Tag Archive for: compassion

Quan Yin Chanting & Meditation at Guan Yin Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Quan Yin is the Chinese Goddess of Compassion; she is a Bodhissattva, using kindness, compassion, joy and giving to save all living beings. They say she has a ‘thousand hands and a thousand eyes’ because she will always be present for you and can always provide what you ask for. Her love and generosity is ever-flowing.

Close your eyes, absorb the magic! Say a prayer for compassion.

Quan Yin, Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion

Quan Yin, Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion

As living beings, we should learn Kuan Yin’s kindness and be kinds towards those with whom we have no affinities. Kindness means making living beings happy. It means sharing our own happiness with living beings, not being selfish. Compassion means rescuing human beings out of suffering. We should help those who are suffering or in difficulty. Joy means feeling happy and not being angry even when others get angry at us. Giving means taking our most sentimental prized possessions and sharing them with living beings. If we can practice these four acts of the Bodhisattva, then we are truly Buddhists.

The practice of chanting to Kwan Yin is important in Chinese Buddhism because they believe that in calling her name, you become focused, sincere, less greedy and calm. When you recite ‘Namo Guanshiyin Bodhisattva,’ she becomes mindful of you. The Chinese believe that she will then lovingly answer all of your prayers.

Guan Yin Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Guan Yin Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Join the beautiful chanting & recitation of the daily Ceremony Of Repentance Of the Great Compassion With A Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes at the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery on Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Jalan Ampang is located just behind Petronas Towers and the temple is about a 5 minute walk or 300 meters from the KLCC mall.)

The chanting takes place daily from 12:30pm – 1:45pm. It is free and the public is welcome.

The monastery also has books on Quan Yin and Buddhism available in English for free to help spread the teachings of the Bodhisattva.

It is well worth it to experience the magical power of this ancient form of chanting and to feel the presence of Kuan Yin’s loving kindness within yourself.

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Quan Yin Chanting & Meditation at Guan Yin Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

by

Quan Yin is the Chinese Goddess of Compassion; she is a Bodhissattva, using kindness, compassion, joy and giving to save all living beings. They say she has a ‘thousand hands and a thousand eyes’ because she will always be present for you and can always provide what you ask for. Her love and generosity is ever-flowing.

Close your eyes, absorb the magic! Say a prayer for compassion.

Quan Yin, Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion

Quan Yin, Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion

As living beings, we should learn Kuan Yin’s kindness and be kinds towards those with whom we have no affinities. Kindness means making living beings happy. It means sharing our own happiness with living beings, not being selfish. Compassion means rescuing human beings out of suffering. We should help those who are suffering or in difficulty. Joy means feeling happy and not being angry even when others get angry at us. Giving means taking our most sentimental prized possessions and sharing them with living beings. If we can practice these four acts of the Bodhisattva, then we are truly Buddhists.

The practice of chanting to Kwan Yin is important in Chinese Buddhism because they believe that in calling her name, you become focused, sincere, less greedy and calm. When you recite ‘Namo Guanshiyin Bodhisattva,’ she becomes mindful of you. The Chinese believe that she will then lovingly answer all of your prayers.

Guan Yin Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Guan Yin Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Join the beautiful chanting & recitation of the daily Ceremony Of Repentance Of the Great Compassion With A Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes at the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery on Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Jalan Ampang is located just behind Petronas Towers and the temple is about a 5 minute walk or 300 meters from the KLCC mall.)

The chanting takes place daily from 12:30pm – 1:45pm. It is free and the public is welcome.

The monastery also has books on Quan Yin and Buddhism available in English for free to help spread the teachings of the Bodhisattva.

It is well worth it to experience the magical power of this ancient form of chanting and to feel the presence of Kuan Yin’s loving kindness within yourself.

More on Traveling Raw:

Story of the Bodhisattva – Transforming life’s adverse circumstances into a Path of Awakening

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The story is told that when Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion, was looking at the lives of human beings upon this planet, he saw how much pain and suffering we inflict upon each other, and for a moment his compassion faltered. He almost abandoned his vow to liberate us from suffering. At that instant, his body exploded into a thousand pieces, represented in the image of the thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara. If this can happen to the figure who, in Buddhism, most exemplifies compassion, then perhaps we can be forgiven for not always finding it easy to sustain a compassionate heart in the face of so much suffering in the world.

Messages of Peace are all around us..

Messages of Peace are all around us..

We may live in times when material, economic, and scientific progress is moving at a rate never before seen, yet our capacity to live peacefully alongside each other seems to remain elusive. When confronted with the constant evidence of so much brutality and corruption present in the world, whether this is seen on the news or experienced closer to home, it is common to feel a sense of anger and outrage, and to feel powerless to do anything to change the ignorance, greed, and hatred that motivate most of the atrocities our fellow humans inflict upon each other. Are we, individually or collectively, able to go beyond the dominance of our instinctual selfishness that reaps so much harm?

…Whatever spiritual tradition we may be part of, if we wish to live our lives with greater openness to others, and with the courage and heart to cope with adverse conditions, we have much to learn from the path of the bodhisattva. The bodhisattva, sometimes translated as “the awakening warrior,” dedicates his or her life to the welfare of others and is willing to face the challenges of life to do so. The bodhisattva’s way of life does not lead to a spiritual escape from the reality of the world. Rather, the bodhisattva cultivates the capacity to live within the raw reality of suffering on the ground and transform life’s adverse circumstances into a path of awakening.

Bodhisattvas are here to help us on the path to Awakening

Bodhisattvas are here to help us on the path to Awakening

A bodhisattva makes a clear decision to remain embodied and in relationship to life even while reaching states of awareness that go far beyond our normal reality. Such a person is said to renounce the peace of nirvana and overcome the fear of samsara. What gives this attitude to life a particular significance is that it recognizes that only through fully awakening our innate wholeness can we achieve the greatest benefit to others.

Central to this approach to life is a quality of intention called bodhichitta, often translated as “the awakening mind.” The awakening mind is most often described as the clear, compassionate intention to attain the state of buddhahood for the welfare of all sentient beings. While “the awakening mind” may seem like a relatively simple phrase, its actual psychological, emotional, and social implications are huge. It is a reorientation of the whole of an individual’s direction and meaning in life, rooted in a deep sense of compassion and responsibility towards the welfare of the world.

-from “The Courage to Feel: Buddhist Practices for Opening to Others” by Rob Preece, published by Snow Lion Publications .

SNOW LION PUBLICATIONS is dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism and culture by publishing books about this great tradition. Tibetan culture is seriously endangered in its homeland and is striving to continue outside of Tibet. To support this effort, in addition to publishing and distributing books, Snow Lion offers a wide range of dharma items, purchased primarily from Tibetans in exile. These include visual art and ritual objects, statues and thangkas, videos, traditional music, and many gift items offered through our webstore and “Snow Lion: The Buddhist Magazine & Catalog”–over 2000 items–the largest selection anywhere. To browse the complete list go to www.snowlionpub.com and select any of the categories in left-hand margin.

When you choose to purchase from Snow Lion you are directly supporting the large effort to publish more Buddhist texts and help the Tibetan people.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

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I’ll miss you SUMO – a photo tribute to my feline friend….

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I found Sumo in an animal rescue shelter 15 years ago. He was already 5 years old and considered over-the-hill for an adoptable cat. Who could have ever imagined him lasting another 15 years?? He was strong, happy and healthy right up to the end in true Sumo style. The best cat and friend ever.

I'm not fat, there's just more of me to LOVE

I\’m not fat, there\’s just more of me to LOVE

Momo

Civilized Sumo

Relaxed Sumo

Relaxed Sumo

Intelligent Sumo

Intelligent Sumo

Wide Sumo

Wide Sumo

Festive Sumo

Festive Sumo

LOVED Sumo

LOVED Sumo

Thanks Momey for giving me so much love. My heart hurts just thinking of you…
Here’s to the best cat in the whole wide world. I love you Sumo.

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Coconut Philosophy – It’s What’s Inside that Counts!

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Coconuts are like people…the exterior husk is easy enough to break through, but then you have this tough layer to crack.

Thwack!!

Your approach is important…

You need the right tools to get people to divulge their sweet inner self..

What you find inside usually requires handling with care..

Coconut Loving 101

Coconut Loving 101

Getting to the juice is well worth it.

Every person has a tender core that is protected by an exterior shield which has it’s purpose..

BUT IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THAT COUNTS!!

-I found that in Insight Bali Magazine…cute huh!
Happy Coconut Love to Y’all!

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Compassion Exercise – Practicing Love, Forgiveness and Joy

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Honesty with one’s self leads to compassion for others.

Love is the best thing in the world, and it's free!

Love is the best thing in the world, and it\’s free!

OBJECTIVE: To increase the amount of compassion in the world.

EXPECTED RESULTS: A personal sense of peace.

INSTRUCTIONS: This exercise can be done anywhere that people congregate (airports, malls, parks, beaches, etc.). It should be done on strangers, unobtrusively, from some distance. Try to do all five steps on the same person.

Step 1: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life.”

Step 2: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life.”

Step 3: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair.”

Step 4: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfill his/her needs.”

Step 5: With attention on the person, repeat to yourself:
“Just like me, this person is learning about life.”

Variations:
To be done by family members to increase understanding.
To be done on old enemies still present in your memory.

Try it today 🙂 We will all benefit from more compassion in the world!

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Words to live by – The Four Agreements

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Don Miguel Ruiz in his Toltec Wisdom Book: The Four Agreements states it so well:

Simplicity in Life...

Simplicity in Life…

(1) BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORDS.

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

(2) DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY.

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

(3) DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

(4) ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST.

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

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Integrate and Balance your Healthy Journey with your Work Life now!

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You can be healthy & successful at work!

You can be healthy & successful at work!

My message today is so simple yet so needed in this increasingly busy and crazy time…as people become more and more stressed, more and more imbalanced and less and less healthy, we are at a critical stage in our journeys. There isn’t time to put off your healing journey anymore! I have so many clients who are working themselves to death, just hoping that they can get through another year or two of insane hours and horrible stress and then they will stop, change work and find better balance.

What I want to say is you have to find a way to integrate your healthy mission with your work life NOW…because in another 6 months or one year you may just very well crash and burn and not have a chance for change at all! The goal here is to stay on the preventative side of healing and de-stress in natural, healthy ways.

Invest in your health now so you will enjoy your life in the future!!

Balance is the Key to Life

Balance is the Key to Life

So the million-dollar question is…how??? There are some simple steps you can take right now. First, start to set boundaries. Learn how to say ‘no,’ even just some of the time. Keep some of your energy for yourself every day – don’t give it all to your job. Make time for exercise – call a friend to walk with and then socialize and exercise at the same time. Make small positive changes to your diet – start somewhere. Reduce your coffee and alcohol intake. Be positive and feel gratitude for what you do have in your life. Thank people around you. Spread happiness, not hatred. Speak only positive things about others.

And don’t forget to start making your Green Smoothies every day too!

Think about your true path, and embark on a journey to follow it. Laugh more. Enjoy life. Live as if this is all there is! All of this is completely in alignment with the Law of Attraction theory, but you don’t have to be a follower of The Secret in order for this stuff to work. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change – remember that!

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Green Smoothie Classes in Bangkok and Singapore

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Please, let’s all keep the goal of PEACE ON EARTH to remain high on our list of earthly aspirations.

Join in on the Green Smoothie Love!

Join in on the Green Smoothie Love!

For any of my clients living in Bangkok or Singapore, please take note that I will be in Bangkok from the 20 – 23 January and in Singapore from the 24 – 25 January. I will be available to do Iridology readings for any friends or family during those dates, so please contact me via email or phone to make bookings. Also if you have a minimum of 10 people interested in participating in my fabulous Green Smoothie Class, please let me know and we can arrange a session.

I teach a very well organized 1.5 hour class first explaining what a Green Smoothie is, talking about it’s relevance to our health, explaining why it is a superior food, answering questions and then of course getting hands-on with demonstrations and tastings. What a great way to start a new year, with a clear understanding of your health focus, and some motivation and inspiration to add more fast, easy and delicious nutrition into your life!!

If you can’t attend the class, I now have a Green Smoothie DVD and Green Smoothie eBooks so you can learn at home!

Until we meet again, stay positive, feel all the abundance around you and appreciate every single moment!

Here’s a link to some of my latest happenings on Koh Samui:


http://www.kamalaya.com/holistic-medicine.htm

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After Your Fast, Cleanse or Detox – Stay Positive, Focused, Determined & Strong!

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Health, Balance, Love, Bliss

Health, Balance, Love, Bliss

I just completed another fast/cleanse which was fantastic! Overall it went very well for me and I managed to clear a lot of imbalance and build-up that I still had in me even after the previous fast.

As I always say, one can never have an ego with the whole cleansing thing – no matter how many times you have done it, there will always be a new challenge or issue uncovered, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual.

There is always more to learn about yourself through cleansing.

Feeling Good is Healthy!

Feeling Good is Healthy!

Overall it is so important to stay on track for your LONG-TERM goals. After the fast is where the real work begins. That involves getting rid of bad habits, letting of of any lingering negative emotions and making time for a healthier lifestyle.

Make yourself and your health a priority!!

Exercise every day, meditate every day, send love and positive energy to everyone, be patient and understanding and just imagine how much more enjoyable your life will be!

It is so easy…you can start right here, right now in this very moment.

Focus on Long-Term Goals!

Focus on Long-Term Goals!

Even in the midst of complete chaos around you, it is even more important to remain positive and focused.

Keep your mind focused on the best possible outcome in every circumstance and remember that positive energy works more effectively than negative energy in each and every situation.

My message to you is enjoy every single moment you have – live in gratitude and appreciation…feed your body well and keep your mind and spirit clean!

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How to Deal with Social Pressures on a Raw Food Diet

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I consider myself very lucky to have a few raw food vegan friends (ok, 2)…but it really helps when you try this new path and way of living to try to find others around you doing it too, mainly just as an avenue to share thoughts or ideas and also to help inspire and motivate.

Often I find if I am in a ‘normal’ group of people, they immediately begin to defend and preach about why they think eating meat is essential or why eating cooked foods is necessary, and I find it, well to be honest, exhausting sometimes. I am never judging others for what they eat or don’t eat, and in that respect I find it quite harsh when I feel people judging me. What’s da dilly guys?? Can’t you just accept me for who I am where I am on my life’s journey? I accept you unconditionally, regardless… so why all the fuss???

What a wonderful world it would be if we all had more love and compassion for each other. Friendship should be about support and acceptance, yes?

Where's the Love??

Where\’s the Love??

One time last year while I was on a 100% raw food diet, I went out with friends for a meal. I mainly went out to appease my one friend – her other 2 friends I didn’t even know…anyway my friend at the time knew I was eating raw foods, but mentioned nothing of it at the meal and I proceeded to order a salad without a hitch, also not mentioning any special dietary requirements myself. All safe and cruisy on the down-low. My friend then ordered a Bailey’s shake made with coconut and banana…when she tried it she said ‘Jennifer you must try this it’s amazing…’ so I said ok, and had a sip. At that VERY moment, her friend immediately commented a ‘Oh, so much for the raw food diet!’ I said’ ‘Excuse me? There isn’t any milk in the shake…’ And she said’ ‘Um, Bailey’s, DAIRY, Hello???’ I mean, can you imagine???? In front of a group of people having this stranger try to humiliate me? If I had any ego whatsoever about the diet, maybe, maybe, I could see that response, but never did I ever mention it to anyone….I was horrified to know that I was being watched like a hawk when I was simply trying to experiment with a healthier way of living.

The whole ‘healthier than thou’ tactic to me is quite elitist, condescending, and ultimately self-defeating.

These are some of the obstacles you may face when transitioning to a better diet and lifestyle.

Celebrate your differences!

Celebrate your differences!

And this is why I mention how wonderful it can be when you meet others who are already on your same journey and who help to uplift, love, support and inspire you – it is very important to find a few people like that on your journey! When you find them, stick together!!

True friends will love and support you no matter what you eat or don’t eat, but they are rare gems in this world today, and when you find them, keep them!

Anyway, my 2 raw food friends had recommended some books for me to read and I am so grateful that I asked because I am now reading them and have learned so much new information already!

Based on the one, I am going to try more green vegetable smoothies and see if I can feel a difference…up to this point I was having my ‘standard’ smoothie but with more fruit mainly and just spirulina as a green…now I see that I must add the whole green veggie as well – spinach, kale, bok choy, etc….today I made my first one and it was great!

Green Smoothie Recipe:

  • Fresh Kale
  • Fresh pineapple, banana, & papaya
  • Ground Flax Seed
  • Probiotics
  • Water

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Day 5: Fasting, Juice & Colon Cleansing in Koh Samui, Thailand

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5th day of fasting and feeling fine!

5th day of fasting and feeling fine!

I was going to make that ‘fantastic,’ but I don’t think I’m at that level YET…Everything is going pretty well so far – main problem I am having the last 2 days is time management. Can be difficult to work while fasting and I am ok with it but find I need to have A LOT of down tome after. Luckily I have plenty of books to read and DVD’s the watch to keep me occupied. Because of that I was not able to exercise or have a massage or steam for the last 2 days, and when I’m fasting I generally require at least 2 of those 3 on a daily basis. (Actually, even when I’m not fasting – ha!) Tomorrow I am hoping to get all 3 in, plus more rest. Many people I see never seem to rest during the fast – they go shopping, travel around the island, go walking/running even lift weights, and more than a few even go diving and jet skiing.

Chaos for a body trying to heal itself!

There is plenty of time for all of that ANYtime…why would you burn the candle at both ends during the one time you have set aside for cleansing? Any enzymes and energy set aside for the cleanse will be immediately used up by all of those physical activities.

So in the resting mode I remain for the evening tonight.

I shall continue to stay focused and inspired through reading books such as TNT The Power Within You (the original ‘Secret’) and of course Cleanse & Purify Thyself Books 1 & 2 which I re-read at the beginning of every single fast I do. There is so much valuable information in those books, and every time I capture something new.

Also while cleansing I think it is so important to stay positive and to surround yourself with positive people.

Energetically we are much more sensitive during the fast, and it’s always best to keep the mind full of positive, loving thoughts. I definitely do not think it is a good idea to watch violent or disturbing films during this time, but you would be surprised how many people do, and think nothing of it as well. In order to cleanse the body, you must also cleanse the mind. Keep the movies light, simple and funny.

I’m focused now.

Have my goals in sight.

Lots of healing happening, and yes, feeling fine.

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Day 1: Juice Fast Detox at Spa Samui, Thailand & Reasons to Cleanse

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Fasting makes life better :)

Fasting makes life better 🙂

Today marks the start of another fast for me…only time will tell how long I shall go, but I do hope to do more than 7 days.

Yesterday I did a water fasting day, for no real reason except I wanted to start cleansing but didn’t feel like taking all the pills and drinks just yet.

So I gave myself a day of ‘no schedule’ fasting.

Best always to listen to your own body, and for some unknown reason that is what my body told me to do.

For this fast I will be taking some extra supplements in addition to the Arise and Shine – Cleanse & Purify Thyself Dr. Richard Anderson products – Chomper and Herbal Nutrition. I am taking Black Walnut (in both a tincture and pill form), fresh garlic and Grape Seed Extract – all for any lingering parasites and bacteria; Cayenne Pepper capsules for circulation and the liver; Milk Thistle capsules for the liver; Spirulina for minerals and chlorophyll; Flora Grow and HSO probiotics for natural bacteria and many herbal teas, including Pau D’arco for parasites and Red Raspberry tea for the female system.

Sunset in Lamai, pre-fast bliss!

Sunset in Lamai, pre-fast bliss!

My ‘daily washes’ will consist of one morning enema and one afternoon colema. I used this combination for my last fast and it seemed to work very well for me. For the enema I generally do a few water flushes first and then I take in a proper coffee enema as described by Dr. Richard Anderson, this in an attempt to help cleanse the liver. In the afternoon colema I usually add herbal teas to the water instead of coffee. I ensure obviously that all of my teas and coffee are totally organic; for the teas this time I shall be using Red Raspberry or Pau D’arco or Milk Thistle or even Chamomile if I am feeling any aches or pains. The teas I adjust according to how I feel. I add the tea bags directly to the colema water and usually 4-5 bags seems to be sufficient.

Usually when I am fasting I spend a lot of time on my own, either reading inspirational books or just relaxing and watching health-related videos.

I try to keep my conscious mind focused on good health – this helps me to stay motivated throughout the cleanse.

I also make a concentrated effort to walk every day, meditate every day and always allow time for a massage or an herbal steam if needed. It can be difficult to juggle work on top of all of that, but it is possible and just requires prioritizing.

A lot of people ask me how often do I fast, and my answer to that is ‘it depends.’

If you are feeling well, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle then I would say every 6 months is ideal but once a year is ok too. When you are unwell or out of balance, it takes more work and usually more fasting to get the body to heal, so in that case it would have to be much more frequent. If you smash up your car, it generally will have to be in the shop longer than just getting a maintenance check. Same concept.

So I wish all you fellow fasters and cleansers all the best with your own healing journeys…and perhaps I will see you at the Spa Samui (Lamai Beach) detox counter~!!

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