Leela Verity: Founder and Director of Benedictus Deus
May you feel the joy inside yourself and awaken to the wonder of your life.
May your heart abide in the light and lightness of your true self.
May your heart abide in the light and lightness of your true self.
I have called you by name – you are mine.
You are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you.
[Isaiah 43]
You have seduced me, Lord,
and I have let myself be seduced;
You have overpowered me:
you were the stronger.
There is a fire burning in my heart,
the effort to restrain it wearied me …
[Jeremiah]
You are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you.
[Isaiah 43]
You have seduced me, Lord,
and I have let myself be seduced;
You have overpowered me:
you were the stronger.
There is a fire burning in my heart,
the effort to restrain it wearied me …
[Jeremiah]
Carol Leela Verity, BA LLB HDip Tax Law (Wits University), has degrees in Psychology and Law and practiced as attorney at one of Johannesburg’s top law firms, Cliffe Dekker, and then as international tax consultant in the legal department of Deloittes. In her early 30's she resigned from her professional career to follow a spiritual calling, which led her on a journey of exploration, learning and transformation. She spent several years travelling in India, studying other world religions and philosophy, and doing retreat. In 2000, she founded a Spiritual Retreat Centre called SAT CHIT ANAND in Plettenberg Bay, and she has been Director and Manager of it since then.
Leela received transmission of teachings from some of the greatest spiritual teachers and Buddhist Masters of our time. Her teachers include THICH NHAT HANH, well-known and beloved Vietnamese Zen Master, His Holiness the DALAI LAMA, Lama ZOPA RINPOCHE, and MINGYUR RINPOCHE. Leela has had several articles on Buddhism published in local and international magazines, including Mandala Magazine, a Tibetan Buddhist Journal, and The Mindfulness Bell, a Journal of the Art of Mindful Living. She has over 10 years of meditation experience, in the Zen, Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Leela has also studied yoga and Advaita (non-dual) philosophy, and is a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher.
Her journey led her to re-embrace the religion of her birth, resulting in her becoming confirmed as Catholic in 2011. She holds various leadership positions within St Christopher's Catholic Church, and is commissioned as an extra-ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. After months of praying for guidance, the name of the Retreat Centre was changed to BENEDICTUS DEUS which means BLESSED BE GOD. Because of her vast experience, extensive knowledge and understanding of both Buddhism and Christianity, she is able to understand and help people with many different backgrounds. It is her joy to guide others on the spiritual path and to help people grow spiritually, so that they may enjoy a fuller and richer spiritual life that is grounded in meditation, prayer, love, worship and personal experience of God, with whom we are united in Love. All religions and spiritual paths are welcomed. You are welcomed. Come as you are. You will leaved blessed by your time spent here.
The journey continues: ‘Peace is every step: it turns the endless road to joy’.
There is a time when you journey towards God, and there is a time when you journey within God.
Leela received transmission of teachings from some of the greatest spiritual teachers and Buddhist Masters of our time. Her teachers include THICH NHAT HANH, well-known and beloved Vietnamese Zen Master, His Holiness the DALAI LAMA, Lama ZOPA RINPOCHE, and MINGYUR RINPOCHE. Leela has had several articles on Buddhism published in local and international magazines, including Mandala Magazine, a Tibetan Buddhist Journal, and The Mindfulness Bell, a Journal of the Art of Mindful Living. She has over 10 years of meditation experience, in the Zen, Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Leela has also studied yoga and Advaita (non-dual) philosophy, and is a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher.
Her journey led her to re-embrace the religion of her birth, resulting in her becoming confirmed as Catholic in 2011. She holds various leadership positions within St Christopher's Catholic Church, and is commissioned as an extra-ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. After months of praying for guidance, the name of the Retreat Centre was changed to BENEDICTUS DEUS which means BLESSED BE GOD. Because of her vast experience, extensive knowledge and understanding of both Buddhism and Christianity, she is able to understand and help people with many different backgrounds. It is her joy to guide others on the spiritual path and to help people grow spiritually, so that they may enjoy a fuller and richer spiritual life that is grounded in meditation, prayer, love, worship and personal experience of God, with whom we are united in Love. All religions and spiritual paths are welcomed. You are welcomed. Come as you are. You will leaved blessed by your time spent here.
The journey continues: ‘Peace is every step: it turns the endless road to joy’.
There is a time when you journey towards God, and there is a time when you journey within God.
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I found him whom my soul loveth:
I held him and would not let him go ... Thou hast ravished my heart, I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine. [Song of Songs] |
We identify with our name. A new name is often given as part of a spiritual initiation into a new way of life. It reminds us that we have left our old life behind. In the Old Testament, God often renamed people. The new name that is given is also significant in that it contains a prophesy or vision of the unfolding of your future potential. As you identify with your new name, you are continually reminded of this vision of your new creation.
The name LEELA has a history. It was originally given to me by my first spiritual 'guru' in India. My full name was JIVAN LEELA. It is a Sanskrit name which means 'the Divine play of life.' I loved my name from the moment I received it. It reminds me that this earthly existence is a Divine drama of which God is the author and scriptwriter.
When I became Christian again, I was concerned that my name might no longer be appropriate, and yet I still loved the name. I prayed to God and asked Him whether I should change my name again, or even revert to my birth name. God answered my prayers in an amazing way. I received no less than 3 confirmations that the name LEELA is my chosen spiritual name, and it also has Christian roots:
1st meaning: HIS LOYAL AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
Scripture: ISAIAH 42: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.
2nd meaning: DARK BEAUTY (which of course I am :-) )
Scriptural connotation: Bringer of Light
Scripture: ECCLESIASTES 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in His time.
He has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.
3rd confirmation: Shortly after this, I met an Israeli guy who was working in South Africa for a short while. Upon hearing my name, he remarked that I had a beautiful Hebrew name!
The name LEELA has a history. It was originally given to me by my first spiritual 'guru' in India. My full name was JIVAN LEELA. It is a Sanskrit name which means 'the Divine play of life.' I loved my name from the moment I received it. It reminds me that this earthly existence is a Divine drama of which God is the author and scriptwriter.
When I became Christian again, I was concerned that my name might no longer be appropriate, and yet I still loved the name. I prayed to God and asked Him whether I should change my name again, or even revert to my birth name. God answered my prayers in an amazing way. I received no less than 3 confirmations that the name LEELA is my chosen spiritual name, and it also has Christian roots:
1st meaning: HIS LOYAL AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
Scripture: ISAIAH 42: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.
2nd meaning: DARK BEAUTY (which of course I am :-) )
Scriptural connotation: Bringer of Light
Scripture: ECCLESIASTES 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in His time.
He has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.
3rd confirmation: Shortly after this, I met an Israeli guy who was working in South Africa for a short while. Upon hearing my name, he remarked that I had a beautiful Hebrew name!
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Blessed be God!
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I have called you by name – you are mine.
You are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you.
[Isaiah 43:1,4]
You are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you.
[Isaiah 43:1,4]