Between 10 to 18 December 2022, Bodhi Meditation Singapore held the first English 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat after more than two years of the pandemic. There were about 100 participants in this retreat, and some joined the retreat for the first time with the aim to improve their health and mental well-being. The rest of the attendees were past participants who had benefited from meditation and were attending the retreat again. As this retreat coincided with the December school holidays, some attended the retreat together with their children as they would like to spend time together meaningfully.
Participants’ Benefits
Stephanie Ang Theng Theng: I am free of problems now!
Before this retreat, I felt that I had a lot of problems. Now I feel I am free from problems.
I was diagnosed with diabetes 5 years ago. Before this retreat, my blood glucose level showed 15.9. It has now dropped to 11.2! I am so happy that from this class, my blood glucose level lowered significantly.
I had a car accident when I was 12 years old. Since then I would experience hip pain from walking a distance. My hips would feel “jammed”, and it would often “pop” (misalign), and I would need to crack my hips to realign it back again. On the second day of the retreat I realised that the pain was gone for good!
One year ago, I had a blocked ear after water entered my ear during my shower. It caused a sharp pain that ran behind my ears, often causing me to have migraines and giddiness. I could also hear a ringing sound, as though I was wearing an ear piece. My hearing got weaker and I had difficulty hearing people; I often had to go near to them in order to hear what they were saying. I was prescribed medication by the doctor but it did not clear the blockage. Miraculously, the blockage was cleared on the second day of this retreat!
This class helped me become a better person and this improved my relationship with my family. After listening to Grandmaster’s teaching “Learn to be Happy”, I learnt to appreciate my family members, and also to express my gratitude to them. Thus when I returned home, I apologised to my husband for bringing hurt to him whenever we quarrelled. I also thanked him for going through the ups and downs together as a family. Grandmaster’s teaching reminded me to be more aware of my speech and I have since become less commanding towards my three children. I am really grateful to Grandmaster for these changes in me.
Yeo Pian Sim: After effects of stroke improved after the retreat!
I had a mild stroke and was discharged from hospital a month ago. After discharge, I still felt weakness on the left side of my body and needed support of a walking stick or a person to hold me when I walked. I also had feelings of heaviness and felt low due to my health condition. Since I had a stroke, I always felt the urge to go to the washroom every two hourly, thus I could not rest well at night. On the second day of this retreat, I returned home feeling happy, no longer feel sad about my condition. On Day 6 of this retreat, after the energy blessing session, I did not feel the urge to go to the washroom as often and was able to sleep through the night! At the same time, I felt that my legs and the left side of my body has become stronger; I no longer need a walking stick and am able to walk confidently! I am filled with gratitude towards Grandmaster for all these benefits that I gained from this retreat! I will continue to practise diligently!
Angie Toh: Say goodbye to aches and pain!
Since late last year, my health condition worsened, and I experienced aches from head to toe. I had to go for a weekly 2-hour massage, but the aches were only alleviated during the massage; the ache would come back after the massage. In the middle of this year, my leg pain became worse, and I was limping. Due to this leg pain, I had difficulty sitting cross-legged, and struggled sitting down during the first few days of this class. After practising the Meditation of the Greater Illumination (GI) for three days, on the fourth day of this retreat, I felt that my body had become more flexible and I was able to sit in the half lotus position. I am so happy as practicing GI makes my body feel so light and free of aches, as if I am having a massage for the whole day! Gratitude to Grandmaster!
