Sun Gazing: The Celestial Feast

While we know and love the sun for everything it does for us, a new practice has been reaching popularity.

Sun Gazing is the practice of staring at the sun during dimmer parts of the day, early morning or sunset, or via the sun’s reflection in a bowl of water during midday, to gain nourishment and, as NASA has confirmed – super human abilities.

There is an old proverb which asks, “What is the likelihood the sun will rise tomorrow?” If one wishes to look at it from a scientific mind, we cannot give an answer. When was the start of this experiment? What is the time frame? Are we comparing it to the lifespans of other stars, or are we comparing it to what our reality is? This dips into the philosophical - Whose reality are we comparing? Is it that of a fruit fly whose entire life span is that of 24 hours? Or are we looking at it from our reality?

From everything we as humans know from our experience, the sun is 100% guaranteed to rise tomorrow – and thank whatever deities that be. Without the sun, life in this solar system would end in every aspect.

The sun gifts us with nourishment – vitamin D, as we all know, is naturally obtained from the sun. It feeds the plants that grow which provide us oxygen to breathe, and food to eat. It keeps us warm, and from the unimaginable chill of deep space. Its gravitational pull holds us safe from flying off into other planets in this ever expanding Universe of the unexpected.

It’s no wonder so many ancient cultures viewed it as a deity worthy of our worship and devotion.

The art of Sun Gazing is by no means a new practice. It can be traced back in history to India, some 2,600 years ago.

It is said that if one stares at the sun for 10-30 minutes a day, while the sun is rising or setting, then one can be fully nourished in the body. It activates the Pineal gland, which is located in the center of the brain, which effects our 24 hour clock and mental, physical and emotional rhythms.

The practitioner is to stand on the ground, barefoot, allowing the soles of the feet to make contact with the bare earth. This means no concrete, floor, tarp, grass, rock, tar, and so on. It is warned that if the sun feels too bright, then don't stare at it. However, when the sun is at its lowest, it's UV rays are less harmful, and staring at it is bearable. If one chooses to practice at the time of sunset, it is recommended to begin one minute before the sun disappears completely from the sky. The beginner should attempt no more than ten seconds at a time, until they become used to the practice, at which point the length of time may be extended. However, the sunrise is more nourishing than the sunset.

The idea behind this practice, is that the sun is the source of life, a burning ball of energy which we are able to tap into by letting it in.

Hira Rata Manek is a common face of Sun Gazing. In his 74 years, he has mastered this art, and has claimed to have gone eight years without eating, but instead with simply Sun Gazing for nourishment.

It has had the claimed benefits of:

• Increasing energy levels
• Increasing the size of the Pineal Gland
  This gland has been said to be quite flexible as we are children. It is a key part to some of our imaginations. As we get older, and make believe less, this gland calluses over, making it very difficult to exercise, and in many cases, shrinks. There are ways of regaining the lost flexibility through meditative practices as well.
• Enhances production of Melatonin and Serotonin
  The former is the chemical in the brain which helps one sleep. It is naturally produced in the Pineal gland and is secreted when it becomes dark. Serotonin is the "happy" chemical the same gland produces. It is in charge of the lightness of the mood and can have effects on hormones.
• Promotes Weight Loss
• Clearness of Thought
• Strengthening one's connection to nature and the world

I know - I know! It's almost too crazy to believe! However, Sun Gazing was not a crazy enough concept to deter NASA, who took an interest in what has been coined as the HRM - Hira Ratan Manek - Phenomena. They were hoping to discover a simpler way of feeding their astronauts on longer space voyages.

Mr. Manek submitted himself to NASA for testing. The space agency funded a team of medical doctors from the University of Pennsylvania to run tests on him, which involved a 24 observation for 100 days. What they found confirmed the abilities of sun gazing, that he in fact was going without eating, that he had no health problems, and that these things were attributed to Sun Gazing.

In Endocrinologist’s Report on Hira Ratan Manek by Dr. Navneet Shah M. D. FICA (U. S. A.) Physician Endocrinologist from July 13, 2001, he attempts to explain in a scientific manner what is happening in the body to cause it to do these miraculous things simply by staring at the sun.

He too was involved in a medical team which studied the Sun Guru, and recounts at the beginning of the report of how each day he drank nothing but boiled water from 11 am - 4 pm, and how they did medical examinations on him daily, including recording his pulse, respiration, blood pressure, water intake, weight, urine output, temperature, etc.

"Relevant hematological and biochemical (basic and few advanced) tests are done periodically, i.e. monthly or fortnightly. ECGs are taken regularly. Ultra Sonography, EEG, CT.Scan and M.R.I. brain have been taken at the end of one year, and a team consisting of general practitioners, physicians, surgeons, Cardiologists, endocrinologist and a neurologist have been examining him regularly and periodically from first day of fasting. Except for loss of 19 Kg weight, (Which is now stable with no further weight loss for last 3 months) a slight reduction of pulse rate and B.P., and definite reduction of respiratory rate (from 18 to now 10/minute) amazingly, there is no other medical abnormality. Even the brain and mental capacities are absolutely normal. There are hardly any findings. He has stopped passing stool after 16th day of fasting and urine output is maintained at around 600 to 800 c.c. His blood sugar is between 60 to 90. Rest of the parameters are all normal."

He starts with the caloric requirement reduction, linking it to chronic adaptation.

The body will adapt to constant stress, just as it learns to handle acute stress. Dr. Shah expresses that there must be a similar ability to adapt to chronic fasting just as there is for acute fasting. Because the body is not reaching its requited amount of calories for an extended period of time, it alters how it uses calories and thus alters the amount that is needed.

Normally, the body when fasting will burn up fat for energy, then break down muscle to obtain its energy. However, in chronic adaptation, the metabolism mus slow down, to the minimum. The only thing to be supplied to the cells would be water and oxygen. Because of the little use of energy need, the feeling of hunger subsides, as it is just another energetic outburst.

Where is the energy coming from to go about daily life?

Dr. Shah reasons it must be cosmic. He defines Cosmic Resources as the earth Mr. Manek walks barefooted upon, the sun he exposes himself to, as well as the simplicity of being a part of the earth where he is exposed to the land, sun, water, animals, and plants. It is less about caloric mathematics and more about energy mathematics, "A concept worth understanding".

"As plant kingdom thrives on chlorophyll & photo synthesis, directly dependant on the Sun, similarly some kind of photosynthesisor photoanalysis must be taking place; when we hypothesize Sun energy .Through complex ways & distinct pathways this energy must enter the body. Is it a direct entry into the physical body, or it enters through auras of human body (please refer Karelian photography) is yet to be examined. It is quite possible that human aura plays a modulating role for allowing this energy into the physical body."

The Third Step is what Dr. Shah calls Energy Economy In Efficient Ways and Recycling the Energy in His Own Body.

Just as the body will chronically adapt, so too will the body adapt to lack of energy. It will learn new ways to use the energy in far more efficient ways so that it requires less energetic income.

Lastly, Dr. Shah examines whether or not this ability is condition on the person. Can every one utilize this skill or is it only for some?

He suggests that while it may be a while for the scientific community to do a controlled study with randomized volunteers, every one should conduct their own experiments with supervision: ensuring prior body and retina check-ups as well as at the end.

"There will be reign of peace & prosperity. As there is no food, the bad thoughts and ill feelings will be stopped, so eternal peace is bound to follow."