Scot Bastian Ph.D.
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Talk About a Light Meal! Breatharians in the News

6/10/2013

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If you want a really cheap lunch date I recommend asking out a breatharian. A breatharian eschews food, believing survival is possible on air and sunlight (and sometimes water). There has been a bit of a ripple created locally by a Seattlite named Naveena Shine who is performing an "experiment designed to bring into our Universe a whole different paradigm of living." She is going to find out if it is "possible that a person can thrive without eating." She is recording this momentous "experiment" (All in the name of SCIENCE!) using video cams and You Tube updates. There seems to be some skepticism that she is not cheating. For example, some are having trouble finding evidence for the eight video cams that are supposedly monitoring her progress and keeping her honest. One Facebook friend pointed out the irony of trying to live on sunlight in the generally gray environs of Seattle. Indeed.
     Ms. Shine is not the only breatharian out there. There is this long interview with a couple claiming to be raising a breatherian child and an interview with a midwife and her client who claims to be having a breatharian pregnancy. (I was relieved in the interview that the pregnant woman's blood tests came out on the "high side of perfect.")
    A prominent breatharian personality is Jasmuheen, "Ambassador of Peace," and author of the book "Living on Light." Apparently, Jasmuheen, as she describes it, survived "on and off well, pretty well, just on water and tea for two years [without losing weight,] since the body is a...biocomputer; the mind is a software program and you can reprogram the body if you have a strong mind-body connection, so that the body's weight will stabilize." (See video below.)
    One prominent phrase I often see associated with breatharianism are the terms "Prana" or "Pranic," which is mumbo jumbo for quack spiritual energy. Here is a video example advertising a course in Pranic healing course taught by a disciple of "outstanding scientist," Master Choa Kok Sui."

    Jasmuheen talks about  there being "so much scientific experimentation being done on [Prana energy.]" Good to know again, that all this is supported by scientific evidence. In fact, the amount of "science" which which supports the legitimacy of these practices is, ahem, breath-taking.
    Ah well, enough of my sarcastic commentary. Let's let the Breatharians speak for themselves. Below is a collection of some favorites. On the left is an Indian Yogi who has been living without food and water for 70 years. (Amazing!) Second from the left, is the assurance that "thousands of people" now know how to live life without food--good news for the Third World! Second from the right is a news report, featuring an interview with Jasmuheen. If you want to say "Yes Yes Yes" with Jasmuheen check out the far-right panel. Personally, I prefer "No, no, no."


But the fun never stops! Below, left, is what is described as an advertisement for breatharianism. Enjoy!
    Need a break?  Perhaps, you would prefer to "think happy little puppy," as you perform the "breath of fire," (below, center), or maybe a little Pink Floyd is your ticket: Breathe. (Below, right).

    Yes, I agree Roger Waters, breathe. I say, take a breath of reality.  
2 Comments
Carl Nelson link
6/11/2013 01:13:07 am

The guy who was "rolling across India was interesting". I would like to hear his travel adventures.

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Carl Nelson link
6/14/2013 01:33:52 am

Another thought. Do they have to breath a lot more than normal? I would think so seeing at they are replacing all of that solid food with air, and sunlight... but perhaps I don't understand 'prana'.

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    Scot Bastian Ph.D. is a scientist and artist who lives in Seattle WA.

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