Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 09:37:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [breatharian] 411 Day Fast plus Science


[slightly edited for visual readability from the
URL]

http://vivendodaluz.com/EN/amboflight/hira_ratan_manek_report.html

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Hira Ratan Manek

Dr. Navneet Shah M. D. FICA (U.S.A.)
Physician Endocrinologist (C) 6425566

July 13, 2001

The Hypothesis: On Prolonged Fasting

This is unique. You will agree that such a
prolonged continuous Jain fasting
for religious (the spreading of Ahimsa and other
high mottos) and scientific
purposes (to create awareness about Sun-energy)
and also aimed at a solution of
four-way human crisis (physical, mental, food and
neurological) under
scrupulous daily medical supervision is unheard
of. It's just fantastic, and
absolutely amazing, but this is not a myth. It's
not happening in Himalayas or
distant jungles. It is happening in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat (India) in the
continuous presence of public and under strict
medical check and supervision by
an expert doctor team. There is no reason to be
skeptical. One may personally
come and check and scrutinize. We doctors have
done all these months and fellow
men have been staying with him all throughout.
And also several visitors see
him throughout the day and night.

Mr.Hira Ratan Manek has completed a 411 day fast
successfully on 14th Feb 2001.
It started from 1-1-2000. He was on total fasting
as per Jainism. He was
consuming boiled water daily only between 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. no other liquids
and just no other food, No I\V or I\M injections.
He was completely kept
isolated while under strict observation. Medical
checkup commenced a few days
before fasting program and continued until today.
It consists of daily written
record of pulse, blood pressure, respiration,
temperature, water intake, urine
output, weight, etc., and relevant Hematological
and biochemical (basic and few
advanced) tests periodically, i.e., monthly or
fortnightly. ECGs are taken
regularly, Ultra Sonography, EEG, CT.Scan and
M.R.I. Brain has been taken at
the end of one year and a team consisting of
general practitioner doctors,
physicians, surgeons, cardiologists,
endocrinologist and a neurologist have
been examining regularly and periodically from
first day of fasting. Except for
a loss of 19 kgs weight, (which is now stable
with no further weight loss for 3
months) a slight reduction of pulse rate and B.P.
and definite reduction of
respiratory rate (from 18 it is now 10/minute)
amazingly, there is no 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 60 to 90. There is no
acetone. The rest of the other parameters are
normal. It is just amazing. Isn't
it? But how do we hypothesize it? How does
science look at it? As per science,
under normal circumstances of prolonging
starvation, (under accidental
situation or extraordinary situation,) human
beings lose weight fast. First fat
is utilized. Ketones appear in urine in first
week. Then proteins are burnt.
Before that, the person becomes dull, lethargic
and irritable, his logic
reasoning fails and vital parameters fall and
within 8 to 10 weeks, as per
science the physical existence will be
challenged. Here there is no such ill
effect. How do we explain this? How does his
energy mathematics works? How is
he still so intact with normal intellect, normal
mental, function? Though so
far there is no solid thesis (as this is the
first event in the world under
medical supervision), there has to be some
logical, scientific hypothesis. It
explains quite a bit, but also leaves few
questions unanswered, for all of us
to further analyze. It also opens, at the same
time, several new avenues for
the coming time to work upon it. (e.g., issue of
obesity). This hypothesis has
four basic steps to explain energy-metabolic
mathematics., i.e., 1. Reducing
calorie requirement by chronic adaptation,
2.Deriving basic energy from cosmic
source-chiefly, `sun energy'. 3. Utilizing the
energy in the efficient way and
recycling the same in his body. 4.Genetically or
phenotypically a different
body disposition. (1) Chronic Adaptation
Syndrome: As the body and the mind
adapts to chronic stress in a healthier way, as
compared to acute stress,
similarly body's adaptation must be different to
chronic fasting (beyond 30
days) as compared to acute fasting (e.g., 3 to 15
days). No body knows which is
the exact point, where body adapts chronically,
but 30 days sound reasonable
time though it may vary individually. This is
some kind of hibernation, so to
say. The routine calorie mathematics sounds
logical and quite applicable to
acute fasting where fats break up first, ketones
appear in urine and weight
loss starts; muscle mass reduces and vital
functions and mental capacity may
start slowing down. Thus, in acute fasting,
energy dissipated must come from
stored sources of body to match 1:1 ratio of
calorie consumption against
utilization. In chronic adaptation, the
metabolism of body must slow down. The
body needs are reduced to the minimum. This is
possible by down regulation of
cellular and receptor function. There is thus
altering the energy metabolism to
the lowest possible. Oxygen and water are
supplied to cells as basic things. At
this stage, the hunger center will become
depressed, satiety center will be
activated. So there will not be any feeling of
hunger or food craving. It may
be possible for such an individual to do routine
activity with very low amount
of energy or calories as 500-600 calories, to
sustain cellular metabolism. (2)
Deriving Energy from Cosmic source - Solar
Energy: Whatever low amount of
energy, that is required, must come from some
source. He is only on boiled
water-which as per science as having hardly any
caloric value, or does it
really supply some energy? Most likely, he is
drawing energy from cosmic energy
- Cosmic Sources. Hence more correctly it is
energy mathematics rather than
calorie mathematics; a concept worth
understanding. Out of all cosmic sources,
the SUN is the most powerful and readily
available source and has been used for
energy, by sages and Rishis since ancient time,
including lord Mahavir, Tibetan
lamas and other Rishes. Again, how the SUN energy
is received. The Brain and
the mind are the most powerful recipients in
human body. The retina and the
pineal gland (the third eye or the seat of soul
as per Rene Descartes) are
equipped with photoreceptor cells and may be
considered photosensitive organs.
As plant kingdom thrives on chlorophyll and
photosynthesis, directly dependant
on the Sun, similarly some photosynthesis must be
taking place when we
hypothesize Sun energy. Through complex ways and
distinct pathways this energy
must enter the body. There is a pathway from the
retinas, to the hypothalamus,
called the retinohypothalamic tract. This brings
information about the dark and
light cycles to suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of
the hypothalamus. From the
SCN, impulses along the nerve travel via the
pineal nerve (Sympathetic nerves
system) to the pineal gland. These impulses,
inhibit the production of
Melatonin. When these impulses stop (at night or
in dark, when the light no
longer stimulates the hypothalamus) pineal
inhibition ceases, and Melatonin is
released. The pineal gland (or the third eye) is
therefore a photosensitive
organ and an important timekeeper for the human
body. The unexplored process of
energy synthesis and transformation from the sun
energy perhaps partly occurs
here. While going through the details of recent
scientific literature and also
comparing it with ancient Indian spiritual texts,
as well as western occult and
new age, the following things are apparent. The
activation of pineal gland is
the key step in psychic, spiritual and energy
transformation processes. Here in
this gland, energy processing and re-distribution
occurs. Pineal gland is the
commander of all endocrine glands, therefore
controlling the humeral system. It
also regulates the circadian rhythm, sleep wake
cycle and it also slows down
the aging process. It has psychic properties and
is the seat of soul or mind -
so called the third eye. It is the Agna (Ajna)
chakra of tantric system. Its
activation can be done with prolonged yoga &
meditation techniques or through
practice of solar energy. The later does not use
classic yoga steps. Pineal
also inhibits growth & metastasis of some tumors.
It has a stimulatory effect
on the immune system. In birds and other animals,
it has a magnetic material
and is therefore the navigation center in birds.
Scientists are looking at
magnetic, navigatory properties of pineal gland
in humans. So pineal activation
and charging through solar energy is the vital
step and that is the doorway of
energy highway. This may be Kundalini Shakti
activation, in other words. Normal
Pineal gland measures 6 x 8 mm in human body. As
per C.T.Scan & MRI Scan
reports of Mr. Hira Ratan Manek. it is 8 x 11 mm
(enlarged). This may
indirectly support the important role of pineal
gland in energy transformation.
However it may be mentioned, that anatomically
enlarged gland does not
necessarily always mean hyper function. Ever
since mankind has started ignoring
the psychically and Spiritually equipped pineal
gland it has fallen on merely
physical-material plane and endless pains have
fallen on mankind. Mankind must
now relearn to activate pineal and the other
psycho-spiritual bodies either
through cosmic energy dynamics or through
practice of Rajyoga or the Tantric
ways or other such practices. Kundalini Shakti is
said to be activated through
these and happiness and bliss with peace are
bound to follow. This light energy
may be transformed into electrical, magnetic or
chemical energies in body. Once
processed, this energy must be transported and
must be stored somewhere.
Actually the ultimate form of all energy is
light. Energy and light can be
transformed in to matter and back again to
energy. Hypothalamus is the
commander of autonomic nervous system and Pineal
gland is in proximity to
autonomic nervous system, so it is logical that
new energy transportation may
either activate this system or it may use this
system as vehicle.
Parasympathetic nerves & its hormones & chemicals
may be more useful than
sympathetic system. As sympathetic system
increases body needs (e.g. thinking,
fighting stress, excitement etc.),
parasympathetic system is known to reduce
the energy needs. It keeps the person serene and
at mental peace and alters the
metabolic requirements to a lower state and puts
it to sleep. There may be
other hormones or chemicals too. The role of
temporal lobe and limbic system
also may be important. It may work as a regulator
if not receptor and may be
psychically involved in directing the energy in
proper pathways. Deep into the
limbic systems or in the parts of medulla
oblongata, this energy may ultimately
be stored and from time to time, may be recalled,
charged or recycled. Medulla
oblongata has all vital centers and therefore can
be proposed as store of vital
energy. Thus there are energy receivers or
receptors, processors analyzers,
transformers, storers etc. to explain the energy
logistics. As this form of
energy mathematics is different from what we
conventionally are used to in form
of food and calorie mathematics; we will call
this micro-food or mind
utilization food (Manobhakshi Aahar {Ttu_ûte
ytnth). Here, we have talked about
the Sun energy, but one may use any source from
the cosmos, i.e. air, water,
plants, earth etc. This may be called Surya
vigyan, but equally there is
Chandra vigyan and Vanaspati vigyan as mentioned
in our ancient texts. Also
apart from retina & pineal gland, skin and other
senses may be responsible for
receiving the energy.

In short, this opens up tremendous possibilities.
This micro-food can solve the
food crisis on earth and in fact is the only
possible food in present context
for somebody who wants to be a long-term space
traveler or planet traveler.
Amazing! It is time to note, that our routine
food is not the only source to
sustain the body. The role of mind: Whatever
said, in this step, (i.e. the step
II of deriving the energy from the sun and
transforming it in body.) the mind
may play the crucial role. It is well known that
the mind has enormous
capacity, (the soul has even further or infinite
capabilities). Through Sun
Tratak & Meditation, tremendous capacities are
born which will bring
tranquility to mind and also slow down
metabolism, as mentioned in step I. Mind
can do every thing including so-called miracles.
It can revitalize body, it can
heal diseases, it can know things in advance and
it can manipulate laws of
physics. Its unclear till this date whether mind
is a separate entity or the
pineal gland itself. The faith and blessings from
Yogis and Gurus have their
own roles sustaining ones self in adverse
situations. On religious days, under
high spirits and a cultivated atmosphere, a few
people surprisingly do unusual
things like walking on fire or piercing pointed
swords, through their bodies
without damaging themselves. If similarly, some
does fasting, these phenomena
may help to pull him/her through the period of
physiological problems till one
enters chronic adaptation phase. (3) Energy
Economy in efficient ways and
re-cycling the energy in his own body: Those, who
are chronically deprived of
energy learn to utilize the available energy in
more efficient ways - so that
even at the low energy state body metabolism and
vital functions including
nervous system do not suffer. This is quite
logical and one can imagine this
happening in the individuals caught in natural
calamities, or those left alone
in the sea or survivors of high altitudes after
plane crash etc. managing to
live for several days or weeks, without food.
Also, one can hypothesize that
these people may be recycling the energy in their
own bodies. This may be done,
through complex mechanisms, involving neural &
humeral organs. Solar energy,
dissipated through body may get absorbed into the
earth and while walking bare
footed on the soil, standing in the sun, may help
absorbing this energy through
skin of toes, sole of feet as Shri Hira Ratan
Manek does regularly and always
preaches to do so to recycle the energy. This may
be related to the principals
of acupressure or reflexology. (4) Genetypically
or phenotypically a different
body predisposition: We should also examine this
aspect carefully, as this
leaves scope for an important discussion -
whether each and every individual
can use sun energy and if so, so efficiently?
Only time can answer this. But it
is possible that each individual has a different
genetic code and also each
body has different physical capabilities. Hence,
one may be able to receive
this Solar energy more readily, can transform &
store it in a better way and
also can utilize more efficiently and even
recycle it - while another person
may not be able to do it to the same extent.
Hence, experiments, must be taken
up, if possible on a randomized base upon
volunteers with control population.
However, leaving this component aside for the
time being, it is possible that
many people can do this experiment very
successfully under supervision. Prior
body checkup and particularly retinal-ophthalmic
checkup is mandatory and under
strict medical guidance, a graded time bound
experiment upon volunteers may be
taken up. If this theory can be generalized, then
it can change the destiny of
mankind. First of all, the food crisis will be
solved. Through activation of
this supreme energy in body and transforming it
into electrical, chemical and
magnetic forms, people can not only become free
of diseases but can gain
positive health with a vibrant aura. His luster
can impress even enemies the
enemity may dissolve. With improvement of mental
& intellectual capacities one
may be able to use brain power up to 90 to 100 %,
as against to 3 - 10% as we
normally do. There will be reign of peace and
prosperity. As there is no food,
the bad thoughts and ill feelings will be
stopped, so eternal peace is bound to
follow. This will also question the routine
common calorie mathematics. By
this, there is a challenge to the routine calorie
based science. Its
limitations are highlighted, at the same time the
complex issues of obesity and
malnutrition can be readily explained through the
concept of solar energy. It
is possible that obese people, though not eating
excess food, still receive
energy from cosmic sources explaining their
obesity. The concept of cosmic
energy can be used thus for total uplift of
mankind at physical mental,
intellectual, supramental and Spiritual levels.
Extensive scientific research
work therefore should be immediately taken up, by
appropriate authorities,
including bioscientists & medical personnel, to
answer all these issues.

(Ref. case study of Mr. Hira Ratan Manek : 411
fast : 375 fast completed on
9-1-2001.)
Dr. Sudhir V. Shah M.D., D.M. Neurophysician
206-8, Sangini Complex, Nr.
Parimal Crossing, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad-380 006.
Ph. : (c) 079-646 70 52 (R)
079-662 17 42.

Hon. Neurologist : H.E. The Governor of Gujarat,
India. President : Asso. of
Physician of A'bad. (97-98) Hon. Asst.Prof. of
neurology : Sheth K.M School of
PGMR Smt. N.H.L. M.M College Hon. Neurologist :
V.S.Hospital, Ahmedabad.

Jivraj Mehta Smarak Hospital I acknowledge
suggestions & help received for this
hypothesis.. From :

(1) Dr. Navneet Shah M.D. FICA (U.S.A) Physician
Endocrinologist (C) 6425566.
(2) Dr. Gargey Sutaria (M.D.) & Dr. Kalpesh Shah
(M.D.) Radiologist Usmanpura
C.T.Scan Centre.

Clinical Assistance:

Dr. Nalin Gheewala M.D. Physician.
Dr. K.K. Shah M.S. Surgeon.
Dr. Viresh Patel M.D. Physician.
Dr. P.G.Shah M.B.B.S. Family Physician.
Dr. P.D.Doshi M.B.B.S. Family Physician.

END OF THI ARTICLE

Claudio Acuña
claudioacuna@...