How is it that some masters live off no food? Not eating for days, months, years, or even decades what is their secret?
There are three main forms of energy: food, sunshine, oxygen. Masters who do not eat either absorb cosmic rays (sunshine), in a process of solar gazing (looking directly at the sun close to sun rise and sunset when the blinding rays of the sun are absent) or perform specialized pranayama (yogic breathing).
Something needs to be said about cosmic energy. Energy in the way of using the will is still higher than oxygen, solar, and most definately food.
It is this cosmic source of using the mind to create energy, vitality, and potentiality, that drives the masters to be able to live of little to no food.
Although few have witnessed the use of potentiating will, a short term fast 1-3 days gives the experience of directing consciousness and energy from food source to will force.
After the first day of non eating the mind takes over, the digestive organs relax and begin to heal, and will through mind control (consciousness) begins to absorb conscious energy from the ether.
Yoganananda and others have spoken highly about the benefits of a one day a week fast, and once a month 3 day fast. Another objective to understand the limitations that man places on himself with regards to eating is in a controlled situation performing a 21 or longer day water fast.
Even without a spiritual background (although it helps sustain and achieve more cosmic energy), one can with guidance perform a prolonged fast.
By overcoming some limiting thoughts, peer pressure, and habits of eating, cravings, and emotional distractions, one will gain the benefits of understand that cosmic energy is the underlying source of both solar, oxygen, and even food energy.
