Our Vision

Bodhgayashanthi Sanctuary

is a non-profit organisation that is engaged in community service and the promotion of health and wellness.

The mission of our organisation is to create a platform to help unite people, serve those less fortunate and assist in creating a more impactful community for our planet. Our community service comprises a weekly feeding program on Sundays and seasonal clothing/blanket drives for disadvantaged people in the Johannesburg area. Additionally, we support orphanages, old age homes and other organisations to provide food, clothing, and other necessities; as well as support in natural disaster events and times of need.

We conduct our operations out of a property located in Glen Austin, Midrand, South Africa also named Bodhgayashanthi Sanctuary, which is privately owned. The sanctuary has a fully equipped yoga studio and serene meditation gardens that are open to the public at specified times. The sanctuary also has an organic farm where we grow vegetables that are either used for our feeding schemes or donated to people who need food or sold to raise funds and cover costs.

Meditation Gardens

Bodhgayashanthi Sanctuary is located in the very beautiful natural surroundings of Glen Austin in Midrand. We live in an environmentally preserved area that is conducive for solitude and introspection. We have created meditation gardens at the sanctuary that are open to the public (please refer to our schedule on our Contact page). There are enclaves to sit in meditation, prayer and contemplation throughout the gardens, which are inspired by both Eastern and Western traditions.

Meditation is simply relaxing and being present in the moment. This result can be achieved with breathing exercises, by listening to guided meditations, going to classes, repeating a mantra, or even walking around our garden. Meditation is a personal practice so there’s no wrong way to do it.

Physical Benefits of Meditation

• Stress reduction

• Lower blood pressure

• Strengthen immune system

• Improve sleep

• Recharge and relax

Community Service & Humanitarian Projects

According to the United Nations, there is more than enough food produced today to feed everyone on the planet and yet more than 10% of the world’s population remain chronically undernourished. In Africa, it is even worse with hunger on the rise in almost all subregions and close to 20% overall.

We initiated a program in 2006 to feed those in need including the homeless on the streets of Johannesburg. 

We currently provide hot meals at four low income locations in the Johannesburg area every Sunday: 
•    Rosettenville-Hunt Square, 
•    Pioneer Park Old Age Home, 
•    Jeppe Street and
•    Eloff Street

It is our aspiration for this program to reach as many hungry souls as possible and continue to grow from the numbers we currently serve.

In addition, we have regularly scheduled events for the orphanages and old age homes that we support. These events include full day programs where we have yoga sessions, sporting and talent/music shows, etc. We are religiously open and often spend special days such as Easter, Christmas or Hindu festivals like Diwali with children from orphanages.

Peace Labyrinth

Labyrinths are ancient spiritual symbols that have been used in many cultures and traditions as a meditative tool. There is only one path in and out; and walking the circular path represents a journey to our own centre and back again. This can create a heightened sense of awareness and is a great way to bring peace and relaxation to our minds.

We have built a natural peace labyrinth with rocks laid on a gravel foundation. The sand beneath your feet, the rock marked pathways and the sounds of the local bird life and nature help connect you to the Earth and ease your tensions. We suggest that you try to walk the labyrinth barefoot and in absolute silence. If you follow the continuous direction of the pathway, this should be a 30 minute walking meditation.

We hope that you will visit the gardens and connect with nature and your inner self to experience peace. 

Organic Farm

We have been cultivating an organic farm over the past few years. So far we have managed to harvest beans, corn, pumpkins, peanuts, butternut, squash, potatoes, broccoli, peppers and spinach which we also cook for our feeding programs.

At its heart, farm-to-table means that the food on the table came directly from a specific farm, without going through a store, market, or distributor along the way. Similar phrases include locally-sourced, farm fresh, and farm-to-fork.

Yoga Shala

Bodhgayashanthi Sanctuary has an aesthetically designed yoga studio that can accommodate 40 people per yoga session. Yoga classes are held 3 times a week on a donation basis.  Our aim is to encourage the practice of yoga and its health benefits without attaching a large cost to it. Comfortable change facilities are located adjacent to the studio for easy and convenient access. In addition, there is a yoga store where you can purchase a variety of yoga gear and other spiritual goods to assist your practice.

We also rent out the yoga studio for yoga functions and other activities. If you would like to rent the yoga studio for your yoga retreat or spiritual event, please contact us below: