The Monks Started Meditating and Then Told Their Disciples to Wake Them up After 3000 Days
The unbelievable story of Sokushinbutsu
Sokushinbutsu is nothing like your common fifteen-minute meditation.
It is a brutal self-mummification journey to cheat death and end the cycle of reincarnation — as the monks believe. As you might have deducted, only a few monks succeed.
If they succeed, other monks raise them up after 3000 days, and they are worshiped in a temple.
The Buddhist ritual is composed of three phases.
As we go through the phases, you will understand why this process can turn someone into a mummy.
The History of Sokushinbutsu
Scholars have traced Sokushinbutsu's origin to Japan in 835 AD.
A particular mountain sect of Buddist called Shugen-do has practiced self-mummification for centuries. Shugen-do monks dwell in the holy mountains of Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono.
The monks who undergo Sokushinbutsu aim to gain enlightenment, ease world suffering, and attain Buddha-nature in their bodies.
