On December 11, 2018，the inaugural Bodhi Meditation Advanced Level Chanting Retreat was held at Cheras Center, Malaysia. Grandmaster JinBodhi conducted the 7-day retreat’s teachings to 500 participants from Malaysia, Myanmar and Hong Kong all of whom experienced his compassion. Under Grandmaster JinBodhi’s guidance, participants had a memorable, wonderful and extraordinary chanting retreat.
The Three Illuminations for Guidance
Participants came with different wishes; some came for health, some sought to be free from afflictions and their stressful lives，some wished for their family’s safety, and some hoped to acquire a higher mental state to further their self-cultivation.
Grandmaster JinBodhi was aware of why each participant came to this retreat. On the first day, participants were reminded that mistakes and afflictions are due to a lack of wisdom, which results from a lack of knowledge and understanding. The cause of this could be genetic or causality. Apart from doing good deeds to accumulate merits，participants were also reminded of the three illuminations in meditation practice – physical, mental and spiritual. Transformation begins once we apply them in our lives.
The Three Illuminations as Summarized by Grandmaster JinBodhi:
1. The Physical Illumination
People who are sick and afflicted are surrounded by dark, filthy clouds and their heads are surrounded by tiny insects when looked at through the dharma eye. On the other hand, people who have cultivated physical illumination have brains that are calm, pure and white like snow. They do not appear afflicted due to their immense wisdom and broadmindedness.
2. The Mental Illumination
“To be healthy physically, start with your mind”. To visualize an illuminated mind，simply imagine your mind as a light and your body as a room. A bright room is the result of lit mind.
3. The Spiritual Illumination
This refers to illumination in our consciousness. People with a conscious mind do not get afflicted and would not pursue fame. This is the illumination that activates our wisdom so that we appear calm and clear-minded in order to clearly analyze whatever happens around us. A conscious mind helps to lessen the harmful things we do or say.
Grandmaster JinBodhi summarized his meditation experiences and shared them unreservedly with all participants. He wished that everyone could begin visualizing themselves as compassionate and illuminated before starting their meditation practice i.e. chanting, The Meditation of Greater Illumination (GI), etc, as this triggers the transformation within us.
Ignoring Pain and Exceeding Limits
From the first day of the retreat, participants chanted the holy name of Sakyamuni Buddha in the “Three Illuminations” state of mind. Grandmaster JinBodhi described this chanting retreat as “the cruelest, most challenging chanting retreat ever” because apart from meals, participants were required to chant continuously without breaks.
To fulfill their wishes, as well as not wanting to disappoint Grandmaster JinBodhi, all participants gave it their all while chanting. To show their sincerity, many chose to kneel on the floor without the help of a cushion. Some knelt and chanted for a few hours; their bodily pains did not stop them from continued chanting.
Participants were motivated to exceed their limits. Many who had concentration issues were able to stay focused throughout the chanting sessions; many who had never knelt to chant attempted to kneel, at first for 15 minutes and then from morning to afternoon. As the chants filled the hall, participants experienced how physical pain forms part of self-cultivation.
Full of Dharma Bliss and Benefits
It was encouraging when Grandmaster JinBodhi showed up to lead some of the chanting sessions. He also walked among the participants and blessed them.
Thanks to Grandmaster JinBodhi’s energy blessings and wishes, many participants had experienced tremendous benefits in this retreat and they shared their experience and transformations enthusiastically; some regained their health and looked less sick；some were able to kneel having failed to do so previously due to their bodily pains; some had their temper toned down and their relationships with their family improved thanks to chanting; some were relieved mentally as their troubles that afflicted them were finally solved. The crowd cheered at each sharing to show their support.
Conclusion
The appearance of Grandmaster JinBodhi and the support of all participants ensured the success of this Advance Level Closed Chanting Retreat witnessed. Let us wish all participants health, happiness, safety and luck to overcome all future challenges!
