…is a practice that includes gazing at the sun for nourishment or as a spiritual practice. Looking into the sun is dangerous, and can cause solar retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina) and lead to permanent eye damage or blindness. Although it is frequently claimed that the retina is burned by looking at the sun, retinal damage appears to occur primarily due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury.
Sungazers claim their eyes are capable of converting sunlight into energy for their bodies. They claim the methodology is similar to photosynthesis.
Sungazing is also part of the Bates method (see: William Horatio Bates, M.D. eye-care physician, (1860–1931), an alternative therapy intended to improve eyesight. Today’s ophthalmologists disregard this method.
Proponents of sungazing claim increased energy levels and decreased appetite; as with other forms of inedia (Latin for “fasting” is the ability to live without food), this claim is not considered credible due to the lack of scientific studies confirming it.
Advices?…Don’t look directly at the Sun!
There is a very good reason why every time there is a solar eclipse astronomers will warning you to never look directly at the Sun. Even more importantly, you to never look at the Sun through a telescope unless you have a professional solar filter that covers the front of the telescope. Why? Well…you don’t want to find out and jeopardize your eyesight!
