Hello everyone,

A quick email to share something truly revolutionary I recently
encountered. It offers a fascinating new paradigm on physical and

spiritual healing, and living harmoniously on this planet.

Its about a man named Hira Ratan Manek (HRM) and the fact that he
has been living on just sunlight and water since 1995! Its been

verified by atleast three independent scientific studies in India
and the US, each running into hundreds of days.

Whats more, he's not unique. He says anyone can learn to do so in
about nine months if they follow a simple process of sungazing at
sunrise or sunset (details on the website www.solarhealing.com).
Apparently atleast 3000 people have now learned this art of living
on solar energy alone.Many more have reported physical,
psychological and spiritual benefits.

This may sound far fetched, but I can believe this because I
personally knew a yogi in Delhi who would sungaze. I have seen him
meditating for hours concentrating on the rising sun. He could also
look for many minutes unblinkingly at the mid-day sun. He had
perfect vision and was very wise. But he could not teach this
practice to others. Now HRM and a few others are doing so, and
the results are truly astonishing.

So for everyone's benefit, I'm pasting some writeups from the
internet below. I hope it widen your horizons of whats possible, as
it did mine:

Introducing Hira Ratan Manek and Sungazing

From: http://www.SolarHealing.com

Hira Ratan Manek was born on 12th of September 1937 in Bodhavad,
India. He grew up in Calicut, Kerala, India, where he received his
Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Kerala. After
graduation, he joined the family shipping and spice trading business
and continued working there until he retired in 1992.

After he retired, he began to research and study the ancient
practice of sun gazing in which he had been interested in since his
childhood. This method was an old but forgotten method, which had
been practiced, in ancient times in many different parts of the
world.

After working on this method for 3 years, he was able to re-discover
the secrets of sun gazing. During his study, he was mainly inspired
from the teachings of Lord Mahavir of Jains, who was also practicing
this method two thousand and six hundred years ago. Other
inspirations for sungazing came from ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and
Native Americans.

Since June 18th, 1995, HRM has and continues to live only on sun
energy and water. Occasionally, for hospitality and social purposes,
he drinks tea, coffee and buttermilk. Until now, he had three
strict fastings, during which he had just sun energy and only water
and was under the control and observation of various science and
medical teams.

The first of these fasting lasted for 211 days during 1995-96 in
Calicut, India directed by Dr. C.K. Ramachandran, a medical expert
on allopathy and ayurvedic medicine.

This was followed by a 411 day fast from 2000-2001 in Ahmedabad,
India directed by an International team of 21 medical doctors and
scientists led by Dr. Sudhir Shah (Dr. Shah's synopsis report) and
Dr. K. K. Shah, the acting President of Indian Medical Association
at that time. Dr. Maurie D. Pressman, MD also describes his
experience with HRM in an article he wrote and later joined the team
for the next observation on HRM.

After the excitement of the findings at Ahmadabad, HRM was invited
to Thomas Jefferson University and University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia where he underwent a 130 day observation period. This
Science/Medical Team wanted to observe and examine his retina,
pineal gland and brain, therefore this observation team was led by
Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, a leading authority on the brain and also
featured in the recent movie "What the Bleep Do We Know", and by Dr.
George C. Brenard, the leading authority on the pineal gland.
Initial results found that the gray cells in HRM's brain are
regenerating. 700 photographs have been taken where the neurons
were reported to be active and not dying. Furthermore, the pineal
gland was expanding and not shrinking which is typically what
happens after mid fifties and its maximum average size is about 6 x
6 mm, however for HRM, it has been measured to be at 8 x 11 mm.

There have been many other sungazers who have achieved similar
results and have volunteered to be tested, however due to lack of
funding and other lifestyle restrictions the results have not been
documented. The uniqueness of HRM is that he has surrendered his
living body for observation and experiments to the scientific
firmament for several extended periods of time. Although scientists
and doctors have agreed that hunger is being reduced if not
eliminated, due to the complexity of the various brain functions,
they have not been able to explain how sungazing has such positive
effects on the human mind or body, however more research is
underway.

In 2002 Hira Ratan Manek gave over 136 lectures in USA and has been
invited by government agencies of many countries to help them
understand this process at which point he established his
International Headquarters in Orlando, Florida. In 2003 HRM gave
over 147 lectures in US, Canada, Caribbean and UK and nearly 400
newspapers all around the world have published articles on him.
Additionally, many television channels have broadcast stories about
him and he was most recently interviewed by BBC World Services. In
December, 2003 HRM traveled to India for 4 months and delivered 70
lectures to various cities such as Chennai, Pondicherry, Mumbai,
Ahmedabad, Baroda, Palitana, Kachchh, Jodhpur, Pali, Balotara,
Lucknow, Delhi, Chadigarh, and other areas. Additional lectures in
Delhi , Mumbai, Lucknow and Dhadigarh were sponsored by Times
Foundation whose Chairperson Smt. Indujain has taken a keen interest
in spreading the universally popular HRM Phenomenon
(Suryanamaskar). Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of Art of Living
Foundation and Surya Foundation of International Naturopath
Organization and Salila Tiwari doctor of Indian Prime Minister
Vajpayeeji have also taken a keen interest in HRM Phenomena
spreading all over the world. It was at the house of Salila Tiwari
that ZTV interviewed HRM and where Surya Foundation made a detailed
film on him. ZTV released the HRM interview on March 25th in their
Hindustan Hamara Program and has repeated it many times since then.
BBC World Services also repeatedly broadcast HRM's interview on July
22nd, 2003. Other media groups from all over the world have reported
on HRM including those from Europe, Russia and Gulf Countries.

There are now Solar Healing Centers coming up all over the world and
facilitating a global group of HRM Phenomenon practitioners. For
those who are interested in learning more about the sun energy is an
effective healing source, HRM recommends these books:

- "Light, Medicine of the Future", by Jacob Lieberman
- "The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century",
by Richard Hobday.


***************************************************

Hira Ratan Manek - Not Eaten Food for 7 years

by Bineeta Mishra

From: www.jsocf.org/hrm1.htm

In an exclusive interview with India Post Shri Hira Ratan Manek said
that he has not eaten food since 1995. World famous doctors,
engineers, scientists etc. are engaged in studying this phenomena to
find out how Manek has sustained himself only on water, and on a
little tea and coffee for short duration's.

Shri Hira Ratan Manek, a mechanical engineer from
Calicut, Kerala, says "this is not something new or that I have
discovered it." This is a scientific ritual - the Surya Namaskar,
originating from Lord Mahavir's Atapna principle, Gayathri mantra,
Bala - Atibala, Ramayan mantra which is gaining popularity and world
acceptance.

The scientific technique practiced by Manekji is simple - deriving
his energy from the cosmic source or the solar energy of the sun.
The sun being the most powerful source, has been used for energy by
sages and rishis since ancient times including Lord Mahavir, Tibetan
Lamas and rishis. Mankind is also using solar energy for running
solar cookers, solar heaters, solar cars etc. he says. Similarly
Manekji has converted himself into a solar cooker.

The brain and the mind are the most powerful recipients in the human
body. The retina and the pineal gland (the third eye) are equipped
with photoreceptor cells and may be considered photosensitive organs
he says. As the plant kingdom thrives on chlorophyll and
photosynthesis, which is directly dependent on the sun, similarly
some kind of photosynthesis or photo analysis must be taking place
when we assimilate the sun's energy.

There is a pathway from the retina to the hypothalamus called the
retinohypothalamic tract. The method adopted by Manekji is to
initially look at the early morning sun for a few seconds and every
week to increase by a few seconds which should ultimately reach
several minutes. After about 3 months he says the brain gets charged
and mental strength increases that heals fears and many
psychosomatic diseases.

At the end of 6 months all physical disease go away he says. And
gradually after 8 to 9 months there is a decline in hunger, which
ultimately disappears. This is the utilization of energy mathematics
and is different from food or calorie mathematics he said. He calls
this micro or mind utilization food.

Manekji says most people utilize only 3 to 10% of their brains, but
he has utilizes 25% of his brainpower. Manekji says he is the only
person to come forward and has attracted medical attention. CT scans
and MRI scan reports say that his 66-year-old pineal gland is
comparable to a man in his 20s.

He also says one should walk barefoot on mother earth for 45minutes
every day to recharge the energy in the body.

He has 25,000 people around the world that have started
to practice his technique. According to him food is a secondary
source of solar energy. He is also planning to write a book. At
present he is in the US where a team of medical doctors are going to
conduct tests. In the mean time he gives several discourses to
explain on a scientific level how he has sustained himself for seven
years and says will continue.

To arrange lectures contact: Cosmic Energy Center, 582 Ridgeline
Run, Longwood, Florida, 32750, USA, Phone #: 407-260-2303, Fax: 407-
260-5249.

In India his contact information is: HF-2-131 KSHB, Vikas Nagar
Colony, Chakor Tha Kulam, Calicut, 673-006, Kerala. Phone #: 0495-
369928


****************************************************

LIVING ON LIGHT

From: www.chrysalisyog.homestead.com/manek.html

What would you say if I told you that I actually met someone who is
literally "living on light"? Someone who says he has no need for
food anymore? Someone who actually has been under medical
supervision in a hospital in the US for 120 days, during which he
consumed no food, only drank water and still went about his normal
activities? What if he has actually, at one time, lived for 414
days without food, and
then able to climb a hill to offer prayers at a temple on the top,
and that too get up there faster than someone who was eating and
drinking as usual?


You would think that either I was crazy or that this person was a
great conman. Unfortunately, neither of these is true. I have met
this person his name is Hira Ratan Manek in Bombay last week. Let
me tell you his story.


Mr. Manek is about 60 years of age. He has been researching the
subject of drawing nourishment DIRECTLY from the sun, instead of
getting it "second-hand" as he says, by eating plants, or
"third-hand" by eating animals that eat plants. After ten years of
study and experiments on himself, he has perfected a simple method
that works.


His belief is that we don't need food, we need the energy food
provides, which in turn it has derived either directly or
indirectly from the sun. He says that if you can tap the source
directly, there is no need to eat any food any more. But living
without food is not the basic objective. That is only a side issue.
It just happens, your hunger goes down until you no longer feel
hunger or fatigue and can live without food but this is not what we
are getting at. The basic objective is to live a happy, peaceful,
healthy life, free of all mental ailments, tensions and physical
problems and diseases. All this can be achieved by the simple
expedient of sun-gazing. Of course, there is a specific method he
has prescribed, that has to be followed in order to get the results
and ensure that no harm is done to your eyes. Few more things are
very important
- The whole thing has to be done regularly i.e. every day. You can
do it for 3,6 or a maximum of nine months. It should be stopped
after nine months, because then it is no longer required to do it
any more.
- The `auto-suggestion" to be given to yourself, when you are doing
it, is that the sun is the provider of energy, the divine healer and
that the sun-rays are healing yourself. You must believe in this
implicitly. Any skepticism or doubt will cause the system to work
less effectively.
- You must surrender yourself to the divine force of the sun, and
let it do its work on you. You need not do anything else except
surrender. This attidude of surrender, of dropping your ego, is
important. You are not doing anything or getting anything out of the
sun. It is giving it to you, if you surrender to it.


If you are interested in the exact method please click here or you
can even email Mr. Manek directly at

hiraratanmanek@...

He travels extensively, both in India and in the US,so may not
reply immediately. He has already given 60+ lectures in the US on
this topic and he has been examined by the Indian Government,
defence forces etc to see how this miracle is happening.


I have seen a few conmen in my life and my spiritual guide, Ganoba
Date, has seen many more, including many men "pretending" to be
enlightened. He came along with me to meet Mr. Manek, and he too was
convinced that he is genuine. Why?


- He is not trying to sell us anything. There is no vested
interest no financial involvement

- He does not claim that he has done something special or that he
is something special. He says we all can do what he has done, and in
fact that many people have and are doing it

- He freely parted with the information, on his technique, without
asking for anything in return no money, no respect, no need to
become his disciple nothing at all

- He is not egoistic, and a very simple person.

- He does not claim that he did anything, or that this process does
anything. All he says that, if you surrender to this divine energy,
it just happens.


So it has happened with him. He no longer feels the need for food.
Ocasionally he drinks a cup of tea, coffee or buttermilk,
for "hospitality purposes" when he is entertaining guests. He feels
little or no fatigue, and sleeps just for a couple of hours a day.
Sometimes he goes for a whole week without sleep and without ill
effects. He has no bowel movements unless he has something to eat,
which is very occasionally. He is normal in appearance, slim, but
not very thin, his eyes and face are radiant, and he is active,
living an ordinary life. Doctors have observed him and observed the
phenomenon and they accept this is happening, but cannot explain it
at least not as per the laws of the science they know.


Funnily enough, I wrote about Mr. Manek several months ago, in one
of my earlier newsletters, when I read about him in a newspaper
article. Now I was lucky enough to meet him, thanks to my friend
Manju. Since I have an eye problem, he suggested an alternate method
for me, which he assured me will heal my eyes, that are suffering
from what has been diagnosed as an "untreatable"
and "incurable"problem macular degeneration. I have started the
practice and I will keep all of you posted of the progress.


More Sources of Info on the Art and Science of Sungazing:

http://www.SolarHealing.com
http://www.sunyoga.info
http://www.sungazing.com
http://www.suryayog.org
http://www.rawpaleodiet.org/sungazing/
http://www.newtreatments.org/sungazingsites

For an comprehensive e-Book on Sun Gazing:

http://www.lifemysteries.com/assets/LIVINGONSUNLIGHT2ndEditionNew.pdf

************************************


Meanwhile everything is fine in my peaceful monastery here in Sri
Lanka. Needless to say, I've begun experimenting with sungazing. I

find it wonderfully energizing for the entire day.

May you all be health, happy and awake!

May you attain Nirvana.

Love,

Nyanasanti.