Tapping the sun has a more long-run benefit, he says. To explain it further, he draws your attention to the human brain, which he calls a brainuter (from brain plus computer). People hardly use the full capability of their brain cells; the usage can be determined scientifically through MRI scans, he adds.

The talent that is inherent in every human being is the software of the brainuter, and the mind is its keyboard and mouse. Finally, it needs power, which comes from the sun.

This power effectively reaches the brain through the eyes, says Manek, and thus, all he requests anyone who is interested in his 'Sungazing' theory through what is now globally known as the HRM (Hira Ratan Manek) Phenomenon, is to gaze at the sun every day.

Sungazing generates Vitamin A in the body, says Manek, which would lead to enhanced sight, and prevention of many eye diseases, and cure too. He says in three months time, the body gains sound mental health, which is characterised by no fear, more self-confidence and a balanced mind. It also derides the body of evil traits like greed, anger and jealousy. All this, he asserts, have been scientifically established. Manek adds that mental wellness is the key to global peace.

Continue the practice for six months, and the sun could start healing diseases, claims Manek. He says that harnessing the energy of the sun is the essence of Reiki, Pranic Healing and even, Feng Shui. "In this, however, you don't need a third party. You do the healing yourself."

He lists a number of disease conditions including cancer, Aids, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and a string of mental and ageing disorders that can be addressed by solar healing.

Manek says there are countless testimonials to the efficacy of solar healing on the World Wide Web. "To prove that the earth is indeed round, took a thousand years. I therefore expect inhibitions and criticism," says Manek. But he isn't affected by skeptics because he insists he has no commercial interests. "The Solar Healing Centre in the US is a registered non-profit organisation and we only accept purely voluntary donations."

Once Sungazing is set in motion, in about two years, the body's cells react to sunlight like a solar panel, and you derive the energy your body needs without having to eat solid food. And you steadily start realising your brainuter's true potential. Manek has reached that stage now, and yet he uses only 25 per cent of his brain's capabilities.

Hunger ceases.

Unlike fasting, Sungazing is not about suppressing hunger; hunger simply ceases to be. Today, Manek isn't tempted by food. "What the mind accepts, the body accepts," he adds.

The sun can also be tapped further through safe sunbathing, only at times when the UV rays level is less than 5. He is against the in vogue style of sunbathing, which scientists have often cited to be the reason for skin cancers. "Your body must only be warm with the sun ray's; it mustn't feel the heat," says Manek.

He also advises to drink suncharged water, which is water kept in sunlight, preferably, in a glass jar for eight hours. This, when drunk within 24 hours, can be better than any energy drink in the market, he adds.

Eventually, the sun goes on to enhance neuron regeneration in the brain, which decelerates the aging process and thus enhances longevity. He says he hasn't been affected by any disease, not even a common cold, in the last few years.

He also advises walking bare-footed in the beach during the evenings or early mornings to stimulate all nerve endings of the feet, which effectively is the gist of reflexology, acupuncture and acupressure. Ultimately, solar healing is all about using the sun to give your mind an upper hand over the body. And according to Manek, the sun cures it all.

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. See Sun Yoga & Its Healing Aspects

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, 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 ageing 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 {Ttu¼ûte 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, 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: What ever 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 it self. 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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 other 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, 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 the transforming it in electrical, chemical the magnetic forms, person 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 - 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.