Guestbooks

Dearest friends at Khula Dhamma, 3 August 2008

I have been back at home for two weeks now, affording the waters the time they need to settle and the world the opportunity it needs to re-define itself under an altered gaze. But the wind of change keeps blowing, gently (at times more urgently) rippling the surface, beckoning me to stop gazing and to hoist the sails for action. I don’t believe that a day has gone by in these last weeks without some thought of Khula Dhamma or what it stands for, and the important role it has to play in the evolving consciousness of humankind.

I visited you as a researcher, but feel that I have come home with much more than any amount of academic writing up could convey. But is this not what research should really be about? Not writing up and forgetting, but living a changed life that resonates with all that one has had the privilege to learn! And how much I have learnt - from teachers as merry as the robin, as illiterate as the fire, as little as Sheya and Ameo, as vulnerable as celery seedlings and of course from the people with whom I now feel I share a path, both those who have walked it for a longer period of time at Khula Dhamma (Yan, Alex, Ole, Odette) and those who are just starting to find their feet there – Barbara and Mike - (although these feet, I believe, have long been walking a similar path only in different territory). Also those people who were visitors like myself, Derek, Ruth, San, Sai, Ayo (Ints), Kyra, Maria, Gert, Kevin, Hein, Gary, Dominique, Jean, Lisa, Craig, Alosha, and Tata Sam, who each brought their unique perspective on life, their own dreams and wonderful energy. Yan pointed out many times that the Khula Dhamma space is one where the evolution of consciousness tends to replace the illusion of separateness, and this was revealed to me on so many levels. Whilst I have often found knowledge transfer in formal institutions to be dictatorial, our two-way (or multi-way) discussions at KD and our shared role as seekers and learners have shown me that learning need not be so – teaching needs less certification and more faith in our “inner soil” and what it can grow. To use an analogy from The One Straw Revolution, the farmer Destiny casts clay balls with an assortment of seeds (people and their ideas) upon every person’s inner soil. Although initially only one or two species may come up, their germination has already prepared the soil and changed its properties to accommodate new species the next time that Destiny casts her balls. She does not hack up the soil or plant alien seeds in it, nor does she kill all other life forms that may jeopardize the growth of these alien seeds. Rather, she waits that the soil engages with some seeds and changes itself. In the same way, people should be afforded the opportunity to respond to what they have learnt, to make it their own, to give back – after which they will be in a much better position to engage meaningfully with all that comes their way. My deepest gratitude extends to everybody for your time, for listening, telling, experiencing and being in that space with me. Especial thanks to those of you living permanently at Khula Dhamma for giving myself and other visitors the time we needed to find our feet. At times I found myself frustrated when it seemed as though someone wasn’t pulling their weight equally hard (sometimes that somebody was me), but your patience (not lacking firmness) reminded me that it was my ego speaking rather than compassion and encouraged me to allow them their space – something so precious in a communal environment! From you I have also learnt the immense importance of consultation and open communication – both with the people who know the ropes, the newer people with whom the learning is being done and with nature, towards whom so many of our actions are directed.

My first reflections having been philosophical in nature, I wish also to share and savour some of the more tangible aspects of life at KD. First, the landscape – those vast rolling hills interspersed with thorn-veld, the river (let me never again underestimate the weight of its sand when transported in a wheelbarrow!), the giant yellowwood, the waterfall, the magical musical bamboo-grove, the many coral-trees with their heart-shaped leaves and knobbly trunks and abundance of birds, and not least the wide open heavens with their stars and moon whose many phases subtly affects all that goes on below. Then the gardens – the large-leafed cabbages, and sturdy spinach and juicy lettuce, the flowering borage, the slightly mal-formed carrots (some old and bitter, others slender and sweet), the broad-leafed parsley and well-disguised celery, the colourful beetroot, establishing buckwheat, the wild tomatoes, fruiting mulberry and gooseberry children’s delight, the abundant tree-shaking citrus, the banana chandeliers and paw-paw and ever tempting (also to the hornbills) passion fruit just outside the kitchen window. The mint and pennyroyal beside a patch of on-the-grass-strewn-dew-cleansed amethyst, rose quartz citrine and a brooch of moonstone…the “windbreak” of lemon-grass that rustles at early-morning passers-by on the way to the compost toilet “shrine”. The fields still in the process of being cleared, their small mammals and enormous earthworms, the blisters and back-ache and song and laughter and quiet they bring… The activities – the long walks, nettle harvesting, alien-clearing, green manure making, cow-pat collecting, plant potting, fire-starting, experimental cooking, music, massage, yoga, Xhosa lessons, chop-stick carving, my efforts at knotting, crochet and basket-making (will have to give them all another go), trips with Sheya to “the other side of the world”, story-reading and philosophizing (thank you Derek!), – the list goes on and on! The lovely fairy-tale houses with their organic walls and thatch and big windows, the private rondavel-spaces, and the lively communal house with its continuous need for spring-cleaning, the funky pets Tigger, Blue and Alpha and now Whisper (thanks to them for putting up with Leila’s occasionally guzzling their food and my occasionally not cooking it well enough!). Deep gratitude to the community itself and all who shared it: Yan for your vision, energy and fun, Alex for your sincerity and gentleness, creativity and moving dedication, Sheya for your beautiful smile and ever lively conversation and imagination, Ameo for sitting like a first class yogi with a smile at such a young age, Ole for your inner radiance and peace, Odette (whom I have spent less time with but look forward to getting to know better) for your incredible energy and innovation, Mike, the apple of Ameo’s eye, for your quiet and practical reflections and for stirring the water a bit at times, and Barbara for the motherly care you radiate to all directly within your auric field and those beyond! To the WWOOFers and visitors Maria and Gert, Kev, Ruth, Derek and family (San for teaching me the meaning of “I can with my own two hands”) to whom I felt particularly close, thank you for the laughs, the teasing, the insights and the love!

May we all continue to live as one and as many in peace and with love, guided by and co-creating with the wisdom of abundant mother earth.

Lara

I ask myself to answer this question from the depths
of my heart.... HOW AND WHAT DO I ENVISION MYSELF AND
MY FAMILY LIVING IN??
- beauty
- peace
- long conversations with like-minded, striving folks
- natural child-rearing
- organic learning (for us aswell as children)
- building natural dwellings
- meditating
- yoga
- dance
- long walks in bush
- presenting movement workshops (me)
- assisting birthing
- raw real whole foods
- abundant health and energy
- time to sit
- sharing childhood responsibilities (it takes a community to raise a child!!!!)
- seasonal celebrations
- conscious, substance free living
- growing food
- gathering our own harvest
- art
- crafts
- making music

I'm sure i've left something out. i LOOKED at my list
and realised. I can get this all at Khula Dhamma.
Your e-mail was perfect. WHAT ARE WE WAITING
FOR........AND....ITS ABOUT TIME!

From having the farm in the Karoo, I've realised that
I love living and learning with my children. I love
growing my own food, celebrating the change of season
and trying to live closely with mother earth. What I
missed out there, was community. I realise that a
like-minded community can help one through the
difficult patches, support one in choices made and
also in reaching new goals.

Tanya, South Africa (on their way)

What i miss the most about Khula Dhamma are the community meals. I put on a few Kilos while i was there. Thanks for all the LOVE you all put into it. and of course being with like minded Wonderful people. I also miss the Challenging Yoga courses and the films, talks and Meditations. Looking forward to Play/working Laughing Sharing and Creating abundance with all you wonderful beings.

Glenn, South Africa

Emm and I still feel a strong connection with you guys from our visit now almost 3 years ago. In 3 years of wandering since then we never found another community that inspired us like you guys.

Craig & Emm, Australia

KD crew,

Leaving feels like a beginning. I came here with few expectations but have been filled with new possibilities and directions. My hope is that I have the same strength, courage and wisdom as those here – living their vision – to bring to fruitition the seeds that have been planted in me here. Thank you for allowing me into your home and sharing with me your spirit. (Thanks Mike for putting up with my endless questions).

Peace – Matthew

So here I am again, older and hopefully a bit wiser after travels in the UK. I am amazed by the growth here, with three self-built structures now virtually complete. I am sure Yan and Alex and the kids will enjoy moving into their personal space and much admiration to them as a family for their pioneering spirit so far. I have enjoyed working on the wooden floor of the new house with Mike, Jo and Els, and am glad to have had the opportunity to meet these exceptional people. I also won’t forget the perfectly timed storm in East London with Yan and Els and rightly so. Call down the thunder! Big changes are happening here. Fly, Khula Dhamma, fly
Nam myoho renge kyo
Bruce

To my new friends at KD,

I regret to be leaving here after only a week and a half, but even after such a short time – I will be carrying back with me a new found wealth of inspiration and enthusiasm,

This experience has reassured me the path I’ve been following is the right one for myself – it also made me that much more motivated to develop and engage a lifestyle disconnected from the “plastic” world – no matter how many potential distractions there may be. Thank you for inviting me into your homes and sharing with me - your beautiful philosophies and knowledge.

Go well – all the best,
Karlina, USA

To all at Khula Dhamma,

Thank you for the past 3 weeks here – I have really enjoyed the whole experience – an amazing place with lovely people, gorgeous girls full of fun, delicious food, fantastic massage treatments and a good calm place for meditation. Hope your new vegetable beds bring you plenty of produce to sustain you and hope that the community develops into what you want it to be – after all it is all about intention!

Take care and hope all goes well with the new ventures – new house, new baby etc.

Love,
Sally, UK

Dear Khula Dhamma Tribe,

I have really gained a lot from my short stay here. I hope to come back for longer at a later stage. My time here has really rejuvenated me and given me a clearer direction and peace of mind. I also hope I will meet up with the other WWOOFers working here while I was here. Stefan, Nicole, Michelle and Juan, thank you for being such friendly and interesting people. I especially enjoyed helping establish the banana plantation and working on Ole’s straw-bale house. I hope to incorporate the Khula Dhamma diet into my daily eating. This has been a great beginning stage to my gap-year travels.

Bruce

Wow, I am sitting here at the outside table and you are all gone and it feels rather strange, although the animals are crowding around me and the nearly full moon is shining bright between the corner of the home and the tank and the crickets are cheeping for all they are worth and the breeze is playing lightly with the bell-chimes and far away calls from the valley … and deep behind it all the cool black stillness of night.

This is the moon of liberation. What do I release and let go? I let go my remaining beliefs about scarcity, doubts about my purpose/our purpose and fear of being alone. Being here strengthens the knowing that we who come together for the deeper purpose, can make anything happen if we are clear in intention, identify what we need and surrender to the flow of abundant love. Thank you for being so open to sharing, and for being gentle and strong. And there’s been some good laughs too. And playing and mud. And my friendies the tiny ticks won’t let me forget I have been here. And the big spiders reminding me of the webs of life… You are all so lovely, and your offspring from the stars! And mad Jahir, and the gentle galumping dogs! I look forward to our vision quest connection to the land and each other. May all our hears sing with joy until then!

Love Carolyn

24 December 2005

This was WWOOFing at its best and probably community life too. Although I haven’t much experienced other communities I feel you are doing the right thing over here. Thanks to you, Ole, Vipassana came to us in a nice way and shape, just because of the person you are. Every time I started meditating I saw your lovely smile. I will always remember you as a very warm person full of love and joy. Coming here made me confront myself with a part of my life I wasn’t aware of. Now I am and Vipassana will help me too. Hope to see you again…India?

Tony, Belgium

Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming and accommodating. I am happy to have been able to experience so much here. I only wish that I was able to give back half pf what I received. Thanks to everyone for being such patient teachers for: sourdough workshops, fasting, reflexology, transplanting advice and baby care, It will always be a pleasure to know that some people are living the dream that so many people only think about.

Laura, USA

To all at Khula Dhamma,

Welcome Home! is the feeling I have in my heart as I spend some days here – re-experiencing the beauty of passing days in “REAL TIME” ~ That is enjoying the natural rhythms of nature ~ as we are meant to.
Thank-you kindly for sharing this space with me at this time…I feel I have found a home space – perhaps the one I have been seeking for but that I had almost forgotten to find!
It has been inspiring to me to see such great potential manifesting here – especially as it has been 3 years since I visited and the farm then had only just begun.
There is so much possibility for beautiful things and I look forward to being a part of the journey. What a blessing for me to share a space with so many common ideals as my own as my own, especially the practice of vipassana which in my own life proves exceptionally beneficial and I can imagine in a community it must be a wonderful spiritual practice to base all interaction on.

Blessings Love Peace & happiness to all here!

LOVE and LIGHT
From Odette (now a resident)

Dearest Khula Dhamma,

It has been an honor and a pleasure to share the last week with such a beautiful family. To wake every morning in my own personal rondavel to this delicious wonderland of fertile soil, wheat grass shots , good company and generous , humble wisdom has revived my tired and uninspired spirit. Knowin that there are havens like this just around corner will keep the smile in my heart. I am grateful for your kindness and will see you very soon.

Love and respect,
Christa, Canada