I went on a Buddhist retreat at Nan Hua Temple in Bronkhorstspruit this weekend with my friends Aldie and Wendy. Don't panic, I'm not about to give up all my stuff, shave my head and go and sit in a hut and meditate for the rest of my life!

I really enjoy going there. It's like a mini holiday. I feel like I am in another corner of the world when I'm there. It's quiet and peaceful and tranquil plus the buildings are completely unlike anything else in this country. The temple and surrounding buildings are all designed and constructed in Chinese style. They are huge, very bright, colourful and completely cheerful. The art, the furniture, the food is all way out of my daily box. They do veggies and tofu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This I can handle for a weekend, not so sure I could eat that way everyday of my life. Man, even their way of thinking is totally foreign to me.

The retreat consists mostly of lectures, this time it was about The Four Noble Truths, and meditation. The Buddhist philosophy of cause and effect, resonates with me. Always has. I like the fact that my actions have a direct effect on what happens to me in my life. Makes me responsible for myself and mostly I can deal with that. The thought of someone else pulling the strings for me, doesn't do it for me. I also like the fact that they rarely say, "Don't do this or that". Instead they give you options of what you can do to make your life work. So what I mean is instead of saying "don't kill", they tell you "to preserve life" and "don't steal" becomes "honour property" and "don't lie" becomes "be honest". See what I mean? There's also this thing about being mindful. Through meditation and a couple of other simple exercises, you become mindful of what you think and say and do. I'm amazed at how much shit goes on in my head! All thoughts eventually become actions. So if you think shit, your life will be shit. Mmmm....... I'm sure you will agree it really is a different way of thinking and at face value it all looks a bit namby pamby wishy washy, but believe me, when you sit down and think about this and it's presented to you by people who know this and live it, it really is mind blowing stuff.

Okay, so now I can see you are all thinking, "she's freaking me out here!" Don't mean to. I like cultivating an open mind, and if there is something new I can learn and apply to my life, well I reckon, what have I got to lose and if I can be good and kind to others and myself at the same time, I double reckon - way to go!

Oh, and yes! That stuffing empty roll of toilet paper followed me all the way to this temple!!! It simply will not let go!