Conclusion

IN A WAY, I CO-CREATED the Healing Essence Total Life Cleanse for my first son, Joshua. I wanted to take part in creating a better world for him. I wanted to do my best to set an example, with love and not force. I wanted this information to be at his fingertips, in his conscious awareness, and part of his day-to-day reality. I wanted this awareness to be normal for him, even in a world that saw differently.

As I write this final chapter, the timing could not be more perfect. The Total Life Cleanse was created shortly after Josh’s birth in 1996. Josh will be going to his first year of college next weekend. This very day, he finished a pre-college cleanse that we did together, along with a best friend. I know that the essence of the principles outlined in this book are a part of him. I trust that he will take them with him into the future, integrate them into his life, and contribute to making this world a better place.

Once, when Joshua was very young, I told him, “One day, I’m going to write a book.” He was curious and excited. I went on to tell him, simply, in the best way I could, a little bit about the TLC book idea. His beautiful face and deep blue eyes beamed at me with such sweet pride. As my heart blasted open, I knew that one day this book would be birthed.

Co-creating the Total Life Cleanse with my partner, Dr. Kevin Gregg (whose daughter was best friends with Josh), has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice. It allowed us the freedom to learn, create, express, teach, improve results, help others, and fulfill our dharma—for ourselves and for the planet. The opportunity to educate, guide, and inspire many people over the years has taught me a great deal about myself and my students, as well as the inherent strong will and goodness of humanity.

There were many times when students would express doubt about their ability to follow the cleanse or make important health-related changes. In the early days, I would become doubtful and concerned for those students. Some were eating gobs of candy and cookies, gulping soda, drinking four to eight cups of coffee a day, and eating meat and cheese from fast-food restaurants. I questioned their will as well as their ability to handle the potential physical and mental detox effects.

Kevin and I believed that if students just showed up to class, or at least listened to the recordings in a timely way, they would learn, grow, and benefit from the cleanse. This turned out to be true. We discovered, again and again, that if given a chance, people are stronger, more capable, and more intelligent than they are often given credit for.

With success after success, we realized that the Total Life Cleanse impacted people’s lives in ways far beyond our initial expectations. Quantum shifts in awareness, as well as dietary and lifestyle practices, continued to occur. We found that most people want to heal, want to change for the better, and want to connect more deeply to themselves, even if they are not aware of it. The cleanse created a safe new paradigm and support system for that change to occur. People who went through the cleanse often came back to tell us that TLC was one of the most foundational and transformational events of their lives.

From the beginning, our intention was to use the best of modern nutritional science within the context of ancient wisdom principles. In this way, TLC was never just about cleansing organs and eliminating toxins. It was, and still is, about improving the quality of our lives and connecting more deeply to ourselves and to the life energy that moves in all things.

For these reasons, it has always been an honor and blessing to support others through the cleanse process and beyond. I feel fortunate to be able to fulfill my dharma in this way. I hope that this book will inspire many people to continue to transform the way they eat, live, think, and love.

Planet Earth is in precarious times. World violence, toxins in food, and serious environmental concerns are at an all-time high. Our political and medical systems are a mess. However, more than ever, many people are reevaluating outmoded ways of eating, thinking, creating, relating, and living. There is a collective evolution of consciousness occurring all over the planet. People are finally realizing that the food we eat—how we plant it, nourish it, protect it, grow it, harvest it, and eat it—has far-reaching effects. I firmly believe that our current individual and global food choices will have a far greater impact on the direction and health of this planet and its inhabitants than any other decisions we make.

My hope is that this book and the principles it inspires can play a small but important role in this imperative and inevitable evolution.

Ancient sages foresaw that the conditions of this age would be most challenging. Yet many high souls from all traditions are presently walking on this Earth. A common thread uniting them all is the principle of ahimsa—that is, compassion or nonviolence. Ahimsa is not a weakness. It requires courage, fearlessness, and strength.

Now, perhaps more so than ever, our every action speaks volumes. Our world needs healing, our countries need healing, our land needs healing, the air and water need healing, the animals need healing, our families need healing—we need healing. Each time we choose ahimsa in the way we eat, communicate, work, serve, and love, health, healing, peace, kindness, forgiveness, love, and affection will ripple out to all levels of existence.

The Healing Essence Total Life Cleanse is not just a brand of detox program. It is a process of cleansing those things that obstruct the expression of our very essence.

Please take all the principles—especially the ones that inspire you the most—and fulfill the deepest potential of your sacred human life.

In closing, we end with these ancient yet pertinent words from the sacred Mahabharata from India:

Ahimsa is the highest dharma.

Ahimsa is the highest dharma. Likewise, ahimsa is the highest self-control.

Ahimsa is the best of gifts. Ahimsa is the highest discipline.

Ahimsa is the highest sacrifice. Likewise, ahimsa is the greatest strength.

Ahimsa is the best of friends. Ahimsa is the greatest happiness.

Ahimsa is the highest truth. Ahimsa is the best of teachings.¹