According to me a religious retreat is very important especially in our present I.T. age where there are rapid developments. Everyday we find that time really flies until we do not provide “space” for ourselves but chasing after the externals until we are stressed or burnout.

A religious retreat can provide us the “space” for personal developments, to know our true selves and environment. When we are busy with our daily lives our minds are like the glasses of murky water. But during a retreat and in the time of silence/meditation we let this murky water/mind to slowly settle down and become clear. Then in the clearness of our mind we can come to know our true selves and the environment to gain the wisdom to let go, be selfless and be peaceful in this present life, not necessarily waiting for the next realm/rebirth.

With full concentration when reciting “AMITUOFO” for a long period of time our minds become calm and tranquil. In other words our mind become one-pointed, become pure: no greed, no anger. The mind is not “disturbed”. This “cooling effect” of the mind can help us to bear the strivings in our daily lives if we truly recite “AMITUOFO” and meditate daily.

The loud recitation of AMITUOFO is to get our minds to be concentrated/focused, a “countdown” before the actual silent recitation of AMITUOFO/meditation. However, we must not be attached to the feeling of tranquility of the mind during meditation but just be aware/mindful of it.

If we always recite the AMITUOFO it will go into our subconscious mind and during the near-death moment AMITUOFO RECITATION will automatically “appear”.

During the retreat it was rejuvenating to be back with Nature: the green trees and plants, streams, dam, blue skies, blue sea, the cool morning breeze, the sound of waves and the early morning singing of the birds.

For some of us experiencing the good effects of the retreat was something new. So to expand our experiences we must cultivate the practice of AMITUOFO RECITATION and MEDITATION daily so that there will be positive changes in our lives.