Sun Gazing
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We heard about the ancient practice of Sun Gazing in 1990, when traveling in South East Asia. Back then we had no idea what sun gazing was good for, but we kept noticing people, mostly elderly men, in Thailand and Indonesia gazing at a rising or setting sun. Captivated by the idea, we decided to give it a go. At 6pm for a total of 7 days, two of us sat on top of a rock on the exquisite remote Thai island called Koh Nang Yung (see photos here --http://www.tothailand.com/province/south/suratthani/koh_tao.php [it was more even more rustic back then]) and stared the sun down for 10 minutes. What we noticed from the practice was an extreme energy upsurge and intensely lucid dreams. It was an ideal location to practice sun gazing as the sky was always clear of clouds and you could watch the sun sink into the sea. We haven't been able to find a ideal spot like this since then!
Well when Ted happened to mention sun gazing in an email to us, we begged him to tell us more. Here is what our Thailand contributor has to say about Sun Gazing:
The Ancient Practice of Sun Gazing: Modern Revision of An Ancient South East Asian Practice
"Sun Gazing is an ancient method of healing that originated in India about 2600 years ago with the teaching of Lord Mahavir of Jain.
Most people who do sun gazing have gone to extremes such as gazing like 10 minutes or 30 minutes. What it does, basically, is that it activates the pineal gland, the glands responsible for the body's circadian rhythm.
How it works I do not know, but for some reason at certain times, the eyes needs lights necessary to re synchronize with the body systems.
What I do know is the pituitary was once considered a "master gland" until they later found out that it was actually controlled by the pineal gland.
The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which is a powerful antioxidant, controls blood sugar, sleeping, controls pituitary gland for example.
Seasonal Affective Disorders can be normalized by staring into a tungsten light bulb (good low wattage ones like 5 watts or 10 watts) for a couple of minutes to cure depression, etc, especially in countries where there is a light deficiency.
In fact, whenever you expose this light during the morning or make sure your bedroom lights are full spectrum, it will give you more energy for the entire day. That means the body functions better and the pineal gland can integrate various functions of the body to work in harmony with other glands as a result of greater activation by the lights. This is why the body gives you more energy.
Whenever you are exposed to light, the body needs to reset its timing mechanism everyday, and at least for me the best times to set the the biological clock so that you will be at least energized throughout the day is to at least get the sunlight into the bedroom in early morning hours.
It is necessary even if the room does not have access to bright lights to at least install a good bright tungsten light bulb or at least buy several light fluorescent from a local aquarium shops to have full spectrum lights turned on especially during the morning hours before going to work.
The practice of holistic medicine is to recognize that light, sound, energy, vibration are all related mathematically and this can be use to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Without going through too much math, it was Dr. Alfred Partheil that first recognized the relationship between lights and sound. He noted that the molecular weights of different elements of periodic tables at least from spectrum analysis were related to sound, by octaves. This concept can be further extended using the principle of octaves to sound, light, vibration and electromagnetic frequencies.
Assuming that I recorded your voice and break down the frequencies of your voice, the peak will show excess, the lack of it will show deficiencies. Therefore, these frequencies whether they be light, sound, or electromagnetic frequencies are related and allow the body to be complete.
Therefore, complete light spectrum frequencies, such as sunlight are best, but not necessarily does it have to be the sun. Most outside light, coming from the reflected clouds usually will have complete spectrum of frequencies. If you can program a sound generator sweeps from 0 Hz to 5000 Hz, the body can also be able to absorbed full spectrum of sound too, allowing equilibrium.
Basically the practice of sun gazing involves standing barefoot and looking indirectly into the sun for several minutes. However, I have modified the practice so that I will get the least problems (and complaints) with people who do it. Whenever people overdo something and encounter problems, they will generally quit doing everything altogether.
This is hardly the solution. The solution lies by starting something quite simply without resorting to extremes. For one thing, I have some correspondence with one person who uses sun gazing, but I prefer to call it light gazing, so people won't have to stare at the sun, which is generally not safe anyway.
The best way to start is to use more lights or make the room much brighter than usual especially during morning hours so that the body can reset its biological clocks. Just notice how less depressed you are and how much more energy you have for the rest of the day.
Another point that you can try later is to expose yourself to more lights than usual during the times in late afternoon where you are most depressed. Depending on where you live, that will be very different times, but if I lived in Chicago during the winter seasons, I would definitely need a very powerful lights full spectrum around between 3.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. In warmer climates such as Houston, the ideal time at least for me when I feel most depressed is between 6.00 - 7.00 p.m. is the time I need the lights. Winter hours, I may need more sun gazing or light gazing where two times are preferable such as the morning and the late afternoon before the sun sets. These two times will uplift the body.
There is also a strange observation, that if I don't do this, and stayed in the house all day, I might have trouble sleeping. And it is strange that I sometimes have to sleep with the lights open if the turning off the lights is not working. This means that the body needs certain lights to reset its clock. If you won't do it during the day, then I guess it has to be done while you sleep! If you are aware that the lights involve the resetting of the body's clock necessary for normal function, you can use this to the best advantage for you.
While it is claimed that you can go without food, (but not water) for more than a year using sun gazing, it is best done under medical supervision.
The best ways to do it is not to go on hunger strike. A more moderate means, by observing whether you eat less or whether your weight has declined to normal levels. These don't need any effort and it happens automatically.
So that is the moderate way we can do it. The key to sun gazing effectively is basically keep it simple and stupid, or do the obvious with plenty of moderation making sure you don't make mistakes. If you master the basics and everything is on your side, further developing this techniques is quite simple. The key is to stick to the fundamentals first and master that and make sure your health is improving, this I would call success.
SUN GAZING METHOD
The time you do sun gazing is to look into white clouds and you need not look at the sun. The idea is for your eyes to receive full light spectrum, for a couple of minutes, such as 1-2 minutes. You need not stare too long, but you can do enough that you feel well enough then stop. Then if you feel you need some more exposure due to depression, tiredness, or burnout, look at it again. The key is not to strain but to relax. If you feel a strain in looking into the white light such as the sky or clouds, then you should really stop. Once the body is removed of its strain and the feeling that your body is being filled up with energy then that is the key to successful sun gazing. The idea is to do it at different times of the day, especially in morning and late afternoon. What exact times really depends on how much sun you are getting at each particular time.
For example, winter in Chicago and sun is lacking you may need a full spectrum light bulb or full spectrum lights that you might get from a aquarium shops. It must be noted that when you are exposed to this relatively brief period that you are not strained and you feel you need it. If natural sunlight is not possible than staring at a rather weak tungsten light bulb will also help as it has a rather continuous light spectrum compared to neon lights.
Sometimes when the body lack or deficient in lights, I have noticed that I cannot sleep without lights. I had to leave the lights on to sleep! In other words, after working in a home for days, the body just needs it. The body sometimes need to sleep with full lights, and in some instances it must sleep in total darkness. The key is the body must be relaxed, not strained. If it is strained from night lights, or if it is strained from lack of lights, you need to be aware of this fact without forcing yourself in such a situation. The brain needs lights to reset itself or to integrate various hormones by energizing the pineal gland where the eyes act as receptors. Without lights or lack of lights or body by instinct tend to signal your body into hibernation, so getting sleepy working in an office with lack of lights is hardly conducive to health since the issue of strain is there. Whenever constant source of strain exists, the body goes into adrenal exhaustion or accumulates way too much stress to cause the body into a breakdown condition, which means of course, sickness. Ted"
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
8 YEA
2 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] 07/24/2009: Kirsten from London, UK writes: "I have started sun gazing after hearing my mother in law raving about it. At first it was just curiosity and I stopped when the weather went bad. I then went to this group where a guy Hira Ratan Manek was talking about sun gazing and made some amazing claims. I started up again and before long my appetite started to fall dramatically. HRM teaches that one should sun gaze at safe levels starting at 10 seconds and adding 10 seconds each day until you reach 45 mins, then you can go back to 15 mins or stop all together. He claims that when you reach 45 mins all physical problems will be healed, you will no longer need food as you get all your energy from the sun and can even drink water energized by the sun (store in glass not plastic in a spot where it will be exposed to lots of sun for a day minimum). He says that addictions and mental health problems will be cured as the body is finally working at peak efficiency.
My first thought was that these are some wild claims, however with the increased energy I feel and the way my body seems to be able to process food better so that I get more from simple fruit and feel full very quickly which is the exact opposite of how I have felt my entire life I do wonder what more benefit I will get by keeping up with it. I am up to 9 mins today. I would love it if sun gazing will give me enough energy to reduce how much I sleep at night (10hrs) and break my dependence on smoking- that would be enough to totally change my life forever.
Kirsten"
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[YEA] 01/18/2009: Mauro Giller from Curitiba, PR - Brazil writes: "I wish to tell you all a experience I had with Sun Gazing a few years back.
At that time I had never heard of any "Sun Gazing " therapy. So it all happenned by accident or by "instinct!
This happened here in Brazil during the Carnival festivities in 1989. I went to the beach with some friends to stay there for the 5 day holyday. On the first day (it was a saturday ) and it was very hot and we stayed drinking beers and caipirinhas in front of the beach. At night we went to this night club and danced a lot and drinked a awfull lot as well. When we got out of the club we noticed that the day was dawning. We were very very tired and a bit drunk as well. So some of our friends decided that we should go to this small plateau of rocks near the ocean to watch the sunrise. We sat at the rocks and started watching the Big Sun God in golden and reddish color slowly coming out of the South Atlantic. I kind of entered a meditative state automatically.The vision was amazing. The Sun went up and and when it became a full disk and started to glow more and more we went home. I noticed that all my tiredness and drunkness went away and I was replenished with energy for the entire sunday.No one slept. It was really amazing all of us didnt'feel tired or sleepy. I figured that the rising sun gives more life energy than in the sunset. especially coming out from the horizon on the sea. It's a surplus of energy made of high level of impressions entering the body."
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[YEA] 07/04/2008: Shad from Houston, TX writes: "My Sufi teacher has Mr.K.S.Azeemi( at age 81 he does not need eye glasses) done sungazing and he reccomends sungazing with closed eyes for enhancing energy level. Best time he recommends is when at sunrise the disk is orange-red (infra_red). Sungazing with closed eyes is considered safer. But increase your time gradually. This whole thing about bare-foot is nonsense though.
He recommends that while sungazing imagine that energy is coming to your body through the third eye (between eye brows)."
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[YEA] 04/13/2008: Raven from Toronto, Canada writes: "I have sungazed since October 2006. I stopped for about 3 months, not sure if i should continue. I felt like I needed a break and then started up. My appetite reduced significantly and I did a 7 day water fast feeling great, whereas in the past if I tried to fast, I could barely wait until the end. My body felt weak and deprived of food. I feel great, have lots of energy.I still binge on food , think to keep me grounded. It almost feels impossible sub consiously to be able to live completely without food. I am just not hungry and it scares me sometimes , so I will eat a little and the odd time go crazy for a day, feel really aweful and stop again.
I still love Chocolate alot.
People will come up to me and say" What are you doing , you look incredible , you have a twinkle in your eye, you are so youthful"
Try it you'll love it. Oh and I did see an eye doctor and confirmed that my eyesight is perfect and she supports sungazing during safe hours 100% She said "Good for you, the sun has gotten a bad rap for far too long"
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[YEA] 04/03/2008: Diane GeO writes: "I have been sun gazing for four years now, and have learned from a couple prominent sun gazers, one being scientist Vinny Pinto. I write you because of your admonition that sun gazing at clouds is safer than looking straight at the sun. This is not accurate. Clouds cause a glare, that can actually be harmful. Doing so for short periods of time on occasion is okay, but not often. The best time is early in the day, or later in the day, looking at the sun directly. I sun gaze at all hours with full sun exposure, with no problem, as do many sun gazers I know. This however is not suggested for beginners, who should only sun gaze early, or later in the day. The thing is you must be barefoot on actual soil, and after gazing, continue to stand on bare earth for at least 10 minutes to ground the energy. This last part is very important. No corrective lenses should be in use at the time of gazing. Starting at one half minute, and working up a half minute a day is ideal. So, first day one half minute, second day one minute, etc. As your eyes adjust, eventually you can do it for long periods of time. I can do it for twenty minutes a day now. My lens prescription improved by a couple numbers doing this practice. Do expect there will be a blinding effect for up to an hour afterward, but this effect lessens, the longer one sun gazes. I highly suggest thoroughly reading Vinny Pinto's suggestions before gazing which can be found near the bottom of this page: http://www.rawpaleodiet.org/sungazing/ Sincerely, Diana Geo"
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[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 11/07/2007: Ron from Reno, Nevada writes: "I'm referring to sun gazing. I'm 72 and honestly am trying to live forever or at least as long as I feel it's worth it. I tried the sun gazing technique a couple of years ago but living in an apartment complex found bare ground hard to come by. Furthermore, winter came along and the ground was either too hard, too cold or covered with snow. After three months and getting up to 10-20 minutes of staring at the rising sun, I really didn't feel all that different and gave it up especially with the oncoming winter.. Now, in November 2007, I go out on the terrace and just let the morning sun hit me full in the face for around 10-20 minutes. It feels great but I keep my eyes closed. Still, after five weeks, I'm still dead tired at the end of the day even though I don't lead a terribly busy life. I still work as a teacher but only for a couple of hours Mon-Thu although class preparation can be hectic. My main ailment is high blood pressure and BPH and I'm hoping to get better as time goes on. What I want to address/ask is whether sun gazing with the eyes closed is a worthwhile practice or must I go some distance to find bare ground plus criticism from wife and kids. I fully accept the logic but I guess I'm seeking reinforcement."
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[YEA] 08/21/2007: Michael from Gig Harbor, Washington writes: "I started sungazing one year ago because I needed more balance in my life. I was depressed do to the lack of sunlight in Western Washington state. In the past year I have logged hundreds of hours of sungazing directly at the sun. Depression disappeared in a matter of weeks, my vision and night vision have both improved. I sleep less and have more energy then I have ever had before. Being in a good mood almost all of the time is another wonderful side effect."
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[YEA] 01/23/2007: Toma from Chicago, IL writes: "Day light lamp not only helpsto relieve the symptoms of SAD, but it, also, works great for depression. Make sure the lamp has a filter that blocks UV rays."
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[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 01/12/2007: Dana from Las Vegas, NV writes: "I haven't tried sun-gazing yet, but I think there's a bit of trust in the theory. Sometimes when I'm about to go to bed, I feel I need light. I've gone to bed with the light on and I couldn't understand why. I just thought I was afraid and might have nightmares. Now I understand why I felt I had to have the light on. I had no problem sleeping on the nights I needed light."
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[YEA] 12/06/2006: K.L. from Dallas, TX writes: "Sun gazing cured cured caffeine addiction, insomnia, and helped depression! Suffering from insomnia and depression, I had gone to a natural physician who suggested I stopped drinking coffee and replace the coffee drinking with sunshine in the morning by looking almost directly at the sun for a minute or two every morning. He said the effect would be much the same as coffee as far as waking up the body goes.
This physician didn't lie. For the past 2 years I go out every morning upon waking, either on the balcony or if not just through my window and look up for a minute or two towards the direction of the sun. There is an almost immediate energizing of the body. I no longer have any need for caffeine. After 15 years of coffee, I don't crave it at all. I sleep with no sleeping aids (the result of no more caffeine) live a much more peaceful life without all those stimulants, and from my half hearted effort at this "sun gazing" practice, my depression is definitely manageable."
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Yes, a common improvement in sun gazing is the body's circadian rhythm is synchronized with the sun. The body's pineal gland now goes and work in cycle. The reason is that the body needs something to reset its clock. What really messes our body is the use of artificial lighting which can be opened for 24 hours a day and the body's clocks are off. The other issue is the light spectrum of the artificial lighting is incomplete causing very favorable biological effects. People who raises fish aquarium noticed that fishes needs a full spectrum lighting so that fishes don't get cataract, or their scales don't become dull as well as causing them to be more healthy generally. The reality is, you need the sun, but you really shouldn't stare directly into the sun either. This will cause blindness. Just look indirectly is the best approach. The simple fact of just opening your windows in the morning to allow the sun to shine through and enjoying the sunlight is more than enough for the body to re sync itself, but preferably getting the sun exposed without the filtering of glass windows or plastic windows is much more preferred then anything else."
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