additional shower and toilet for sharing. There is no electricity but there is cell-phone reception at the main house. There are basic cooking and braai facilities at the cottage plus a place to keep things cool. The price for a self-catering guest stay is presently R250,00 per person per day for guests over 12 years old – this includes basic provisions such as milk, eggs, bread, fruit etc. This facility has been used over the holiday period for persons and families travelling through the Karoo but it is particularly suitable for those staying longer than one night – people needing a rest from the city, who wish to do a retreat on their own or who need peace and quiet for a particular project.
RETREATS BY ANTONY AT OTHER VENUES
I will be at the Buddhist Retreat Centre near Ixopo for Wesak at the end of May 2011 and will be leading my annual Woman’s Day retreat there in August 2011. I may also be leading short retreats at Emoyeni in the Magaliesburg in spring and another in the Cape at a time yet to be decided.
STOEP ZEN: THE BOOK
As mentioned last year, the book went into a second edition in which corrections were made and reviews inserted. The book is still available through internet book providers. Although it is mostly out of the bookstores (unless ordered on request), both Emoyeni in the Magaliesburg and the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Ixopo still stock copies. Signed copies are also available at Poplar Grove for R150,00 plus postage.
CONTACT DETAILS
The website Stoepzen.co.za is up and running. This newsletter will be posted on the website, as will my occasional notes about our Zen practice under the item ‘Writings’. Margie and my email details are linked to the website - Margie’s is margie@stoepzen.co.za and mine is antony@stoepzen.co.za. The other contact details are on the attached booking form.
Thank you for all the interest and support during 2010. We really look forward to sharing this quiet space with you and to practising together in 2011. I would like to leave you with some words from the American poet Mary Oliver for life in the new year:-
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company, always, with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
Antony Osler
Poplar grove practice period OR RETREAT
Booking form
Poplar Grove Farm Tel. 051-7531356
COLESBERG 9795 Fax. 0866240446
Banking details: A.D. Osler Standard Bank Cheque Account
Account no. 280336810 Branch code. 050-018
Please make the following booking :
Date: From……………………….. …….to …………………………………………
Total number of nights: ………….. @ R.......... per person per night = ………….
to be paid into the above bank account before arrival (confirm with deposit slip)
or to be paid by cheque or cash on arrival.
Name(s): ………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Accommodation requested (subject to availability):
Single room: ……. Room for a couple: ……….
Twin room sharing: ………
CONTACT DETAILS:
Telephone: …………………………… Cell phone: ……………………………………
Address: …………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail Address:…………………………………………………………………………..
Any foods you cannot eat: ……………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
I/We expect to arrive at Poplar Grove on: ……………………….. ………...................
Estimated time of arrival: ………………………………………………………………
PLEASE PHONE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR QUERIES
DIRECTIONS TO POPLAR GROVE
1. From Colesberg take the N9 towards Noupoort, Middelburg, Port Elizabeth
2. At the signboard ‘Oorlogspoort’ on the left side of the N9, turn left onto a gravel road and continue for about 24 km – over a railway line, through veld and farms, past a large gate on the left marked ‘Groenfontein’ with a homestead behind it, and past a further group of buildings about 1 km further on the left which is also part of Groenfontein farm.
3. At a cattle grid about 500 metres further on from the second group of Groenfontein buildings there is a signboard for ‘Poplar Grove’ and ‘Nieuwefontein’ on the left side of the road – turn left there and go up the slope about 1 km.
4. At a sign ‘Poplar Grove’ on your right, turn left over the motor gate edged with stone walls and follow the road for about 2 km directly into the Poplar Grove yard.
5. Park somewhere at the house, turn off the engine, and enjoy the silence.
