Carmen Wai, Toronto
I am a school teacher in my thirties. From the time I was in university, I have loved to meditate. Through meditation, I have found pain relief, mental ease and calm.
Since my first encounter with Bodhi Meditation in 2017, I have participated in various Bodhi Meditation retreats every year, especially during summer school breaks. To me, Bodhi Meditation retreats are like vacations for purifying my body, mind and spirit.
I suffer from chronic sinusitis. The Winter 2019 season was particularly challenging as it took me months to recover from a bout of sinusitis, despite antibiotic prescriptions.
On the first day of my most recent 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat, I caught a nasal infection which triggered another bout of sinusitis. I felt very weak. My whole body was sore and uncomfortable.
The next morning, instead of heading straight to the doctor for medication, I decided to attend Day 2 of the retreat. By the end of the day, I felt much better. However, just to be on the safe side, I visited my doctor to seek a prescription. After a thorough examination, my doctor refused to prescribe antibiotics, saying I no longer needed them!
After that, I continued to attend the retreat. Before it had even concluded, I had already fully recovered from my infection and sinusitis.
Another phenomenon I love about Bodhi Meditation retreats is the unique opportunity to experience “spontaneous fasting.”* During my first Health and Happiness Retreat, I went on spontaneous fasting and lost ten pounds. During my most recent retreat, I did not feel hungry right from the outset and easily lost five pounds. On the fifth day of the retreat, I felt an indescribable ease and lightness of being – it was such a wonderful feeling!
I am very grateful to have found a place like the Bodhi Meditation Center where I can safely and peacefully practice meditation in a group setting, completely worry-free.
*Editor’s note: Spontaneous fasting is a phenomenon that may occur during meditation. It is not a process that can be forced through willpower or personal choice. It is a naturally occurring process whereby one eats much less than usual or does not eat at all, yet is neither hungry nor thirsty. During this natural and spontaneous process, one is still filled with energy and vitality and both the body and mind are more relaxed.
Note: Effects of meditation may vary by individual.
Credits: Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash