# Hatha Yoga/Chapter 27

CHAPTER XXVII
THE SOLAR ENERGY
Our students are, of course, more or less familiar with the fundamental scientific principles of astronomy. That is to say, they are aware that even in that infinitesimally small portion of the Universe of which we have any knowledge through the sense of sight, even when aided by the most powerful telescopes, there are millions of fixed stars—all of which are suns, equal in size to, and in some cases many times larger than the sun governing our particular planetary system. Each sun is a centre of energy for its planetary system. Our sun is the greater radiator of energy for our planetary system, which is composed of several planets known to science, and several still unknown to astronomers—our own planet, the Earth, being but one of a large family.
Our sun, like the other suns, is continually throwing off energy into space, which energy vitalizes its sur­rounding planets and makes life possible on them. Without the rays of the sun, life would be impossible on the earth—even the most simple forms of life known to us. We are all dependent upon the sun for vitality—vital force. This vital force or energy is of course that which the Yogis know as Prana. Prana is of course everywhere, yet certain centres are constantly being used to absorb and again send this energy—to keep up a perpetual current as it ​were. Electricity is everything, but still dynamos and like centres are necessary to gather it up and send it out in concentrated form. A constant current of Prana is maintained between the sun and its several planets.
It is generally taken for granted (and modern science does not dispute it) that the sun is a mass of seething fire—a sort of fiery furnace, and that the light and heat which we receive are the emanations from this great furnace. But the Yogi philosophers have always held differently. They teach that although the consti­tution of the sun, or rather the conditions prevailing there, are so different from those prevailing here that the human mind would have much difficulty in forming an intelligent conception of them, still it is not literally a mass of matter in combustion, just as a blazing ball of burning coal would be—nor is it as a ball of molten iron. Neither of these conceptions are accepted by the Yogi teachers. They hold, on the contrary, that the sun is composed largely of certain substances very simi­lar to the newly discovered substance known as "radium." They do not say that the sun is composed of radium, but have held for many centuries that it is composed of numerous substances, or forms of matter, having properties similar to those observed to exist in that substance which the Western world is just now thinking so much about, and which its discoverers have termed radium. We are not attempting to describe or explain radium, but are merely stating that it seems to possess certain qualities and properties which the Yogis teach are possessed in varying degrees by the several ​substances forming the "sun-matter." It is very prob­able that some of the other sun-substances may yet be found on this planet—resembling radium and yet hav­ing points of difference.
This sun-substance is not in a molten state, or in a state of combustion as we generally use the word. But it is constantly drawing to itself a current of Prana from the planets, passing it through some wonderful process of Nature and sending a return current to the planets. As our students know, the air is the principal source from which we extract Prana, but the air itself receives it from the sun. We have told how the food we eat is filled with Prana, which we extract and use—but the plants receive their Prana from the sun. The sun is the great store-house of Prana for this solar sys­tem, and is a mighty dynamo constantly sending forth its vibrations to the limits of its system, vitalizing everywhere and making possible life—physical life, we mean, of course.
This book is not the place in which to attempt to describe the wonderful facts regarding the sun's work, which are known to the best Yogi teachers, and we touch upon the subject merely that our students will know the sun for what it is, and realize what it means to all living creatures. The object of this chapter is to bring to your minds the fact that the sun's rays are filled with vibrations of energy and life, which we are using every moment of our lives, but which we are most likely not using to the degree possible to us. Modern and civilized people seem afraid of the sun—they darken their rooms, cover themselves all over with heavy clothes in ​order to keep out its rays—run away from it in fact. Now, remember right here that when we speak of the sun's rays, we are not speaking of heat. Heat is produced by the action of the sun's rays coming in contact with the earth's atmosphere—outside of the earth's atmosphere (in the inter-planetary regions) intense cold prevails, because there is no resistance offered the sun's rays. So when we tell you to take advantage of the sun's rays, we do not mean to sit out in the heat of the mid-summer sun.
You must stop this practice of running away from the sunlight. You must admit the sun to your rooms. Do not be so afraid of your rugs or carpets. Do not keep your best rooms closed all the time. You do not wish your rooms to be like a cellar into which the sun never shines. Open your windows in the early morning, and let the rays of the sun, either direct or reflected, beat into the room, and you will find an atmos­phere of health, strength and vitality gradually pervading your home, replacing the old atmosphere of disease, weakness and lack of life.
Get out into the sun once in a while—don't shun the sunny side of the street, except when the weather is very warm indeed, or about noon-time. Take sun-baths occasionally. Get up a few minutes earlier, and stand, sit or lie down in the sun, and let it freshen up your whole body. If you are so situated that you may do so, take off your clothing and let the sun's rays reach your body without the interference of clothing. If you have never tried this, you will scarcely believe how much virtue there is in a sun-bath, and how strong you will feel after ​it. Do not dismiss this subject without a thought. Experiment a little with the sun's rays, and get some of the benefit of the direct vibrations on your body. If you have any special weakness of the body, you will find that you will obtain relief by letting the rays of the sun reach the affected part, or the surface of the body right over the affected part.
The early morning rays of the sun are by far the most beneficial, and those who rise early and get the benefit of these fresh rays are to be congratulated. After the sun has risen about five hours, the vital effects of the rays lessen, and then gradually decrease as the day nears its close. You will notice that flower-beds which receive the early morning sunshine, thrive much better than those who get only the afternoon rays. All lovers of flowers understand this, and realize that sunshine is as necessary to healthy plant life, as is water, air and good soil. Study the plants a little—get back to nature, and read your lesson there. The sun and air are wonderful tonics—why do you not partake of them more freely?
In other parts of this book, we have spoken of the power of the mind to attract to the system an additional share of Prana from the air, food, water, etc. And this is true of the Prana or vital force in the sun's rays—you may increase the benefit by the proper mental attitude. Walk out in the morning sun—lift up your head, throw back your shoulders, take a few good breaths of the air which is being charged with Prana from the sun's rays. Let the sun shine on you. And then, form the mental image suggested by the words, while you repeat the following ​(or similar) mantram: "I am bathed in Nature's beautiful sunlight—I am drawing from it life, health, strength and vitality. It is making me strong and full of energy. I feel the influx of Prana—I feel it coursing all through my system, from my head to my feet, invigorating my entire body. I love the sunlight, and get all its benefits."
Practice this whenever you get an opportunity, and then you will gradually begin to realize what a good thing you have been missing all these years while you have been running away from the sun. Do not unduly expose yourself to the mid-summer sun, on hot days, particularly about noon. But, winter and summer, the early morning rays will not hurt you. Learn to love the sunlight and all that it stands for.