Meditation has helped Dan Bei to overcome asthma and facial nerve palsy, both of which caused her years of suffering. It has also helped her to realize her dream of helping others – she now spends her days spreading health and happiness to everyone around her. Dan Bei’s family and friends have complimented her radiant appearance and cheerful demeanor.
I was plagued by two diseases that started in my 20s – asthma and facial nerve paralysis. During the cold and humid rainy season in Indonesia, especially every January, my asthma would significantly worsen. Odors and dust would trigger my chest to tighten which resulted in breathing difficulties.
Asthma Attacks and Blurred Vision
I depended on medication and an inhaler to relieve my asthma. A cold would also cause my asthma to flare up. I could not keep pets in my home and had to go to great lengths to avoid all allergens.
My facial nerve palsy was caused by damage to the seventh cranial nerve on the left side of my face. From the age of 20, the left side of my face felt weak and cold. My left eyelid had poor mobility and could not blink normally even when particles got into my eye. Gradually it began to sag, making my left eye appear much smaller than my right eye. But I was young then and believed that I would recover.
The situation worsened when I turned 35. My left eye would tire easily and often shed tears. I was afflicted with blurred vision and found reading difficult. The glare of the computer screen was hard to take.
After an eye examination, I was told my eye pressure in the left eye was as high as 22 mmHg. (Editor’s note: Normal eye pressure ranges from 12-22 mmHg, and eye pressure of greater than 22 mmHg is considered higher than normal.) I sought specialized treatment overseas for six months in an attempt to bring it down to 20 mmHg, but the results were not satisfactory. I continue to face challenges when reading and working on computers. With no other options, I retired early in 2001.
Clear Vision, Easy Breathing
In the early days of January 2015, through my close friend’s recommendation, I attended the Bodhi Meditation 8.5-Day Health & Happiness Retreat. For five days during the retreat, I experienced spontaneous fasting and nearly didn’t eat or drink at all. But I was full of energy. When practicing The Meditation of Greater Illumination, I felt the sensation of dewdrops dripping onto the top of my head and my body felt relaxed. Incredibly, my asthma did not recur that month.
In February 2015, I participated in the retreat again. In June, I drew up a plan to practice an hour of Energy Bagua and an hour of The Meditation of Greater Illumination daily. After 108 days of continual practice, the left side of my face no longer felt cold and my left eye returned to normal size. I was able to see clearly when reading books and the computer screen. My peripheral view on the left was broader than previously. Another examination found that the pressure in my left eye had dropped to 11 mmHg.
One day in February 2016, after listening to a dharma teaching by Grandmaster JinBodhi, I entered a state of spontaneous fasting. For 15 days, I drank only a small amount of water. From the seventh to the 14th day, I had large bowel movements two to three times a day. Following that, my body felt more relaxed.
Strong scents and dust no longer bother me. On the rare occasions when my asthma is triggered, I experience only a mild cough and do not require medication. In April 2017, I finally fulfilled my wish of having a cat and dog as pets.
Joy and Radiance
In June 2015, my husband and I joined the volunteer team at the meditation center. We introduce Bodhi Meditation practices to my friends and relatives in Singkawang, Indonesia. I am happy to see so many people coming to Bodhi Meditation. It is an honor and a privilege to witness lives being transformed for the better.
When my friends and relatives see me now, they exclaim how radiant I am. There is a light inside me.
The intent of the testimonial is to offer wellness information of a general nature. Individual results of practice may vary.
