What did we learn during the 8.5-Day Health & Happiness Retreat? We learned that compassion is love. Compassion is an action verb. Just one small gesture of kindness is compassion.
We learned that when we share our struggles, our victories, our hope, our aspiration, not only do we heal, but we inspire others. We receive a blessing, just as we do when we light a candle or make an offering.
We learned that the Bodhi Meditation is the best gift we can give ourselves. We showed up. We did the work. We received benefits. We have Master JinBodhi, the founder of Bodhi Meditation, as a guide and someone we can count on to show us the way to renew our health and find inner peace.
We learned that “Meditation is calm outside but moving inside.” Yes, this is what Master JinBodhi says.
So while we were supported during this journey, it was an inside job.
Carol: This has been a great experience. I’m going through trauma therapy and when I told my therapist that I was thinking about doing this retreat, she said great! I’ve had a lifetime of trauma and taking care of my kids as a single parent; it’s my turn now. My word is SELF-COMPASSION. And this retreat is my birthday present to me.
Matt: This word COMPASSION is very new to me. I’ve always been someone who is just go-go- go, an A-type personality, I’m a driver, I just move forward. It’s been my way since I was just a little guy. Since I got into real estate, well, that’s just a go-go-go type of business. Over the past seven years I have gone through my own health struggles – started with my hip, then my neck and over the last chunk of years I’ve gone from chiro to physio and to all these different places trying to figure it out. Part way through, I never realized it, but when you’re just go-go-go you lose sight of some of those little things that make up compassion. I’d always been moving forward looking for this thing called success. During the last year I started to see a light coming in, different people coming into my life. I had stem cell done to my hip in Denver. That was a serious endeavour to go by myself for a week. In that time I definitely had some relaxation from my stresses. I started to realize there’s some stress going on in my body that’s obviously causing some pain.
A while ago, someone gave me a book they said I had to read. I’m not typically a guy who sits down to read. That book was on meditation and intention and that lead me to read another book by the same guy. Then someone invited me to Thursday night practice at Bodhi. Initially, it sounded a little bit religious. What is it? She warned me you are going to do some funny little things like hit yourself. I started to come to those classes and I felt that there was something neat going on here. The meditation was helping me relax and de-stress a little bit. At the last Thursday, Margo asked me if I’d done an 8.5-Day Retreat. I said no. She said it will change my life. Right out of the fence: Do I go to this? Or not? So I booked it and took the time off and on Day 1 I had this powerful feeling running through my head. After Day 2, I felt a little glow. By Day 2 I felt something different was happening within my system. I felt it buzzing around the top of my head this whole time.
On Day 2, during the healing, I was thinking about what was going on with my team and the work getting done. When I got out of the class I called my team member to see what was going on with business. There was a bunch of stuff they’d lined up with clients we’d been talking to for a while. They’d gone to the house, set everything up. A wave of sensation flowed through my body – letting go of control – letting someone else take a load off my shoulders. I actually had to tell her to stop for a second while I thought about that.
This is a real grown-up crowd, everybody is cautious of everybody else’s process. Everyone is here to help you out with whatever you need. My experience has been really powerful.
Jullia: COMPASSION. This is my third retreat. I am the type of girl who is a perfectionist. In my first retreat I learned how to meditate and calm myself. During the second retreat I learned what compassion is. That happened during the healing. I was lying down and it felt like the cushions swallowed me. I will always remember that moment. During that time I was going through challenges in life and suffered from episodic depression that stemmed from just one ordinary day when I happened to see my mom dying in our living room – I was so troubled by that because you never know when something like that is going to happen. I remember the paramedics came. I told myself to answer the paramedic’s questions, but I couldn’t because I was frozen. From that moment my life changed because I always remember it as the time when I couldn’t do anything and was worthless. Back to that healing I had. I had asked Master JinBodhi: I just want to be happy. And the word that came to me in that moment was compassion. Compassion for me meant I needed to forgive myself. It was hard for me at first, but after that moment, it’s always in my mind: Jullia forgive yourself, you’re not perfect; be patient with yourself. After that, I had the courage to get help and support. I had dropped out of school and lost my scholarship, but I decided to go back to school, back to my family and even though there are ups and downs, I have more courage. For me, that word compassion is to have COURAGE to forgive myself.
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.