By Damonde Tschritter

I first came to the Bodhi Meditation Centre without a reason or intention, or so I thought.

My mother was suffering from a number of illnesses and after reading Bodhi’s Meditation & Health magazine, decided she wanted to try the 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat. She lives in Victoria so I agreed to bring her over to my home in Vancouver and escort her daily and participate in the retreat.

I thought meditate, easy. I can sit around with her and rest with my eyes closed all day. And then I was introduced to one of the most amazing spectacles of my life. I saw people completely rejuvenated in just eight days! My mom went from hardly being able to walk from my car to my home to skipping by the time she left. It’s something I wouldn’t have believed possible if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. She was twenty-five years younger.

Of course, I left the retreat more centered, feeling better and with a daily practice to improve my life. Which was great and all, but I didn’t think I had anything to work on. Remember, I had just come to help my mother. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I needed, and that I had started, to get better myself.

It wasn’t until my third retreat that I realized what my own personal reason and purpose were for coming there. During my third retreat, we chanted. The best way to describe chanting is that it’s neutral when it comes to language. Although it is not spoken in English, we knew what we were saying and the intention behind the sounds. For this chant, we chanted for everyone and everything in the world. The chanting sent out love and gratitude, a positive energy force. It was one of the most positive and powerful things to experience.

2016

As we were chanting, I looked noticed an elderly Chinese lady beside me. We didn’t speak the same language, we came from different cultures, but here we were side by side chanting in unison for the same purpose. At that moment WE WERE speaking the same language, all of us. I realized that millions of people around the planet do this and at that moment I felt like part of the Universe. I wasn’t alone. I knew, not thought, KNEW that I was part of something bigger than myself, and that we are all connected. I’m forty-six years old and for whatever reason I had begun to think that my best days were behind me. I compared myself to my younger self when I had so many things to say and do. Now I felt like my window was closing. But then I thought that if I was fortunate enough to live a full life, say to the age of ninety, then I am in the middle of my cycle of life. Perhaps now I am shining my brightest and just don’t know it. I knew something had and was happening. My perspective on life changed at that moment.

I attended a candle-lighting ceremony the following week. As the ceremony began, the power went out. Luckily there were a lot of candles to light! Because there was no power for the microphone, it was hard to hear what was being said as the candles were lit. To tell you the truth, at that moment I felt like leaving. I was in a pitch-black hall on a sunny day and it felt like it was taking forever to light the candles. But I decided to practice a little tolerance. The candles were finally lit and the chanting began.

Eight experienced Bodhi students stood in a row before a couple of massive tables which held all the candles. I didn’t know this chant. I had a difficult time flowing into it. I finally decided to close my eyes and try to absorb the chant. Each time I closed my eyes I could see the image of light from the candles that shone between the teachers. You know, like when there’s that burned-in image you can still see after you stare at the sun too long. The image looked like letters so I tried to read them, but it didn’t spell anything and I got frustrated. The best I could make out was “WI WI”. What does “WI” mean? I had no idea. It meant nothing to me so I let it go. (I should say that for some reason I’ve always had an instinct for noticing what most people call coincidences. So for me, when I notice something or my instinct talks to me, I listen.)

That night, as sat on my couch watching TV, I noticed the clock on my cable box read 11:11. I knew right away that was it! That was the sign I saw during the candle lighting. They were numbers not the letters “WI”. If you take the three points of the W and separate it, it is III. Then add the last I to it and you get IIII or 11:11. I had no idea what 11:11 meant, nor had I seen it or paid it any notice. I immediately Googled it by simply typing: What does it mean when you see 11:11? Here’s the response:

11:11 is the Universe’s way of urging us to pay attention to our heart, our soul and our inner intuition. It’s serving as a wake-up call to us so that opportunities are not missed in this lifetime. Seeing this particular sequence means that the Universe is trying to have us open our eyes and begin paying more attention to the synchronicities around us. Ever think about someone and suddenly they call or text? Do you physically run into someone that has been running through your conscious or unconscious mind? These are not coincidences, but synchronicities. The Universe tries to show us the way through small signs, but the trick is we have to be ready to listen to them. Seeing 11:11 also is a sign of experiencing accelerated soul growth, which means that we may soon be finding ourselves living the life we had previously only thought about. Our inner world is changing and we may find people and events coming unexpectedly into our lives—but at just the right time.

Since coming to Bodhi Meditation almost a year ago, I have become aware and tuned into the Universe around me, and this is only the beginning. Where will I be another year from now? Ten years from now? This excites me more than anything. We often hear testimonies from people who overcame illnesses, injuries, sleep disorders and depression by coming to Bodhi Meditation, but we don’t often hear how it can open you to your spiritual self. I wanted to share this story so you would know there’s a whole Universe waiting for you. All you have to do is be willing to connect to it.

Disclaimer:

  • The effects associated with practicing Bodhi Meditation can vary from person to person.
  • Any and all content, views, opinions, and/or responses in this student sharing are solely the views, opinions and responsibility of the respondent and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bodhi Meditation.
  • Bodhi Meditation does not provide or replace any medical advice or treatment. We recommend everyone adhere to their medical treatment and prescription.