Reflections on Indonesian Chan Medan's Meditation activities

Lidya
I am learning the real meaning of retreat.
So learning the step by step meditation really help me to "retreat" and enjoying the present moment in meditation sessions.
Also, Fashi's words at the end echo in my mind, "If you know that your conversation partner isn't real, why bother?"
So when my mind starts to wander, I suddenly remember to withdraw... remember that it's not real 

Kurniady
I am learning step by step to meditate,
Even though we going back to the fundamental class, I learn many important things as the foundation.
How important breath and counting meditation,
How different exercises provide different relaxation will effects,
The goal of which is to be present again in the moment and make meditation a part of our lives.
Wherever the body is, the mind is there. So always remember this practice at all times.

William
I am learning the importance of counting the breath as a method of keeping the mind on the object.
I used to feel that counting the breath made the mind noisy and unsettled. But it turns out that it plays an important role in directing attention and keeping the mind on the object.
Over the two days I realized my attention and concentration were getting stronger, but could still be drawn to negative perceptions and judgments.

Young thing
Step by step meditation
Better understanding of how to count breaths and its benefits
Greater comprehension of why relaxation and massage are necessary
The 8 movements, when done correctly, have significant effects on the body.

Dewi
This is the first time I as volunteer have enough time to spend daily activities with fashi. Because of this activities I receive so much help and feedback from fashi.

With the presence of 3 fashis. We could witness and learn how we should act in our daily life. Watching how fashi interact with people and how fashi practice in daily life inspire me.  Fashi also guide us How we as practictioner should practice and become role model to others. At first I was not aware enough. But thankful for the advices given I become more aware of the things that we never aware before.
All this can happen because we have enough time to interact with fashi in our daily life activities.
Before I dont have this opportunity.

For the Two days retreat Yan Yang fashi explain very detail how to collect our mind and the importance of the fundamental method to calm down the mind. Even though we had heard this before.  Despite many years of practicing I have not been able or clear enough the real meaning of using the method in our daily activity. I am so thankful fashi have make me realise this. His words really wake me up. And fashi himself show us really good example of him to show us how we should do it.
We can feel the energy and the spirit of practice with the presence of 3 Fashis here in medan especially in our community. 
I feel really thankful and gratitude towards the willingness of Yan Yang fashi, Yan Jiu fashi and Yan Gong fashi to come and help medan community 
Our blessing.
Deep bow..

Siaw Tjen
I feel this event really helped me in understanding Buddha Dharma through the Dhamma Talk and interactions we have had with Fashi so far.
I have learned about more specific meditation methods. 8 Form moving meditation, massage, relaxation and the methods explained by Fashi are systematic and clear. I just found out that the way I have been counting my breaths is not exactly the right way.
I am very grateful and blessed for the opportunity join this event and be a part of it. Seeing how Fashi applies this method in everyday life and what Fashi doing for Buddha Dharma, made me realize the importance of implementing this method in everyday life and inspired me.
Thank you Fashi for your compassion for coming to Medan and sharing Buddha Dharma with us.

Jenny
For this retreat i didn't encounter any problem and feel calm , especially because fashi direct step by step when sitting and walking and when rest time, feels relax and  now i have been doing  morning routine or try do it on daily routine such as when i walk  like fashi teach us before , feel our body and breath and always back to this moment here and now
Thank you Fashi  

Vichelda
Through this event I've gained more knowledge about Buddha Dharma. The meditation methods explained by Fashi is also really clear and understandable. This event made me realize the importance of meditation in my daily life, such as how I can be more aware of my state of mind when something happens or bothers me so that I wouldnt take actions that I might regret later on. I'm really thankful for the chance I’ve gotten to join this event, thank you Fashi for their willingness to come to Medan and share this with us.

Darwin Kurniawan
As a part of the younger generation, I rarely have chance and time to join a retreat but this one time have teach me a lot
The Breath counting method, Walking and eating meditation, relaxation, why we must learn dharma, what the benefit, Fashi have told us all of that and really help someone like me that have just started training meditation, I still feel pain and discomfort but not as much as before now, thanks for the teaching.

Aliong
My experience in attending this retreat is that even though I still haven't gained much since this is my first time attending a retreat and practice meditation, this retreat inspired to practice more Buddha Dharma and meditation. There are still many problems I faced such as during the sitting meditation, my feet can get sore and hurt and my mind still couldn't concentrate well. But I can definitely feel the benefits of the retreat because what is taught was very clear and focused on what we learn. Maybe I still need time to practice meditation more in the future. I hope this event can be held again.

Corrie
非常感恩讓我第一次經驗過當那麼多人面前的翻譯者而且翻譯的是關於佛法。 雖然從還沒開始之前我一直都有害怕的感覺， 因為翻錯佛法能讓其他誤會是非常重的罪。 但聽法師說「學多少就分享多少，不要等到「會」才開始去做」 那是刻就覺得特別放心自己沒做錯的決定（雖然翻譯的不夠好）。 另外我發覺到我越了解自己，清楚自己，清楚「自我」還是很強大（功課： 需要練習）。 最後還是非常感恩法師們過來再讓我感覺到回來，又提醒禪修對我的好處，目的等。