We celebrated a joyful life on the last day of April’s 8.5-Day Health & Happiness Retreat, which happened to fall on Easter Sunday. It was appropriate in that this day also celebrated the renewal of life, a new journey. Many people turned their life around by exploring something they had never done before. Students worked so hard this week and today we could relax and enjoy the goodness of the retreat. Soak in the energy of love and compassion. We learned with each meditation; our hearts expanded with each of Grandmaster JinBodhi’s teachings. We learned to just keep practicing with love, kindness, and compassion to fill our heart. And when our heart opens to this beautiful energy, the past darkness will disappear. The world will be a better place. One joyful story will multiply and bloom large.
Here are some of the stories from the retreat:
Elaine has been to several retreats, but said that this one had the biggest impact. She doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother. Her sister has never liked her because she said Elaine was always mean to their mother. Elaine thought she was the problem and would live her life alone. This week a shift happened without her even realizing it. A whole world opened. Her heart opened. She realized she doesn’t have to hide out or be by herself. She can go into the world and give. “I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
Stella had felt her energy slipping away and she had been losing the will to live. Every day was hard. She came to the retreat, her first, so she could be a better mother and wife. She hoped that Bodhi meditation would help her control her emotions. For her, this retreat was an awakening. “I might have helped people, but I didn’t know compassion. I didn’t know gratitude.” During the retreat, she could see her husband, her child, her neighbour and see how their pain was much bigger than hers. As she looked into her child’s face one night, she saw his innocence and felt a mother’s love for the first time. She had been skeptical when she first came to the retreat, asking herself is it possible to be free of guilt, shame, fear, superstition? Is it possible to find myself? Find my passion again? Her answer: Yes. “Master JinBodhi awakened a lot of things in me,” she said. “I knew as a child there was an essence, a greater power. Bodhi resonated with me. I believe. I don’t question anymore. I just trust, and open my heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you Master JinBodhi.”
Amanda admitted she is a workaholic. It’s easier to work than face problems. She began a healing journey five months ago, trying to get to the bottom of things and find the light. A friend told her about Bodhi. She came, thinking she’d learn how to shut off her thoughts. After practicing The Meditation of Greater Illumination and listening to a teaching on Day 1, she was exhausted. She had to sleep. When she woke up, she had no idea where she was. The retreat was a resting time for her. Her friend had told her she would do a lot of crying, but nothing happened until she heard the song “Take Back Your Life”. “That’s what I want to do,” she said. “I don’t want my heart so guarded.” She couldn’t sing, she couldn’t move. A flow of emotion ran through her. She cried. Then she rested. When she lay down, she felt as though someone reached in and pumped her heart three times. She felt cords in her body unplug and disconnect. That, she said, was her heart opening. A lesson on compassion opened the flood gates. During the chanting for parents, she had a profound experience. Light shown down on her mom and she could show love to her even though it isn’t reciprocated.
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.
Photos by Bruce CG Gallagher