Eat the Sun

Another engaging film referral from Professor Hall, Eat the Sun, focuses on Mason Dwinell's journey into the world of Sungazing, an ancient practice of looking directly at the sun for long periods of time as a source of biological and spiritual nourishment.

According to HRM, Mason's indian sungazing instructor, one's goal is to reach 44 minutes of looking directly at the sun, which could take 9 to 12 months to achieve. In the process, one would be cured all mental and physical aliments and consequently would be able to subsisted solely on solar energy and water without the desire or need to eat food. Many also claim that it also results in better eye vision and more vibrant and productive life. 

Unsurprisingly, there is neither a scientific proof nor biochemical possibility to support this practice. As a result, many sungazers including the protagonist himself had damaged their eyes in the process. Despite this fact and even after the guru, HRM, himself admitted that he eats when his body compels him, apparently avid followers still exist (or might be expanding its numbers as organizations) all over the world. 

After having experienced the horror of The Sarin Attack on the Tokyo Subway, and also surviving the notorious teenage battlefields in Japan, the mare thought of belonging in a group, either spiritually or socially, already makes me skeptical to begin with, unlike the individuals introduced in the film, I never had the urge  to seek some form of salvation through ritual activity or spiritual knowledge. In that sense, this film was an intriguing reference for recognizing one particular brief from "the other side,"  and its connection with Sun as energy which they believe as a component one can physically collect and consume for nourishment. 

Last but not least, I cannot help but wonder if this practice had any measurable effects on human circadian rhythms which believed to be directly connected with daylight and our performance/well-being. ( Not in the sense that Sugazers clam but as a scientific fact.) On that note, I would expand this notes to further research on this particular biological process.