Alan_A, Age 25, 7DW Level 1, Introduction- English Teacher at a tourism vocational school in China bordering Vietnam

[Alan_A]

Hello Everyone,

This introduction is a bit long, which i hope won't deter too many people from reading it. It occured to me that this is the first record of my health and should be fairly detailed.

First off, I’m originally from the state of Montana in the northwest US, but am now living in a southwestern province of China that borders Vietnam and the South China Sea. I’m 25 years old and teach English at a tourism vocational school. I’m not a certified teacher, just a native speaker that found a niche in a society that demands the study of English as a second language.

My health problems at this point don’t appear too severe, but after reading through various websites including HPS Online, my hunch that my symptoms implied other more serious things was confirmed.

From adolescence to about the age of 22 I had problems with constipation and pain in my colon. At 22, I came to China where began extended phases of diarrhea. Since then I’ve had no regular consistency of stool, it’s either diarrhea or loose and broken up, or, if solid, small in diameter.

Up through childhood to now I’ve had hay fever allergies. After reading about the unhelpful goals of western medicine to solely suppress symptoms, which I did all throughout my childhood by taking meds for my allergies, I have recently let my allergies go and have witnessed incredible amounts of mucus discharge. This said to me that my body was not clean internally and was naturally trying to release and cleanse.

From time to time I experience skin inflammations on my face.

In the winter I have very cold hands and feet, while in warmer weather they sweat profusely.

I believe that my blood circulation is inefficient.

As I’ve fasted on my own before one thing I’ve discovered is that I have very pungent body odor.

Daily I experience a fogginess of mind that comes when I’m hungry. I therefore eat often, and though I eat small portions to prevent overeating I still have the same foggy feeling after eating. I’ve done some experimenting with food combinations that I’ve learned from HPS, and though I’ve learned some interesting things, I still feel lost and unable to understand what I’ve learned and how to apply it in a resolute and durable way.

Mentally and spiritually, I don’t feel I’m where I want or should be. This year more than ever I’ve been in constant internal debate over what direction to take in my life. Unfortunately, more thinking is not answering my questions. I feel that I’m becoming more anxious daily, and that I amazingly keep finding ways to heap burdens and worries upon myself though I clearly state the thought in my head that this will not do. I believe my internal health relates to this.

Also, recently I’ve become more aware of my tendency to resort to binges of various types when I’m with my peers or when I perceive weakness, loneliness, and emptiness within myself. Binges on sweets, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and others that are unfortunately destructive binges.

With this cleanse I’m hoping to learn about my health quicker and more thoroughly while developing in all aspects of my being. After my solo experiences with fasting I realize how important it is to have guidance and support. To have someone like Jos-hua with his experience overseeing unobtrusively, while having a group of people to speak with who are on the same road, is of incredible value.

Important to me are the times of clarity, peace, and self-awareness that open up the world to an infinite potential. It’s during these times that decisions are easy, life is potent, and it is light. But, it’s occurring to me that the understanding and experiencing of this potential relates intimately with the condition of the harmony between the mind, body, and spirit. All aspects need to be cleansed, and with this program and the people apart of it, I’m going to start with my body.

I've looked through the site and have seen and felt an enormous amount of healthy vibrations. I am looking forward to being apart of that. Good luck to everyone.

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

Hello Everyone,

It occured to me that this is the first record of my health and should be fairly detailed.


With this cleanse I’m hoping to learn about my health quicker and more thoroughly while developing in all aspects of my being. After my solo experiences with fasting I realize how important it is to have guidance and support. To have someone like Jos-hua with his experience overseeing unobtrusively, while having a group of people to speak with who are on the same road, is of incredible value.


I've looked through the site and have seen and felt an enormous amount of healthy vibrations. I am looking forward to being apart of that. Good luck to everyone.


Greetings Alan,

Well, you are the first person to finally comment on this... it is a very important point and I have purposely wanted to bring it to the forefront right from the start.... you are the first to finally mention it... thanks for making my day. I've been waiting for someone to comment on it after realizing it. This is your record of your health, right from the heart... thought about by you, experienced in the past by you, created by you and will be reflected upon over the coming months by you. No one created your health, you did... and what kind of health you will have in the future, you will create too.

Our society has taught us that our health record is made by someone else... the doctor, the nurse, the data inputer, the tests, etc... right there the problems start, because right there, our record isn't ours, it's made by them... likewise, our health care isn't ours, it is made by them... When the foundations start like that, you can imagine what the building looks like later.

Alan, I say taking responsibility for one's health is easier than we imagine... oh sure, it requires some effort, some time and some money, knowledge and skills, but what doesn't? So it is no different than anything else.

This program rocks!

You already in your intro, just out the gate, already found what I call real value... the above three points which i quoted from your intro already make it worth the investment... so from here on out, we are beyond that issue and into practice. (BTW, there is a sticky poll at the poll forum on this, and I would appreciate when you feel it, vote in it. Thanks)

I look forward to your practice and your journey here... welcome to our HPS community of cleansing friends. We all are here for you, with you.
It's a cooperative effort.

Peace, love and light, jos-hua

[Janaka_P]

Alan, I can see that you have a really good mental set, a great perspective on where you are and what HPS can offer you. You will find the whole experience very fulfilling, I am sure. Welcome aboard!

[Ronald_H]

Wow, Alan,

Though we are separated by 30 years chronologically and thousands of miles geographically, there is much we have in common: from not being certified to teach yet teaching English overseas to having hay fever allergies in childhood and mucus problems later. From not being where you want to be mentally and spiritually to realizing how necessary it is to have guidance and support on the path of change. There is more that I could comment on but it should probably be said in a PM. Know that I am pulling for you and in my spiritual framework will pray for you to find truth and light on your path of life.

Blessings and press on!

Ronald_H

[Louise_L]

Alan,

Cleansing with HPS will do wonders for the state of your mind. It will ground you and give you peace. When you have that, then you can make the decisions.

You are off to a great start.

Louise_L

[Steve_C]

Alan you got it in one - stop the thinking and start the 'doing'.
You can go on thinking by yourself forever, but without the direction
that you'll find here, you'll end up nowhere.

I'm sure lots of people can identify with your symptoms, me included. These
will all hopefully disappear in time, leaving you to enjoy a healthier, happier life.

Follow the well tried and trusted cleansing path. It's an amazing journey on which you'll learn so much from people who really care.

Congrats on starting 'the doing'.

[Alan_A]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

To know you are out there thinking and practicing along the lines of preventive health care has already provided an immeasurable boost for me.

I want to add to this introduction a few comments on my diet and experiences with practicioning.

From early childhood up to about the age of 19 I lived primarily on bread, butter, luncheon meat, cheese, various cereals, mayonnaise, mustard, yogurt, potatoes and a few, but too few, other vegetables and fruit. And all kinds of meat, especially beef. My grandfather had a herd of cattle and supplied my family with free good beef which we ate many times per week.

Not only was this diet combined in an imbalanced way(as i've read on hps)it was also combined with large amounts of snack foods and desserts.

At the time I didn't notice any side effects to this type of eating because I was extremely active in sports all year round. Looking back though, I do remember frequent bowel discomforts.

Around age 19 and 20, out of my house and cooking for myself or going out for fast food, I experienced an even further imbalance in my diet. Lots of cheese, wheat products, meat, candy and ice cream, and again few vegetables and fruits.

At 22 I came to China where my diet transformed. Initially I ate restaurant stirfry everday, usually beef or pork mixed with a mix of veggies, along with a bowl of rice. I did however get used to adding a beer or two with those meals. The meals here are also laden heavily with salt and msg, and you can't always get your meals without it.

A plus to the change in country and region, I'm living in southern China, is that I eat a lot of fruit due to the availability of a diverse assortment. I also lost a bit of weight at this time.

It was this year that I ran into the HPS website, other fasting websites, and the Master Cleanser.

In May of 2004 I did my first fast on my own for nine days. An all juice fast, with an experiment of 3 days water fasting in the middle of the nine days.

For the first couple of days I experienced a huge burst in energy, and concentration, and clarity. I had great feelings of openess towards others, unfortunately in contrast to my usual state.

Inexperienced as I was, and wanting to try for a "pure" experience, I decided to water fast whereupon the first two days I was utterly consumed by thoughts of food. I could not forget about food until the third day.

I finished the fast on juice. I believe I broke my fast too quickly, succumbing like only living beings can do when a great desire arises, and I ate an oily fresh salad that left me uncomfortable physically.

During that fast I deficated only twice, with very little to show.

Since then I've done another 10 day fast, and 2, 3 day fasts. During these I followed the Master Cleanser fast which has you drink from 6-12 cups of a mixture of lemonade, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper everyday. During these fasts my feeling would start off good, but, well, but I don't know....I have suspicions about the sugar levels I was intaking affecting me negatively. I excreted more though.

Now, my diet is pretty good. I try to practice trophology as i can. I dont get enough fresh vegetables.

I'll finish for now by saying that I've come back around again to HPS with more reasons than ever, I'm more confident than ever knowing that there are people here along with me. take care all

Alan_A

[Richard_D]

Hi Alan and welcome. Aside from age, we have a lot of things in common: I've been living in Taiwan teaching English for the past 3 years; I did some solo fasting before HPS; I grew up eating a lot of beef (we had our own cows); I tend to write a lot when posting on my own threads.

I find it remarkable, your insights into your health situation without any real pressure like a serious medical condition or something. It's apparent that these insights have led you to a lot of seemingly un- or distantly-related topics such as one's mental and spiritual state of being, and the behaviors that arise from such.

I really appreciate the extra effort you've put into this record of yours. I believe you're going to make all kinds of discoveries during your time here; your instinct for reflection and thoroughness will benefit you--and all of us--greatly here.

Rick

[Louise_L]

Alan and Rick,

Long and thoughtful posts are always appreciated at this forum. That's how we learn and laugh and become a community.

Louise_L

[Valmiki_N]

Wonderful introduction, Alan. I can relate to a lot of your issues.

I'm only a few days old here myself, but it feels like family already.

The holistic program that has been made available to us with precise instruction and a wonderful support group is indeed of incredible value.

Good luck and a hearty welcome.

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

Alan and Rick,

Long and thoughtful posts are always appreciated at this forum. That's how we learn and laugh and become a community.

Louise_L


I'll second that whole heartedly.

Peace friends, thanks friends.

[Michael_S]

Alan,

I think everybody has said it, but I just wanted to add on, it's great to have you join us here. Your intro was very descriptive and a great account of your health.

You have started off with a great approach to an amazing community and program. You will get the most out of this program!

Looking forward to seeing your first cleanse.

Best Wishes and Happy Holdays! :)
Michael

[Alan_A]

Thanks everyone for the replies and thoughts.

Continuing my introduction:

I've been practicing as best i can the food combining rules that are on the website and ebook for about a half a year already. My dilligence wavers though at times, and i went a couple of months last year where i was completely heedless of the rules and wreaked some havoc on my insides. My body was doing well at that time too as i had done a couple of juice fasts on my own. But then i decided i was going to join the hps cleanse and i gave way to my dietary whims with the knowledge of relief ahead. A foolish notion, but i see that and am aware, and by joining in the support group am doubly aware that NOW i need to start working on my habits to supplement and enhance the success of my level 1 cleanse.


It seems that due to where i live and having to wait some time for cleanse products to arrive via friends that i now have the time to reflect on my being's former and present state more thoroughly then if i would have just jumped in right away.

Knowing that i'd have to wait and depend on fate(maybe i wouldn't be able to get the products, i thought) caused me some distress because i wanted to get solidly on the path of cleansing as soon as possible. Not having control of the situation according to what i initially envisioned made me anxious and nervous and angry. I do though see the situation differently now:

Right now i'm in a hostel deep in the furthest southwestern Chinese province called Yunnan. It's developing fast just as almost all of China ie. I can use the internet. It's a sub-tropical area that's been warming my bones that have been cold for so long in the city i live in farther north and east. Eating strange foods, meeting people, trying to communicate with mandarin chinese in minority areas that only speak local dialects and not a bit of english, visiting markets and temples, reading, writing, listening to music: all in all, travelling.

After a half a year of pushing myself to make some ends meet and provide some future financial security i found myself strung out, pent up, very nervous, and constantly aware of and trying to shrug off a feeling of fear. Fortunately, I'm a teacher in China and my winter break came and i had the chance to go travelling.

In my experience and in my belief travelling is an incredible form of therapy that stands unrivalled in many ways because of its far-reaching influences. As anyone knows, but especially those who've uprooted themselves and ventured to cultures in great contrast to their own, the traveller is confronted in all parts of their being.

As it's happend to me my senses go wild and become disorganized as they are flooded with continuous new stimulus. In a nutshell, the new stimulus increases as my interested mind absorbs all it can, and eventually it gets to a point and there is too much, and for me, the all important happens, i begin to let go. I begin to lose sight of all the "important" things in my sedentary life(and so many are always so small but cause so much distress), i begin to know that I can't hold on to everything, I cannot control everything. This trip the idea is forming that if i'm going to survive in the inexplicably intricate vast and alluring information age and bring peace into my life, a fluid and patient being is necessary to help me understand what is actually necessary.

The HPS cleanse and Travelling are tools of this process of balancing control and no control, of understanding necessity, of uprooting and getting to know your emotions, and of bringing peace.

Actually, the benefits are myriads upon myriads.

That's this time's update and I still sense i've only begun my intro.

Again thanks to all who've looked in on my intro.

[Maz_S]

Hi Alan, it is awesome to read your into and yes, this is about becoming your own doctor. That is a gift that Jos-hua has perfected for us and if you follow him step by step you will be in control and reap the benefits for your entire life.

Good on ya mate for a fab choice.

love and kindness,
Maz

[Alan_A]

This is from mid-March 2005....

Continuing my intro with feelings great and flowing. It’s been a month since a friend of mine brought over from America Daniel Reid’s book and I’ve taken to the information and suggested daily regimens for breathing and exercise like it was just the thing I was waiting for to enhance and revitalize my life.

As for my diet I’m following the rules of food combining as best I can while eating more raw vegetables, lots of fruit, seeds and nuts, oatmeal, tofu, and a little meat. I’ve also begun a food cure to balance out my blood sugar. This entails daily doses of molasses, raw tomatoes, spinach and carrots, active yeast, and complete abstention from refined starch and sugar, bananas, figs, dates, raisons, and cooked potatoes for 1-2 months. This will lead up to my formal cleanse starting the first of May.

Physically, nearly everyday I do the Daniel Reid suggested yoga stretching and loosening along with breathing and long life exercises. In a month I’ve noticed marked improvement in the flexibility of all areas of my body especially previously constricted areas like my lower back, hamstrings, knee tendons and ligaments. Another improvement, as a result of the salt water nasal cleanses and breathing exercises, has been the clearing of my nasals and enhancement of my olfactory sense. My eyes have become clearer. My circulation has improved greatly returning color to my face that I didn’t realize I was missing until I noticed the change in my complexion. In general I’m more relaxed.

Mentally and spiritually concentration, calmness, and patience have settled in my life in a way that I can only describe as durable. I say durable because of their continuing steady presence in contrast to their spotty withering presence in previous years. They in turn influence the moment to moment depth of my involvement in the things that I do. I’ve found that mentally I’m supple and, along with patience, am able to begin and thoroughly see whatever it is I’m doing through unto a natural or complete end. It seems to me that I’m becoming more aware of the rhythms of the aspects of my being. These days I don’t try to cram a lot of things into my day even though I want to and have had more desire than ever before to jump into many interesting things, mainly because I believe I have the capacity for everything. But, I’ve realized that things need there own time, and I remind myself again and again that I can’t do everything, that sometimes I need to wait, think, and not-think, to see what comes next. I think as a result of this mindfulness my mind has turned to art, to poetry, and I’ve written more in a month than the past year combined.

more to come especially since some of the above has changed....

[Ronald_H]

Alan,

You are a real inspiration and role model for those wishing to build health the "HPS way". That you have already begun to practice aspects of the material here prior to even doing your L1 cleanse is admirable and to be copied.

Yo, all you guests out there - please take note that what is offered here is much, much more than how to do a home colonic. If you want health this "course" will teach you how.

Congratulations, Alan, on the gains you have made with calmness and patience. The mental changes seem to be taking hold. That should be really motivating to keep on the path you have taken, right? I can really relate to your comment about your current approach to dealing with all the opportunities that present themselves to you for action. I could use a good dose of your "step back and see" methodology. I find that when I'm really enthused about an area of interest that I tend to almost get consumed by it - missing the balance that is needed to maintain true health. Again, thanks for your example.

Your stateside friend,

Ron

[Colin_C]

Hi Alan,

Its great that you've decided to join the program here... your going to learn a lot and benefit alot too. I started with hps because I developed a similar problem with constipation but after having just finished my level 2 my situation is quite a bit better now... and I think you'll find the same. Proper food combining gets too be more worthwhile and effective after you've done some cleansing out of the colon... you'll then notice even more of a difference... but its great that you're starting now - the sooner the better.

Here to a wonderful first cleanse!

peace,
Colin

[Alan_A]

Thanks for dropping in everyone, thanks for the thoughts and for the support.

Precleanse starts tomorrow....I'm going to post a continuation of my intro in a second which was written before today. as for today and yesterday i've begun doing daniel reid's exercises again after a couple of weeks off. i didn't push, didn't force, my body was feeling worse than it wanted to so i got the blood and energy moving. a result of my practice after the experience i wrote about in that last entry of my intro below.... we'll see how i continue....

April 2005

well, procrastinated on finishing up this intro, and I think procrastination is one of the bad habits I want to deal with even in my first cleanse.

since my last post I’ve gone through another transition stage. after a few days of not doing yoga stretching and qigong breathing I was starting to get on myself about it, constantly reminding myself that I needed to do it or I’d lose ground. On one particular day, very suddenly it seemed, I just woke up feeling horrible emotionally. Physically I didn’t feel well either, tight neck and back muscles mostly, but also after a few days of this I noticed my sexual drive had diminished. Emotionally I was racked, strung out, nervous, anxious, jumpy, constantly determining myriads of disconnected thoughts that always lead nowhere except into another disconnected energy draining train of thought. I remember that it was just a few days ago that I was reading a netwonder email with this trend of something else pressing in the back of my mind which had been pressing for a few days resulting in some guilt. it was in the email that jos-hua mentioned something, the quote was from level 1 netwonder #1, he spoke of post-cleansing but it resonated for me on that day, he said, “in my opinion the most important thing you can do in your post-cleansing is to discard guilt. the moment you let guilt interplay with your practices, that’s when you stop practicing.” very timely that quote, succinct and to my point and I was almost immediately able to let go of what was pressuring me and saw that I was stuck in a rut of instant gratification and that if I let go of my “duty” enough I actually had the faith that I would naturally come back around to it because of my determination to stay on the path of health. since that moment I’ve been more relaxed, focused, happier, friendly to other people, and have been cultivating a strong sense of “aliveness” that has given me a lot energy. Though sometimes I get so excited about life that I don’t know what to do with all the energy, it alarms me sometimes.


A realization I had today, and which I’ve had before, was that the doing of anything happens regardless of an end. Today I was thinking specifically about artistic creation. As I “practice” writing much like everyone at hps practices health or art or work etc, I run into roadblocks such as practical value of what I’m doing, achievement, or pressure to complete a work, or pressure just to sit down and write “because I should.” But today I saw more clearly that writing, practicing, is all a process in which everyone is in one way or another coming to know their own rhythms. and these rhythms never begin or end. It’s an enormous symphony of rhythms this life and regardless of results I hope I can come to a heighthend awareness of myself and which rhythm at the present moment I should follow and nurture, thereby creating a symphony of being that is rhythmic harmonious and alive.


“Self creation. Self preservation.”—Jos-hua

Create diligently, preserve diligently, create cleanliness and preserve, whole-hearted open-minded effort will resonate throughout one’s life of rhythms.

But, words are words, time to intensify the practice.

[Alan_A]

My formal starts in two days

I was reflecting today on what really has led me to hps and optimizing my health….the reasons are based on a range of experiences dotting my life

….previously these experiences had only been short bursts…..rare flowers that bloom and wither in a minute, every few years…..

….despite their different placements in time I believe that these experiences related to each other in a certain way

…..that being the state of body and mostly mind I was in was of a particular sensitivity

…..a supple, protean, sharply conscious, acutely sensual, and above all, or rather humbly below, deeply compassionate…..


….i hope to pass through life immersed consistently as such.

this, by way of dissatisfaction with my physical health, is what has brought me here. I believe I will come again to that fluid state in an enduring way, but I will not inhibit myself with it’s imperativeness, what will come will come through practice.

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

constantly determining myriads of disconnected thoughts that always lead nowhere except into another disconnected energy draining train of thought.

.

;)

[Jos-hua Medicine man]

"Maitreya also inquired, "What are the differences among knowing meaning by wisdom realized by learning, by wisdom realized by thinking, and by wisdom realized by practice of tranquility and observation?"

Wisdom consisting of learning is based on words and only conforms to explanation: one still has not skillfully directed the mind or actualized the Teaching. One follows liberation but cannot yet take in the meaning of attainment of liberation.

Wisdom produced by thinking is also based on words, but it is not merely literal: one also skillfully directs the mind. But one does not yet actualize the Teaching. One follows liberation even more but still cannot yet take in the meaning of attainment of liberation.

As for enlightening beings', wisdom realized by practice, it is both based on words and not based on words, both according to the explanation and not according to the explanation; they skillfully direct their minds to what is to be known, and the corresponding images on which concentration is focused actually appear. They ultimately conform to liberation and are able to take in the meaning of attainment of liberation. This is called the distinction of the three kinds of knowing."

[Belinda_G]

What a beautiful journey into your world, Alan.

thanks for sharing.

I know by this stage you are reaping the benefits of your involvement here!

Congratulations for finding hps, congratulations on your participation, congratulations on your results.

I look forward to seeing you round.

love Belinda

[Robin_M]

Alan,

Your honesty is awsome. It is this kind of honesty that evokes true change.

Glad your here with us.

R

[Justin_J]

Hi Alan,

Im Justin, I just jumped on the HPS boat.
You wrote:
Mentally and spiritually, I don’t feel I’m where I want or should be. This year more than ever I’ve been in constant internal debate over what direction to take in my life. Unfortunately, more thinking is not answering my questions. I feel that I’m becoming more anxious daily, and that I amazingly keep finding ways to heap burdens and worries upon myself though I clearly state the thought in my head that this will not do. I believe my internal health relates to this.

I want to agree that internal debates cause health problems. I too was concerned over spirituality. At first was my conscience leading me out of Christianity. That was hard for me and my family. For WEEKS, I was sick with diarrhea and was mentally fatigued and clinically depressed. I overcame it with knowledge and the ability to stop feeling sorry for myself.

Dont give up on finding your spiritual destiny--ever. Sometimes it takes years and there are no answers. I think we can all benefit from this program spiritually and mentally by applying its regimen of self-discipline and willpower to our lives. Im sure you will see things in a greater way after this program. I have these aspirations for myself as well. Im usually a negative fellow, but Im bound by the hope of greater optimism that Jos-hua is giving us.

Theres no where but up from here, my friend!