North American 7-Day Health & Happiness Retreat
Conducted by Grandmaster JinBodhi
October 30, 2019 was the first day of the 7-Day Health & Happiness Retreat personally conducted by Grandmaster JinBodhi. It was held at the Vancouver Bodhi Meditation Center. Over 600 practitioners from Toronto, New York, Boston, California, Los Angeles and San Diego gathered to attend the momentous retreat. It had been more than a decade since Grandmaster JinBodhi conducted Bodhi Meditation’s foundation retreat. Filled with utmost gratitude and excitement, everyone was touched to have the opportunity to attend.
The meditation journey to health, happiness and wisdom was revealed under the guidance of Grandmaster JinBodhi, a great-achieving meditator.
Counter the Five Poisons to Elevate our Spiritual State
On the first day of the retreat, Grandmaster answered the many questions practitioners had on topics such as health, spirituality, life issues and careers. Grandmaster guided everyone to truly understand the five poisons – greed, aversion, ignorance, pride and jealousy. He said we should not judge others, be it good or bad. Instead, we should always observe our own behavior.
Grandmaster gave many real-life examples that illustrated the relationship between illnesses and the level of our spiritual mind. He touched on the ways to counter the five poisons, thereby elevating the spiritual level of everyone at the retreat.
Sincere Practice, Infinite Illumination
Practitioners put into use immediately what they learned from Grandmaster. They experienced the effects for themselves as they practiced. For some new practitioners, although it was their first time practicing The Meditation of Greater Illumination, they were persistent in overcoming initial discomfort. As they practiced for half an hour to an hour a day, they were surprised to find that they were gradually regaining their health in just a few days.
During the chanting sessions, practitioners put their palms together, some knelt while others sat, and chanted along with Grandmaster’s compassionate guidance. As they did so, their body and mind were one with the chant. As they chanted the Six-Syllable Mantra, it seemed that the six syllables formed a stream of light which shone forth to compassionately bless all sentient beings.
Under the guidance of Grandmaster, practitioners gradually relaxed, felt peaceful, healthy and illuminated; their spiritual levels elevated.
Be Determined to be Kind – Kind Heart, Kinds Words, Kind Deeds
Grandmaster said that learning meditation cultivates our heart. We learn to see things in a clearer way. Most afflictions, including illnesses, arise from our heart and the way we view matters.
Through humor and real-life stories, Grandmaster planted the seed of compassion and love in everyone by teaching us how we should view the events of our life based on compassion. This ensures we will always be able to persistently remain truly kind and keep to a high spiritual state.
Grandmaster also shared that we must always say kind words and perform kind deeds as well as have a kind heart. At the same time, we must learn to control our emotions, be tolerant and understanding. Learning to face our mistakes and reflect on our actions is one way to change and elevate our mind.
A Heart Filled with Gratitude & Gratefulness
In a short span of seven days, both new and experienced practitioners benefitted tremendously and became healthier and happier. They eagerly shared their benefits and expressed their deepest gratitude to Grandmaster. Some who suffered from long-term insomnia could now sleep through the night; others were cured of constipation; still some were surprised to find their blood pressure and blood sugar levels had normalized. There were those who lost weight after a period of spontaneous fasting; others felt a sense of peace. For some, they managed to get rid their bad temper and be gentler.
The retreat opened the hearts and minds of the practitioners, giving them newfound experiences. Grandmaster said that with time and practice there would be good effects. Besides reaping the benefits, there is yet more diligent practice that’s much needed in order to have compassion rooted in our lives so that we can love all beings around us.
May all practitioners remember Grandmaster JinBodhi’s compassionate teachings and apply kindness in their lives, be it offering kind words to others or doing kind deeds. Not only does this help them live a healthier, happier, wiser and more auspicious life, it will also influence others to act in similar ways to gain benefits and bring about a more beautiful world.
Retreat Testimonials:
Theresa (San Francisco, USA; senior executive): It has been a long while of living in the shadows of depression. I would often have nightmares. After listening to Grandmaster’s teaching, I felt my troubled mind cleared up. It seemed that a layer of dust had been removed, leaving me refreshed.
Nalin (Toronto, Canada; sales executive): My hands had been trembling for the last ten years and this affected my work. However, on the third day of the retreat, I was surprised to find that they no longer trembled.
Ramanathan (Toronto, Canada; yoga coach, doctor): My blood pressure, which had always been high, normalized after attending this retreat.
Xie Xin Pin (New York, USA): I felt happier and my body lighter after attending the retreat. The dark spots on my skin have become smaller and lighter in color. My appetite has also improved and so has my quality of sleep. At the same time, I’ve learned to be more complaisant toward my family and carry gratitude in my heart for them.
Lao Zhao (California, USA): I was filled with resentment and my emotions were out of control on the first day of the retreat. However, by the end of it, I became happy and carefree. I found health and happiness.
Chi Shou (California, USA): I experienced spontaneous fasting during the retreat. My low blood pressure (80mmHg/50mmHg), which had persisted for the last five years, is back to normal (117mmHg/70mmHg).
Wang Mei Qing (Vancouver, Canada): For more than ten years I suffered from lower back pain due to lumbar disc herniation. However, on the second day of the retreat the pain was gone.
Yang Man Jie (Vancouver, Canada): I experienced spontaneous fasting during the retreat which led me to lose 3 kg. At the same time, a minor eye problem also miraculously healed.
Bei Xiu (Los Angeles, USA): Before the retreat I had almost complete hearing loss in my right ear. However, I was surprised that my right ear could hear clearly after the chanting session. My husband’s (Bei Hui) body started expelling toxic waste after getting the vase that was blessed by Grandmaster. Both of us are very happy and have benefitted greatly.
