What is Sungazing?

Sungazing is the practice of staring at the sun with the intention of achieving both nourishment and enlightenment.

It is also know as Solar Healing, Sun Eating, Sun Gazing, Solar Gazing or Solar Yoga.

However it isn’t as simple as just staring up at the sun for a while whenever you wish to achieve this.

It is important that the sunlight is gradually introduced, and a strict schedule and guidance is adhered to in order to avoid harm.

People who practice Sungazing may also be known as ‘Breatharians‘.

The History of Sungazing

Sungazing in various forms has appeared in many cultures.

It has roots in Egypt but been practised by ancient Hindu and Buddhist Yogis, Aztecs, Incas and also Native Americans.

Ancient religions often incorporated the sun into their religious practices.

One of the most famous examples is the ancient Egyptian god ‘Ra’. Sharing his domain was the god ‘Atum’ which was later merged into the god ‘Atum-Ra’. The Hindu religion has ‘Surya’. Lesser known is the Tiv god ‘Awondo’.

Even the Romans had ‘Sol Invictus’ (the Unconquered Sun) which was most famous for the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti birth festival. This would later go on to be called “Christmas.”

The sun figures so prominently into our cultures that we celebrate dies Solis, the day of the Sun at the end of every week, or Sunday.

What is the difference between Sungazing and Breatharianism?

Breatharianism or Inedia (Latin for “fasting”) is the belief that it is possible for a person to live without consuming food and sometimes water.

In Hinduism sunlight is one of the main sources of Prana or life force.

Many practitioners believe it is possible for someone to survive on sunlight alone, with Sungazing being a method of harvesting this Prana.

Noted practitioners through history include:

• Paracelsus – A pioneering Swiss physician
• Ram Bahadur Bomjon – A Buddhist monk who was the subject of a 2006 Discovery Channel documentary titled ‘The Boy With Divine Powers’. Ram was observed for 96 hours neither eating, drinking or moving.
• Prahlad Jani – An Indian Monk who claimed to have lived for 70 years without food or water. Prahlad was studied under observation as being able to survive for two weeks without food and water.
• Hira Ratan Manek – Who is also know as HRM, and is one of the most well known modern day practitioners. HRM claims to have lived on a diet of mainly water and sunlight since 1995.

The subject of Breatharianism however is a controversial one, with some practitioners reportedly dying as a result of the practice.

The practice of Sungazing is also linked with an increased risk of solar retinopathy.

So with these risks in mind you may ask why someone would practice Sungazing?

Well let’s take a look at some of the benefits of Sungazing as reported by Sungazers and Breatharians around the world.