Enlightened: The Bizarre World of the Breatharians

For thousands of years, human beings have sought spiritual connection and enlightenment. A lot of us are seekers by nature, we want to know why we’re here and what—if anything—comes next. Sometimes it can seem like most of humankind is walking around with their heads in the sand, and we don’t wanna be one of those people. We want to chase after the secrets. We want to be plugged in. There’s a long tradition, as part of this search for truth, of self-deprivation as a spiritual virtue. Taking a vow of silence or poverty. Forbidding alcohol or dancing or sex. Fasting. Some people believe it strips away everything extra and leaves the spirit more open to connection with the infinite. Others prefer a more balanced approach to life, like the Buddhist Middle Way. But for those who choose to throw away worldly pleasures, the path can get pretty extreme. Today we’ll tell you about a group who claim they’ve given up one of our most basic needs—food—and have learned to live on nothing but light and air. Are these people just fully spiritually attuned, or are they just grifters?Free shipping and 365-day returns from Quince: https://quince.com/happycamperSources: Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascended_masterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JasmuheenCult Education Institute: https://culteducation.com/group/848-breatharianism/3279-prison-for-air-cult-discipless.htmlCult Education Institute: https://www.culteducation.com/group/848-breatharianism/3269-three-deaths-linked-to-living-on-air-cults.htmlABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/International/man-eat-drink/story?id=10787036GQ Magazine: https://www.gq.com/story/breatharians-the-people-who-think-air-is-food Vice: https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-one-hundred-day-fast/YouTuber “Atrocity Guide”Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2020/01/living-on-air-the-crazy-ideas-and-consequences-of-breatharians/The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/gaunt-and-weak-the-sham-diet-guru-who-refuses-to-see-the-light-737972.html The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/sep/28/millennium.uk Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2135324/Woman-starves-death-spiritual-journey-trying-live-sunlight-alone.htmlCNN: https://money.cnn.com/2017/06/21/media/breatharian-couple-news-outlets/index.html#:~:text=After%20it%20was%20contacted%20by,the%20New%20York%20Post's%20story.Follow us, campers!Patreon (join to get all episodes ad-free, at least a day early, an extra episode a month, and a free sticker!): https://patreon.com/TrueCrimeCampfirehttps://www.truecrimecampfirepod.com/Facebook: True Crime CampfireInstagram: https://gramha.net/profile/truecrimecampfire/19093397079Twitter: @TCCampfire https://twitter.com/TCCampfireEmail: [e-mail]! https://true-crime-campfire.myspreadshop.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-campfire--4251960/support.