NationStates Jolt Archive

Breatharianism.

Even the word makes you go "what the f-?"

http://www.breatharian.com/

From WIKI:
Breatharianism is a related concept (to Inedia), in which believers claim food and possibly water are not necessary, and that humans can be sustained solely by prana (the vital life force in Hinduism), or according to some, by the energy in sunlight. The terms breatharianism or inedia may also refer to this philosophy practiced as a lifestyle in place of the usual diet. While it is often seen as an esoteric practice performed by eastern ascetics, recently some groups such as the Breatharian Institute of America have promoted the practice as an option for anybody, once the proper techniques for accessing it are made known.

I think this is utterly ridiculous, especially when practiced in the Western world. I respect the fact that every culture has their own beliefs, but when this becomes "cool" in a Western culture, it makes me cringe. Recently I came across an article (stuck on my Christian uncle's wall) about an Australian man who claims to Breatharian. He does not eat, except for the rare cup of black coffee or glass of orange juice. He regularly plays tennis with his wife. His wife eats a healthy diet, and accepts his choice. He believes in God (I believe this was meant in a Christian conext, but I do not have the article) and believes he gets his sustinance from God and the sun!

I don't see this as a religion. I see this as glamourisation of an eating disorder. To me, he has an eating disorder. I don't know his exact weight, but from the look of the picture in the article, he's emaciated, so he either has EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or anorexia nervosa.

Breatharianism.

Even the word makes you go "what the f-?"

http://www.breatharian.com/

From WIKI:


I think this is utterly ridiculous, especially when practiced in the Western world. I respect the fact that every culture has their own beliefs, but when this becomes "cool" in a Western culture, it makes me cringe. Recently I came across an article (stuck on my Christian uncle's wall) about an Australian man who claims to Breatharian. He does not eat, except for the rare cup of black coffee or glass of orange juice. He regularly plays tennis with his wife. His wife eats a healthy diet, and accepts his choice. He believes in God (I believe this was meant in a Christian conext, but I do not have the article) and believes he gets his sustinance from God and the sun!

I don't see this as a religion. I see this as glamourisation of an eating disorder. To me, he has an eating disorder. I don't know his exact weight, but from the look of the picture in the article, he's emaciated, so he either has EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or anorexia nervosa.

surely no one is a breatharian for long.

I can't even survive 8 hours without a massive caffiene fix, so fuck that. :p

Don't worry dude, you'll be proven right when they drop dead!

what you don't know is they can eat things like bread and wine ;)

I don't see this as a religion. I see this as glamourisation of an eating disorder. To me, he has an eating disorder. I don't know his exact weight, but from the look of the picture in the article, he's emaciated, so he either has EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or anorexia nervosa.
Wow. creepy, I don't think he'll live past 50. Eating (Or in this case not eating) like that is DEFINTLY not healthy, or even mildly religious. It's just someone looking for a justification for why they don't eat.

Yep, that's why God gave us food; because we don't need it. :p

*shrugs* At least they're taking themselves out of the gene pool instead of other people.

I don't see this as a religion. I see this as glamourisation of an eating disorder. To me, he has an eating disorder. I don't know his exact weight, but from the look of the picture in the article, he's emaciated, so he either has EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or anorexia nervosa.

If there's no fear of fat or becoming fat, it wouldn't qualify as anorexia, strictly speaking. Abnormal doesn't imply pathological, after all - eating disorders such as anorexia are in many ways culturally-bound, and rare outside the West. An Eastern philosophy which teaches a different view of the body and body image might be used to justify a disorder in our culture, but it isn't necessarily wrong for that reason. It's wrong because it's physically impossible to live without taking in any calories, but that's a matter for science. :p

I'm not starving for God. I had some God yesterday for lunch actually.

From the link...

Wiley will be taking on 10 students at a special introductory rate for the next few months. ($20,000 USD Minimum)

Sounds legit to me. :rolleyes:

I think I mentioned this in the post on hunger, but the man mentioned, Wiley Brooks, was caught eating a hot dog and slurpee at a 7-11 in Santa Cruz way back the year I was born. Santa Cruz is so not the place you want to be found out as a spiritual flake. Since then he's been seen numerous times eating at fastfood places. His explanation for this is so mind-boggling it has to be quoted. From Wiki:


He told Colors magazine in 2003 that he periodically breaks his fasting with a Big Mac and Coke, explaining that when he's surrounded by junk culture and foods, consuming them adds balance.[13] On his website Brooks goes on to explain that his future followers must first prepare by combining the junk food diet with the meditative incantation of the five magic fifth-dimensional words which appear on his website.[5] Prospective disciples are asked after some time on this junk food/magic word preparation to revisit his website in order to test if they can feel the magic.[5] He further mentions that those interested can call him on his fifth-dimensional phone number in order to get the correct pronunciation of the five magic words.[5] In case the line is busy prospective recruits are asked to meditate on the five magic words for a few minutes and then try calling again.[5] However he does not explain how anyone can meditate with words they cannot yet pronounce.

If there's no fear of fat or becoming fat, it wouldn't qualify as anorexia, strictly speaking. Abnormal doesn't imply pathological, after all - eating disorders such as anorexia are in many ways culturally-bound, and rare outside the West. An Eastern philosophy which teaches a different view of the body and body image might be used to justify a disorder in our culture, but it isn't necessarily wrong for that reason. It's wrong because it's physically impossible to live without taking in any calories, but that's a matter for science. :p

I actually had a conversation with someone once who wasn't a breatharian herself, but believed it was possible to be one, to live on sunlight. I wished desperately I had a basic gradeschool science book or something with me so I could show her the difference between plants and animals.

From the link...



Sounds legit to me. :rolleyes:

Wonder what the huge fee's for... you can't think they'll cost too much in food and board.

what you don't know is they can eat things like bread and wine ;)

Which in the end is why it is not so impressive, so they wont tell you that :P

Allot of things like this are the same, you only get half the story when somebody looks into it.

I actually had a conversation with someone once who wasn't a breatharian herself, but believed it was possible to be one, to live on sunlight. I wished desperately I had a basic gradeschool science book or something with me so I could show her the difference between plants and animals.

I think I recall reading a book in class, in kindergarten, that featured a kid who could photosynthesize like a plant. Maybe the guy really thought he could do something like that. :p Maybe we'll all be able to a century from now. :)

I think I recall reading a book in class, in kindergarten, that featured a kid who could photosynthesize like a plant. Maybe the guy really thought he could do something like that. :p Maybe we'll all be able to a century from now. :)

This is why we kindergarten teachers have such an important job--we have to make sure you never read the wrong books and learn the truth!

I just read through more of his site and apparently big macs with cheese and diet cokes are the food of breatharians? Something called 5th dimension food? I'm kind of stoned, so I can't tell if it's them not making sense or me, but it sounds weird.

Wonder what the huge fee's for... you can't think they'll cost too much in food and board.

Not only is the fee huge, it's introductory...meaning it will go up.

Rarely have I seen such a blatantly obvious scam.

They did a report on that a few years ago in some Aussie current affairs show. They interviewed some American woman (iirc) who was from that Breatharian Institute who claimed she hadn't eaten in years, yet was perfectly healthy.
They asked if they could film her for several days to back up her claim. After a couple of hours, she claimed their 'negative' energy was interfering with her Chakras (or some shit) and kicked them out.

Take from that what you will.

They did a report on that a few years ago in some Aussie current affairs show. They interviewed some American woman (iirc) who was from that Breatharian Institute who claimed she hadn't eaten in years, yet was perfectly healthy.
They asked if they could film her for several days to back up her claim. After a couple of hours, she claimed their 'negative' energy was interfering with her Chakras (or some shit) and kicked them out.

Take from that what you will.

It would have been simpler to rig up a sealed container with air holes and a porta-potty and have her spend a few days in it. Maybe some kind of tap for water too, if they claim they need that. Keep her locked up for 6 days, see what she does when she comes out.

It would have been simpler to rig up a sealed container with air holes and a porta-potty and have her spend a few days in it. Maybe some kind of tap for water too, if they claim they need that. Keep her locked up for 6 days, see what she does when she comes out.
better yet: bring her out every day and present her a long table of every mouth-watering delicacy known to man. Have a team of French, Japanese, Italian, Indian and Thai chefs whip up various goodies. Then we'll see how good this Breatharian theory is!

better yet: bring her out every day and present her a long table of every mouth-watering delicacy known to man. Have a team of French, Japanese, Italian, Indian and Thai chefs whip up various goodies. Then we'll see how good this Breatharian theory is!

That would be tempting, and can be argued to be an attempt to skew the results. No, it would be better just to lock her up for a period of time that a normal human being would starve and see if she comes out needing food or not.

That would be tempting, and can be argued to be an attempt to skew the results. No, it would be better just to lock her up for a period of time that a normal human being would starve and see if she comes out needing food or not.
but you're missing the whole point of the exercise: entertainment for us.

Oh for fuck's sake...

from the breatharian's website:


Update: 3-10-08
The true Breatharian is a multidimensional Being whose blood stream contains six precious metals. They are: GOLD, PLATINUM,IRIDIUM, PALLADIUM,OSMIUM and RHODIUM.

Wiley will be taking on 10 students at a special introductory rate
for the next few months.
($20,000 USD Minimum)



Multidimensional... like someone can be non-dimensional or monodimensional.

Also, talk about pollution. And scams while you're at it.


....

Start meditating with these magic words for at least 30 minutes a day to begin with and increase your meditatiing time to 2 hours a day as soon as possible. Repeat them in the exact order that they are.

Do the meditation excersize before drinking lots of diet coke in the 20 oz and 1 liter sizes (with caffeine) in the plastic bottles only. Along with a double-quarter-pounder/with cheese meal at McDonald's only. Always meditate 30 mins to an hour before eating. Try to eat at least one meal a day for a while. Go back to my web site periodically to see if you can start to feel the magic after reading a few paragraphs.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT DRINK WATER OF ANY KIND OR FROM ANY SOURCE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,DO NOT EAT ANY FRUITS OR VEGETABLES DOING THIS REGIME!!!

Looks like they're sponsored by McDonald's and Coca-Cola.

The true Breatharian is a multidimensional Being whose blood stream contains six precious metals. They are: GOLD, PLATINUM,IRIDIUM, PALLADIUM,OSMIUM and RHODIUM.

Wiley will be taking on 10 students at a special introductory rate
for the next few months.
($20,000 USD Minimum)

Well, at least we know where the money is going. Right into your bloodstream. :p

I do not believe humans need to eat so much. They can slow-down their metabolism by reducing. Still, one should not reduce so quickly. As for not eating at-all, I think that is load of nonsense. I hate eating, but I do not try to live without food.

Breatharianism.

Even the word makes you go "what the f-?"

http://www.breatharian.com/

From WIKI:


I think this is utterly ridiculous, especially when practiced in the Western world. I respect the fact that every culture has their own beliefs, but when this becomes "cool" in a Western culture, it makes me cringe. Recently I came across an article (stuck on my Christian uncle's wall) about an Australian man who claims to Breatharian. He does not eat, except for the rare cup of black coffee or glass of orange juice. He regularly plays tennis with his wife. His wife eats a healthy diet, and accepts his choice. He believes in God (I believe this was meant in a Christian conext, but I do not have the article) and believes he gets his sustinance from God and the sun!

I don't see this as a religion. I see this as glamourisation of an eating disorder. To me, he has an eating disorder. I don't know his exact weight, but from the look of the picture in the article, he's emaciated, so he either has EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) or anorexia nervosa.

Ever wander 'round here for weird religions? :)
http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/fistclutch.html

Damn Subgenius...sell my planet will you?

Damn Subgenius...sell my planet will you?

Not that you weren't invited in on the sale, homey.

Not only is the fee huge, it's introductory...meaning it will go up.

Rarely have I seen such a blatantly obvious scam.

Oh, of course it increases. It goes up to ridiculous $25 million (see here: http://www.breatharian.com/initiationworkshops.html) in total for you to ascend.

I would love to see the applicant list. In order to nominate them for global award Rich Gullible Fool :)

Hmph. They will eat when no one's looking...

Pretty much the case, most religions like this are scams. Like scientology you honestly think the people high up believe in all that crap? They dont they just know some people are so desperate for a reason to live there pathetic lives they will except a hamster being there god anytime.

They will all starve to death, just wait for it.

yeah, involving food and religion don't really mix so much as go splat when they do try to amalgemate the two.
Food is quite seperate from the beliefs i might have, and if i did ever make a religion, i'd make sure it had some lovely food, hmmmm fooooood.

I'm kind of stoned, so I can't tell if it's them not making sense or me, but it sounds weird.

Haha, coming on NSG stoned always turns out badly. ;)

They will all starve to death, just wait for it.

No they wont because they can eat certain things such as McDonalds burgers and diet coke

They can also eat beef and that is the only meat they can have because:

"the cow consciousness is a group of fully consciousness, very high dimensional beings who don’t experience death the way you think about it. They know there is no such thing as death. Only transition from one reality to another, and there are many realities to visit"

Of course it seems like it is in the running to be one of the biggest schemes come up with by a con artist ever espically when things are said like

"It’s a $200,000 gift to you from the Universe; don’t let it go to waste because of your "ANALYTICAL MIND. If you can’t get through this first level of the initiations at $200,000 what makes you think you’ll do it at the next level which is $400,000 cash. And the price keeps rising as your power progresses."

A $200,000 gift how many people pay for their gifts, not only that the price rises after every level you complete.

You just know that the people in charge of this are living in 24 bedroom mansions eating cavier and scotch fillet every night not to mention drinking MUMM's or maybe a magnum of MOET every night.

Of course they have a reason on why they can eat some foods:

"Since you are literally drowning in the 3d world that makes it is virtually impossible to free your body from this atmosphere by simply not eating 3d food. This is why I never recommended fasting for more than a few days, because I knew its limitations. I also knew that the Earth’s 5d grids had not been completed yet, since I was working day and night helping to construct them."

Also just on a side issue can someone please tell me what to do to get it into those quote boxes

Also just on a side issue can someone please tell me what to do to get it into those quote boxes

You use the quote button right above the text box.
http://assets.jolt.co.uk/forums/jolt/editor/quote.gif