As we wended our way through the narrow mountain roads leading to Saranam, I thought about the six nights and seven days of intensive meditation practice that lay ahead of me. I peacefully gazed at the verdant terraced ricefields through a smudged window. There was no doubt that Bali was and always would be a magical place of self-discovery.
We arrived at Saranam Resort which is situated in the mountainous region of Bali close to Bedugul. The air was crisp and the temperature was noticeably cooler here at about 15?C, which was a refreshing change from the usual oppressive heat further down south. We were shown to our charming bungalows which all faced out unto an interior tropical garden with stunning views of ricefields and Mt. Batu Karu. I shared my room with two very nice European women who were excited about the upcoming week. One of my roommates had already done the Bali Usada Meditation retreat before and had decided to come back again, because she’d received so many health benefits during her first retreat.
A bell resounded in the distance, signaling that it was time for all of us to gather at the meditation room for our orientation. Bapak Merta Ada wasn’t there, (we didn’t know at the time that he would surprise us with his late arrival on Tuesday night) but his two assistants were waiting for us as we quietly filed into the dimly lit room. Everything was done systematically, so we were all assigned to a specific numbered sitting area – men were on the left side of the room while the women were on the right. At Bali Usada they believe that it is better to segregate the men from the women to prevent distraction. After we were all finally seated, the head trainer began to describe our week ahead which involved rising at 5am and doing practice throughout the day until 9pm at night. We were told that after dinner we would be given envelopes so that we could voluntarily relinquish our mobile phones, journals and any books that we might have brought with us, because these things were all considered to be tools for communication. For the next four and a half days, we would be following a vow of silence, so that we could go much deeper into our meditation practice. I was happy to hear this and didn’t mind handing over my items. For me, silence was what I craved most, as I knew this was the key to slowing down or even halting all the senseless chatter in my mind.
Each morning we awoke to the sound of a heavy bell being rung. The sun hadn’t yet arisen as we all found are assigned seats and awaited our instruction. We began every meditation practice with sending out loving kindness to the 12 directions saying, “May all beings be happy”. This was a beautiful practice which gave everyone the opportunity to send good energy out into the world and to all beings.
For our first meditation we were instructed on how to do the ‘Health meditation’: a technique used to produce strong powers of concentration; it encompasses several positive mental qualities such as concentration, calmness, loving kindness and wisdom, which together create a ‘Harmonious Mind’. It is through the practice and cultivation of a harmonious mind, that we are then able to direct our attention to certain parts of our bodies, noting any body sensations that arise. According to Merta Ada, the founder of Bali Usada Meditasi, through this type of awareness, we can ultimately heal ourselves.
As the days passed, I came to a deeper understanding of how our breath functions as a medium for strengthening our concentration. Through awareness of the breath, we are able to cultivate good energy for our minds. This energy then flows to our lungs, heart, and liver, spreading throughout our entire body.
By day three my body was beginning to stiffen from the extended hours we spent sitting on hard cushions. Thankfully we were given regular short breaks after each sitting or Usada exercise practice. Sometimes during our break time, several people stayed in the meditation room to do yoga practice, while others went outside for long walks in the pretty garden which overlooked the ricefields, or did Tai Chi or Qi Gong in the open spaces nearby. After we spent a few days cultivating our harmonious mind, we were then given instruction on how to cultivate greater concentration. Merta Ada teaches that we can sharpen our minds by focusing on the breath coming in and going out and recognizing the characteristics that arise when the breath touches inside one’s nostrils.
Next, we began feeling our body part by part, following a sequence which encompasses 36 parts of the human body. Beginning with the head, we traveled down our torso and ended the sequence at the back of the neck. The journey of ‘body awareness’ helps us become more in tune with ourselves as we notice any tension or pain in our bodies. Bapak Merta Ada shared many wonderful stories about his patients who were ill with Cancer or other serious illnesses, having a miraculous recovery after regularly practicing this mindfulness meditation. I too had been seeking a remedy or treatment for my asthma for many years, and wondered if this might be the answer? As I slowly looked around the room, I sensed that most of us had come here for similar reasons – we all wanted to heal our sicknesses and live happy and healthy lives. It’s strange when the tables are turned on you. My whole life I was told to ignore the pain so that it would go away quicker, now I was being told that in order to heal the pain I had to become intensely aware of its presence, and through this awareness, I could then experience a complete recovery from the pain or sickness that I was experiencing.
Bapak Merta Ada – a truly wise man and devoted meditation teacher and healer, emanated peace through his gentle and quiet demeanor. He clearly explained the origins of most illnesses which predominantly manifest in three ways:
1. We inherit illnesses due to our genetics
2. A traumatic event took place in our life which we’ve repressed in our memories; this can have an impact on our health or overall wellbeing.
3. We have contracted an illness which has manifested in our mental body, subtle body or gross body.
Many medical studies show evidence that meditation can actually help with numerous ailments, but Bapak Merta Ada goes one step further, asserting that meditation has the power to cure a multitude of health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, menstruation problems, hepatitis, and more. By feeling our body part by part and focusing our attention on the place where we may have discomfort or pain, observing and noticing any changes that occur, we can effect deep changes in our bodies.
As the days passed in silence I began to notice a greater sense of expansion in my mind, and with this new space, came a deep inner peace that I hadn’t felt for a very long time. For the first time, the flowers in the garden appeared to have a sharpness and vibrancy of color that I hadn’t noticed before. I became mesmerized with the way a fern’s leaves naturally unfurl from what was once a small perfect spiral. Nature had become alive for me in a whole new way as I drank in the glorious sights and exotic smells.
It became clearer how every meditation that we learned had a specific purpose that could bring great health benefits to the practitioner, but the last meditation we practiced: ‘Loving Kindness’, was perhaps the most powerful, because this meditation was not just for healing ourselves – it was for all beings. We began the meditation by mentally saying: “May all beings be happy” and proceeded with the 12 directions starting from our chest. This was a beautiful process which when regularly practiced, can help us cultivate greater compassion for ourselves and others. Many of our illnesses come from our negative emotions. Thus, through sending out love to those who may have wronged us, we are able to forgive and free ourselves of negative emotions that can eventually cause us to become ill.
Some people come to the Usada Tapa Brata meditation retreat because they want to heal a physical ailment, while others come in search of enlightenment. No matter what reason someone has for coming, there are a variety of powerful meditation techniques that Bapak Merta Ada and his assistants utilize, so that people can improve their lives and ultimately find freedom from illness and suffering. The Usada practice has been known to greatly assist many people with making their bodies and minds stronger and healthier, while also helping them purify their reactions to their memories.
As someone who facilitates healing for others, I have always struggled with finding a method for healing myself. Through this simple, yet profound practice, I have discovered that the power to heal is within me; this was the greatest gift of all.
Bali Usada Meditasi often runs eight week courses at their center in Sanur, or seven day intensive retreats at various locations throughout Bali, Jakarta and Australia. Some retreats are taught in English by Merta Ada, while many are taught in Bahasa Indonesian. For more information please call Bali Usada Meditasi on: 62-361-289209 or SMS: 0816571253 or visit: www.baliusada.com
