Nancy Sun, Toronto
For over two decades, I suffered from gastritis. I felt hungry shortly after meals and needed to eat again to assuage the pain in my stomach. Although I felt full with just a little food, it did not take long before I would feel hungry again. This cycle continued throughout each day. To sleep through each night and not be wakened by hunger pangs, I had to eat meat as part of dinner.
Whenever I got on a plane, I would feel nauseous and throw up. After years of living with such pain, I became easily irritable and developed a bad temper. I often got upset with my husband, complaining he never did things right.
All this changed after I joined Bodhi Meditation.
In September 2017, I attended an 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat. We practiced The Meditation of Greater Illumination. I felt very relaxed and light, very energetic. After the retreat, I no longer needed to eat meat as part of dinner to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
In October of the same year, I attended an Advanced Meditation Retreat. After that, I adopted a vegetarian diet.
During a plane trip over the 2018 Christmas holidays, I did not feel nauseous at all. The smell of food on the plane did not bother me like it used to.
In addition, I became less prone to anger.
One night, my husband poured boiling water into a kettle but forgot to put the lid on. He turned off the kitchen light and left. I then went into the kitchen but did not bother to turn on the light. In the dark, by force of habit, I picked up the kettle and started to pour. Unfortunately, the hot water poured all over my left hand, scalding the back of the hand. I let out a scream, blaming my husband in my mind: “look at what you did!”
But immediately I had another thought. It is my fault that I did not turn on the kitchen light. Otherwise I would have noticed that the kettle lid was not on. Thus, I chose not to get angry.
When my husband came to check on me, he blamed himself. I calmly said to him, “No problem, next time, just remember to put on the lid.”
That night, my husband said, “My dear wife, you’ve really changed! In the past, you would have definitely yelled at me!”
Indeed, Bodhi Meditation has changed me for the better – not only have I become physically healthier but my temperament has also improved. I will definitely continue to practice to stay healthy and happy!
*Note: Results of meditation practice may vary by individual.