Prana living is a spiritual practice that revolves around the idea of sustaining oneself primarily, or even entirely, on prana—the vital life force or energy believed to be present in the air, in sunlight, and in the environment. All around and within us, actually.
The practice also is known by the new moniker of breatharianism.
Rooted in the ancient spiritual traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, prana living emphasizes the idea that human beings receive not only spiritual but physical energy from prana. Individuals who follow such a path wean themselves from most or all food.
In the lexicon of the movement, they live on light.
The present-day breatharian movement has grown in recent decades. However, it’s not a new phenomenon, as its roots date back many centuries.
But before exploring what is now termed “prana living,” let’s visit its root source, which is the spiritual concept known as prana.
What is prana?
Prana is a Sanskrit term that translates to “vital life force” or “breath of life.” It is a central concept in various Eastern spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
Prana is believed to be the universal energy that permeates all living things and maintains the vitality and health of both the body and mind. Prana is thought to be present in natural elements such as the air we breathe, sunlight, water, and even the food we consume.
In general, prana can refer to energy, life energy, or even breath. In traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, it is called chi or qi.
Pranayama, a related term stemming from Hinduism, points to the practice of controlling and regulating the breath to enhance the flow of prana, or vital life energy, within the body.
Yogananda’s two kinds of prana
Renowned spiritual teacher Paramhansa Yogananda taught in his Advanced Course on Practical Metaphysics that there are two kinds of prana, which he called Cosmic Energy and Life Energy:
- Cosmic Energy is the cause of the creation of planets and all living organisms. Yogananda described Cosmic Energy as finer than electrons or any other vibratory force existing in nature, and conscious but not self-conscious. He also called it the missing link between consciousness and matter.
- Life Energy is the second type of prana. It exists in the bodies of all organisms and is supplied by the Cosmic Energy.
It’s worth noting that there is a bounty of explanations from numerous sources regarding what prana is. There also are teachings galore on how to increase pranic life energy in one’s being. YouTube overflows with such offerings.
However, despite this variety, there are some commonly accepted practices to increase the flow of prana. These include breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and sun gazing. All are believed to enhance the body’s ability to absorb this universal energy.
It also is a fundamental tenet of prana living that the quality and flow of this pranic life force through individuals directly influences individuals’ health, their consciousness, and their overall state of being.
Correspondingly, this increased flow of spiritual life energy has the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for food, according to practitioners of prana living/breatharianism.
Historical figures who “lived on light”
There are many stories of yogis and other holy ones who lived without food for years and even decades. Here is a sampling:
Brother Klaus
The fifteenth-century Swiss hermit Nicholas of Flüe, also known as Brother Klaus, was said to have lived without food or water for the last 20 years of his life.
Brother Klaus was a Swiss mystic who had a significant influence on the political and spiritual life of Switzerland in his time. After a career as a soldier, farmer, and family man, he became a hermit at the age of 50 and dedicated his life to prayer and meditation. It was during this later time of his life that he was said to have subsisted only on the Eucharist and divine light, a claim that contributed to his veneration as a saint.
Nicholas of Flüe was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
Therese Neumann
Born in 1989,the German Catholic mystic Therese Neumann lived without food for more than 30 years. She was said to have subsisted on only the Eucharist. Like the Italian friar Padre Pio, she experienced mystical phenomena including the stigmata. She passed away in 1962.
Prahlad Jani
Prahlad Jani was an Indian yogi who claimed to have lived without food or water for more than 70 years. In 2010, Jani allowed himself to be the subject of a continuous long-term observation by an Indian medical team.
The observation was documented in a 2010 documentary film by Austrian filmmaker P.A. Straubinger, “In the Beginning There Was Light.”
Jani was monitored under strict conditions in a hospital in Ahmedabad, India. During his 15-day hospital stay, he was not provided with any food or water, nor did he pass urine or stool. The monitoring included 24-hour video surveillance and various medical tests.
The hospital medical team reported that his health parameters, including weight, vital signs, and organ functions, remained stable throughout the 15 days despite the complete lack of food and water.
Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Shaw, who was part of the medical team that participated in the monitoring of Jani. noted: “We have observed him for two weeks under controlled conditions, and during this period, he has not eaten or drunk anything. This challenges our understanding of human physiology.”
Nevertheless, some in the medical community criticized the observation of Jani because it lacked adequate peer review. Extraordinary results require extraordinary proof, they argued. Disbelieving critics also asserted that Jani could have secretly received food, though this was a doubtful possibility given the high level of monitoring.
If the experiment was accurately executed and monitored, the results flew in the face of currently accepted science, which holds that under normal conditions humans cannot survive without water for more than a few days and without food for more than several weeks.
The message of “In the Beginning There Was Light”
There is much to take away from the Straubinger film in terms of reaching a balanced view of the prana living/breatharian movement. The movie raises questions that go deeper than any controversy regarding whether or not certain individuals portrayed in the film live completely without food while remaining in good health.
Key themes in the film
Despite “In the Beginning There Was Light” having a strong spiritual flavor, the film takes a decidedly scientific approach to the prana living/breatharian phenomenon. At its core, the movie is an investigation rather than an exposition. Here’s how Straubinger explores his topic:
- Exploration of breatharian claims: The film presents testimonials from people who claim to practice inedia, which is defined as the ability to live without food. These stories are juxtaposed with expert opinions from scientists, doctors, and nutritionists, who largely express skepticism about the possibility of surviving without food or water.
- Scientific investigation: “In the Beginning There Was Light” attempts to understand inedia from a scientific standpoint. It features controlled experiments and observations, such as the study conducted on Prahlad Jani referenced above. The results, while criticized by some in the scientific community, are presented in the film as part of the exploration.
- Spiritual and philosophical perspectives: The documentary looks at how the spiritual aspects of breatharianism align with various religious and mystical traditions. It touches on concepts like asceticism, meditation, and the pursuit of enlightenment and suggests that inedia could be a byproduct of profound spiritual practice.
- Skepticism and criticism: Throughout the film, Straubinger includes critical voices and skeptics who argue that breatharianism is scientifically implausible and potentially dangerous. The film does not shy away from the controversies surrounding the topic. It includes instances where individuals attempting to live without food have faced serious health consequences or even death.
“In the Beginning There Was Light” does not provide definitive answers but instead presents a balanced view of the phenomenon of inedia. Like a good storyteller does, Straubinger allows his viewers to draw their own conclusions.
The potential for spiritual transcendence
At its heart, “In the Beginning There Was Light” revolves around the idea that human beings may have the potential to transcend conventional physical needs, such as food, through spiritual practices and a deeper connection to the universal energy known as prana. The film explores the concept that there is more to human sustenance than just material nourishment.
Underneath its balanced exploration of the idea of living without food lies a more profound question: Can spiritual awakening and spiritual practice, genuinely and humbly pursued, provide an alternative form of sustenance beyond mere physical food, and by extension beyond the creature comforts we have come to heavily rely on?
What are the boundaries of human experience?
“In the Beginning There Was Light” challenges viewers to consider the possibility that the boundaries of human experience and capability are far greater than traditionally understood.
You could say the film blurs the lines between science and spirituality. A more accurate statement might be that it searches for common ground between the two, toward the ultimate end that the laws of science will someday align perfectly with spiritual laws, and vice versa.
We may be decades or a century or more from such a harmonious synergy, but the Straubinger film suggests that more and more souls within the human species are trying mightily to find and walk that higher path.
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