Are there any benefits to sun gazing, and is it true that humans can do this and not have any retinal damage if they have not been programmed by human consciousness to have fear of it?

This is a false teaching and a false teaching of the worst kind. It gives a false expectation of what is possible and can be very, very, dangerous as well. Most people will simply not tolerate directly observing the Sun as their natural discomfort will discourage them from doing so, and after they have the experience of losing sight temporarily will be dissuaded from pursuing things further in most cases. It is only the foolhardy who persist and then achieve a permanent injury as a consequence. It is indeed the case that while in the physical, physical laws apply, and there are limits to the ability of human consciousness to impinge on these to alter or override them. So it is possible to move things with the mind, but typically things of a small size or lightweight. There are exceptions, but more so in directing the physical body than outside mass. The conferring of protection can be done through a variety of means to resist injury and stay whole under extreme physical stress of various kinds. And of course there are the miracles of survival and rescue where a person is shielded and protected from a fatal outcome when it is not their time to transition, for example when they drown or they are frozen or they are in an accident of some kind or in a combat situation and there is an explosion nearby but somehow they are protected. There can be angelic rescues and protection in such circumstances, but for the most part, there are compelling reasons to do this and this would not apply to someone being reckless with their body. As you know, someone may survive a great fall if it is not their time to exit, but they may be grievously injured and even permanently disabled but still breathe. And so the need to survive is preserved through divine rescue but there is still a karmic consequence for the risky behavior that led to the accident, whether at the hands of the person themselves or a compatriot who caused their fall. Someone who deliberately sun gazes without thinking it through will suffer the consequences and will very likely have damage. There may be some protection granted through their intention, but if it is not through the divine realm it will not be effective to any extent that is significant. And so the outcome is very, very, likely to be unrewarding. And so you were correct in trying to dissuade the listeners of your interview from engaging in such behavior. You were being a judicious voice of reason and you did quite well with your several examples of why this is nonsensical or at a minimum unwise for reasons of the risks involved.