Forget about trendy diets or slimming programs. We’re diving into a deeply held ascetic belief that challenges the very notion of sustenance. According to these extreme believers, food and even water are unnecessary for survival. Instead, they claim that all you need is energy from the universe, which you can absorb simply by breathing.
Now, before you get too intrigued, let’s be clear: this dangerous spiritual idea has led to fatalities.
The Quest for Life
Meet the modern “Breatharians.” They believe that the human body can obtain all necessary nutrients and substances by consuming sunlight, air, and a mystical force called “prana.” Not only is this celestial diet supposed to sustain life, but it’s also believed to lead to a healthier and more enlightened existence.
These ideas have their roots in ancient spiritual concepts but have been adapted by contemporary new-age practitioners.
Prana, derived from the Sanskrit word for “breath” or “life force,” is a mysterious and elusive concept found in yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts. It’s an intangible “energy” similar to other mystical vital forces like Chi in Chinese medicine. Some even see prana as a direct connection between all things, originating from the Sun.
“Prana is the sun that imparts life and light to everyone and dwells within the heart as the Self of all creatures,” explains one yoga website.
While the exact definition of prana varies depending on the context, most yoga and spiritual advocates view it as something to be explored through breathing exercises and meditation to enhance the body.
However, for Breatharians, prana becomes the sole focus for sustaining life.
The Breatharian Lifestyle
According to a Breatharian group called the Pranic Awakening Program in the Netherlands, practitioners can be categorized based on their level of renouncing food.
At the highest level are those who supposedly consume no water or food, but this is said to be limited to just a few individuals on Earth. The categories then range from consuming no food but drinking water or tea, to mostly relying on water/tea and occasionally enjoying a “light meal” once or twice a week.
These individuals claim they never feel hungry, and when they do eat, it’s mainly for social reasons. Sharing a meal together is seen as a social activity in their society.
Unsurprisingly, the website acknowledges that living solely on prana is incomprehensible to many due to learned beliefs about the necessity of food. Practitioners are advised to expect skepticism and lack of understanding from friends and family. They must truly believe in the possibility of living on prana to progress on their spiritual journey and reach a higher vibrational level.
This kind of thinking is common in supernatural and spiritual claims. Faith and unwavering belief are seen as the keys to achieving the impossible. If someone fails to experience the promised miracle, it’s often attributed to their lack of belief.
The website warns that completing the program without maintaining the breatharian lifestyle may result in a return to solid foods. Additionally, they suggest that an abundance of limiting beliefs and past traumas stored in one’s cell memory can lead to hunger.
In short, if it doesn’t work, it’s not the system’s fault but rather the individual’s lack of belief. But what do breatharian advocates say about cases where people have died attempting this lifestyle? Are we to assume that these individuals couldn’t gather enough prana due to personal doubts or faulty cell memory?
The truth is, the human body requires food and water to survive. It’s a simple fact supported by biology and nutrition. The burden of proof should be on those who claim to live solely on sunlight, especially when many self-proclaimed gurus have been caught secretly eating food despite their claims.
Take the infamous Breatharian cult leader, Wiley Brooks, for example. He advocated for this lifestyle in the 1980s and 90s, even advising Breatharian mothers not to feed their babies. However, he was caught sneaking into McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants to indulge in real, tangible snacks. His explanation? McDonald’s restaurants were apparently built on spiritual portals, and their food was somehow beneficial.
The Breatharian movement is an extremely dangerous lifestyle with no scientific evidence to support its claims. Living solely on air and sunlight goes against the fundamental principles of biology and nutrition.
But hey, who are we to judge? Maybe living on a diet of sunlight, air, and bullshit truly makes for a happy meal.
This article is part of our Inconceivable series, debunking unscientific stories on the Internet.
Fact checkers have verified the information at the time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to in order to keep the information current.
