Bodhi Meditation follows the teachings of the Medicine Buddha. Under the continuous guidance of Grandmaster JinBodhi for 30 years, through teaching meditation, it has allowed many sentient beings with affinity to attain physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, and guides us to find happiness and a more enlightened life through devotion.
On October 31st, the New York Bodhi Meditation Center held the Medicine Buddha’s Birthday Blessing Ceremony, which also marked the successful conclusion of the “Sincerity Chanting Retreat”. In front of the altar, beautiful flowers, fruits, long-life buns, and blessed water were offered. After the ceremony, they were given to the attendees and fellow practitioners. The Center also shared this auspicious event with fellow practitioners and friends online through live streaming.
The Center Director led the congregation in offering incense and paying respects to the Buddha, doing so with hearts filled with reverence, faith, and gratitude, genuinely honoring the act of worship.
Testimonial Sharing, Blessing, and Protection
The immense energy of “Sincerity Chanting Retreat” over these seven days is something the Center wishes to share with everyone. Simultaneously, it serves as a powerful blessing because it nurtures our faith in the Dharma, cultivates reverence for the Buddha and Grandmaster, and engenders gratitude and deep emotions. When these three aspects combine, they form “sincerity.” With a sincere heart facing the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, facing Grandmaster, our future in this lifetime will be auspicious, bright, and joyous.
Here are some sharings from several practitioners:
Sister Fu Yin – Improved Vision, Five Eminences of the Palm Became Fuller
I am grateful for all the positive connections that contributed to the success of my retreat. Through diligent practice, I cultivated auspicious palmistry with fuller five eminences of my palms. Usually, during winter, my eyes become dry and easily fatigued. On the second day of the Chanting Retreat, tears started flowing involuntarily. When I returned home that day, I realized the fatigue had vanished, my eyes became clear, and my vision improved. Chanting with a heart that seeks nothing in return made my whole body feel unobstructed; worries and stress disappeared, wisdom emerged. I became more patient in communicating with my family, leading to harmonious family relationships. After this retreat, my confidence in spiritual practice grew stronger. I rediscovered my original aspiration of following Grandmaster through countless lifetimes and hope to spread the Dharma, allowing more karmically connected individuals like me to attain health, happiness, and well-being.
Sister Hong Gong – Body and Mind Relaxation, Beauty, Weight Loss
In order to attend this Chanting Retreat, I lit a lamp before the Buddha, overcame numerous obstacles, and traveled from another state.
Regarding the benefits to my physical well-being, besides experiencing relaxation in my shoulders and neck, what made me happiest was that I started spontaneous fasting on the very first day of the retreat! In the two months leading up to the retreat, I had been working hard to lose weight, controlling my diet, but my weight wouldn’t budge. In just six short days of attending the retreat, I lost 8 pounds, and my skin became smoother, making me look younger and more attractive. Attending the retreat provided beauty and weight loss without any cost, which brought me great joy! Additionally, I used to sleep over 8 hours a day at home, and sometimes even took afternoon naps. During the retreat, I averaged only 5 hours of sleep, yet I still felt energetically vibrant throughout the day.
After listening to Grandmaster’s teachings, I once again reflected on my attitude towards my family and realized that I hadn’t truly cared for, understood, or accommodated them. Upon truly comprehending the Grandmaster’s guidance, I rekindled compassion and started offering more care, understanding, and tolerance to my family members. I’ve also come to respect every individual’s life more deeply.
Sister Fu Cha – Learning to Let Go, Contentment, and Gratitude
In this class, I have truly gained so much. First of all, during the closing exercises, there’s a toe-pinching movement that we do. I discovered that the pain in my right pinky toe, which had been bothering me for 5 years, miraculously disappeared. Additionally, while meditating, I used to feel tension in my back and limbs, so I occasionally moved and stretched. During these times, I would hear cracking sounds from my joints, like an elderly woman in her 90s. However, on the third and fourth days of the course, I no longer heard those sounds.
I am generally prone to nervousness and feeling stressed. I could even hold grudges against events that occurred 10 years ago. I knew that Grandmaster emphasized the importance of letting go, but I had never been able to truly achieve it. Yet, during this class, I felt Grandmaster’s blessings, and I succeeded in letting go. One day after class, I went to a supermarket to buy things. During checkout, the fire alarm went off due to a fire drill. The store employees asked everyone to evacuate the building. In the past, I would have definitely been furious about such an incident and would have called my husband and mother to complain. However, that day, I was able to let go in the moment and decided to return the next day to finish my shopping.
Due to inherited genetic factors, my mother, sister, and I all have anxiety and depression issues. We tried countless methods to resolve them, to no avail, until I came to Bodhi Meditation. Through studying the Earth Store Sutra with Grandmaster, I came to understand that whatever I’m experiencing now is a result of my past, even previous lifetimes’ actions, and Grandmaster taught us how to improve our destinies. Following Grandmaster’s guidance, I lit lamps, recited sutras, performed acts of kindness, and prayed to the Buddhas and Grandmaster to help me learn gratitude and acceptance. In this retreat, I realized that the biggest flaw in my family is a lack of gratitude. We’re all accustomed to habitual complaining; my mother even jokes that rain clouds follow her around.
What brings me the greatest joy is the significant improvement in my relationship with my sister. She has been taking care of my mother out of state and has suffered from depression for the past four years. She hadn’t spoken to me during this time, which made me very sad. I’ve been lighting lamps and praying for her. During the time Grandmaster taught us the Earth Store Sutra, she began sending me text messages. Recently, when I returned to Ohio to visit my mother, my sister agreed to meet me, and we celebrated our mother’s 87th birthday together!
Yesterday was my sister’s birthday, and I sent her Grandmaster’s Energy Bagua DVD as a gift. She was very delighted upon receiving it and texted me saying, “Thank you, I can feel your love!” This further made me realize that Grandmaster’s selfless love truly pervades everything. When one person practices, the whole family benefits! I had tried to change myself many times before, but it wasn’t until I entered Bodhi that I experienced real change, especially during the classes, where the effects were more pronounced. Particularly during this Sincerity Chanting Retreat, the practice of seeking nothing has made me realize how heavy my previous attachments and selfishness were. However, I felt Grandmaster’s blessings, enabling me to truly chant with a seeking-nothing mindset, and I visualized the beauty of everything in the world, like the fish in the ocean or the towering mountains. I hope that all sentient beings can be illuminated by the light of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! All of this stems from Grandmaster’s compassion.
I hope to spread Grandmaster’s teachings to English-speaking individuals who have the affinity, so that they can receive Grandmaster’s auspicious blessings like my family has.
Sister Shou Jiu – Finger Recovery, No Longer a Tiger Mom
I gained a lot from this auspicious 7-day retreat. Every morning when I woke up, I couldn’t fully extend my right pinky finger, and it lacked sensation. It took about five minutes for it to slowly regain feeling. I consulted a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who suggested it might be due to insufficient blood circulation and recommended massaging it regularly. However, this condition persisted for more than two or three months without improvement, which concerned me. Surprisingly, on the third day of this retreat, I woke up to find my finger had returned to normal! I’m grateful to Grandmaster for resolving an issue that had troubled me for two months within just two days!
In terms of family relationships, I used to be an overbearing mother. My son has grown up and is working outside, and his job is going smoothly. However, I used to call him 1 to 3 times a day, claiming it was out of concern, but in reality, I was monitoring him. Due to the intense schedule of this retreat, I didn’t have the opportunity to call him. It dawned on me that I hadn’t called my son for five days. This made me realize that it’s Grandmaster’s blessings that have helped me learn to let go, making me more relaxed.
During the practice of seeking nothing when chanting, I expressed my trust in the Buddha, the wonders of the Dharma, my reverence and love for Grandmaster through my chants. My voice felt like that of a songbird, so beautiful! Through Grandmaster’s Dharma voice, I hope to pass this onto those who need help.
The song “Waiting for Your Return” touched me deeply. Grandmaster is like a compassionate father, always caring for us and waiting for us unconditionally, despite any obstacles. It’s just our ignorance and lack of understanding that make Grandmaster’s efforts difficult. In the days to come, I am willing to follow Grandmaster closely and transmit Grandmaster’s profound teachings to countless individuals who share the affinity.
Sister Chi Bu – Dharma Rain and Nectar, Nourishing the Soul
In this Chanting Retreat, Grandmaster’s Dharma rain and nectar have nourished my previously arid soul. Although I usually practice at home, the challenges of life left me feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, and unfocused, with a sense that my energy was insufficient. I used to wonder why I experienced bodily pain even when I practiced at home. During this retreat, I discovered the reason – my thoughts are scattered when I practice at home, leading to significantly different results. During the first four days of the retreat, my entire body felt sore. I understood that it was due to blocked energy channels. By the fifth day, I felt comfortable and relaxed, thoroughly enjoying the practice.
During the chanting, I also self-reflected and realized that I have a straightforward personality. I often speak to my children with guidance and criticism. Because they were mischievous when they were young, I developed the habit of reprimanding them. I recognized that I didn’t give them space to express themselves or truly understand their inner world. This is something I need to improve upon.
On one evening during the retreat, my son threw a tantrum at home. Normally, I might have ignored him like my husband does and let him vent or even scolded him. However, because it was during the retreat, I felt very calm. I stayed with him, hugged him, and his emotions quickly settled. Later, I massaged his stomach and made him laugh. Through meditation, my mind became calmer, and my approach to handling situations changed.
The Buddha and Grandmaster have deeply touched my life, and I’m truly grateful. However, due to my infrequent visits to the Center, this feeling has gradually faded and buried deeper in my heart, as if squeezed into a small corner. This retreat allowed me to feel the Buddha’s compassion and love once again. Through the practice of seeking nothing, I saw the golden light of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and was compelled to reach out and touch it. The energy of this light transferred to me; it felt truly remarkable. It’s an energy of compassion, brightness, and wisdom, bringing about a sense of tranquility and peace.
When I heard Grandmaster sing “Waiting for Your Return,” I felt his love for us. Grandmaster always wants to give us the best. Through this retreat, my heart has drawn closer to Grandmaster’s. I hope to spend more time volunteering at the Center to repay Grandmaster’s kindness to me.
With Respect and Sincerity, We Chant the Heart Mantra
Next, we followed Grandmaster’s guidance and chanted to the Medicine Buddha’s Heart Mantra with respectful and devout hearts. Through sincere chanting, may our wishes be sent to the Medicine Buddha, aligning our hearts with his, purifying our karmic obstacles, and attaining boundless wisdom.
Finally, everyone sang the “Hymn to the Buddha” song with heartfelt devotion, bringing a perfect conclusion to today’s blessing ceremony.
The intent of the testimonial is to offer wellness information of a general nature. Individual results of practice may vary.