BY RAJEEV NAIR

HIRA Ratan Manek, founder of the Solar Healing Centre, has a panacea for all that is evil to the human body, mind and soul. That is out there for any one to attain; it indeed is just a gaze away: The Sun.

US-based Manek, the man who is being researched upon by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa)-funded medical professionals, is now in Dubai, more than willing to share his experience with anyone who chooses to listen, and also help set up a solar healing centre here. He does it all free because his own source of energy and contentment comes free -- from the sun.

Researchers find him a "subject matter" because the 68-year-old hasn't eaten solid food for the last ten years. He lives on the energy that sun gives, apart from one-and-a-half litres of water every day. He is not averse to drinking tea, coffee or buttermilk but doesn't insist on having them.

Manek's life philosophy might make fodder for cynics, but then, know also that Manek does not commercialise what he has learnt over 47 years of his life. He simply wants to inform you, hopefully educate you, and essentially leave the choice of whether you practise what he preaches, to your free will. He values utmost the freedom of individuals.

A third-generation Gujarati settled in Kerala, India, Manek is a mechanical engineer by education. He, however, stuck to his family profession -- shipping, which was set up by his grandfather heeding to a call by Mahatma Gandhi, who wanted Indian entrepreneurs to venture into diverse activities as part of the Indian independence movement. Manek also traded in spices.

Solar Healing Centre

All that changed in 1992, when he returned from the Himalayas, and, under public scrutiny, went on for 212 days without solid food. Manek made headlines, and he continued the "feat" for another 412 days with more doctors observing him. That is when the Nasa-funded researchers at the Thomas Jefferson and State University of Pennsylvania spotted him. Manek shifted to the US, and founded the Solar Healing Centre, which has now fetched acceptance in various parts of the world.

He did not attain his independence from solid food in a wink. As a 21-year-old, he had visited the Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram, where he chanced to attend a lecture centred on how the ancient yogis survived long years without food. He researched further and started turning to the sun -- for energy.

According to Manek, the body cells are photo-voltaic, just as solar panel cells are. Once you start grooming the cells to harness the power of the sun, you can generate the energy needed for your body from sunlight. As it is, whatever you eat are secondary sources of energy, all of them drawing their reserves from sunlight, reminds Manek.

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 should be done on the first day for not more than 10 seconds and only one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset. This is the time when the UV rays in the sunlight is less than the value 2. The duration of sungazing can be exceeded with each passing day but there is no harm even if you skip the routine, says Manek. "This is because the goodness derived from any day of sungazing accumulates in your body; it is like the accumulated knowledge you gain at school."

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.

And to highlight what is essentially an Indian wisdom, Manek says he has to approach from the West, because like yoga, "the East comes to the East via the West."

(Hira Ratan Manek will be in Dubai until Jan. 6, and can be reached at Rolla Residence, Dubai)