NationStates Jolt Archive

Here's something I read about today that is truly amazing:
Japan's monks run up to two marathons a day for 100 days on their path of enlightenment
That's right: the equivalent of two full marathons evey day for 100 days. That's 84 km (52mi to you Imperialists).
This is the last stage of a 1000 day path to enlightenment, which takes 7 years to complete.
The first few hundreds are building, from running 40km then 60km. Until the big one.
Say you're a Monk doing this. You'd get up at midnight for a small bowl of tofu and vegetables with miso soup. This is your only meal for the day. Then after prayers, you head off to run through the mountains, wearing wooden sandals and a heavy woolen robe that gets heavier when it rains. You're allowed one 2 minute stop during the day to sit under a particular cedar tree and prayer to Buddha. You carry with you your prayer book and a knive and rope. The knive and rope is for you to commit suicide (disembowling or hanging) if you find you can't complete the ordeal. You may also be asked to carry food to offer to others along the way. None for yourself of course.
When you get home depends on the conditions and your ability. You mightn't make it home until 9pm, which gives you only a couple hours sleep after prayers before you start all over again.

And one monk has done this twice. Because he felt he didn't do a good enough job the first time round. The second time was when he was 61.
Then he did the doiri, which is so dangerous, only 9 monks have ever attempted it apparently. It consists of not eating, drinking or sleeping for 9 days. During this time the monk will walk constantly round the temple chanting. The only break he has is when he has to walk down the 200m flight of steps to the well and carry back two pails of water (which of course he's not allowed to drink himself). Towards the end of the ordeal, this task may take more than an hour to complete.


Here's some more info:

http://www.runpunxsyrun.org/marathonmonks.html

http://www.trailrunnermag.com/features/feature%2019.html

All I can say is:
:eek:

Part of me thinks it's totally insane, but mostly I'm totally awed by the shear mental effort and strength that these guys have.
Also it shows you what happens when you don't have a TV or playstation.

No thanks, I am already enlightened. All I had to do for mine was sit around thinking for a few days.

Anorexia was invented by monks then?

Here's something I read about today that is truly amazing:

Japan's monks run up to two marathons a day for 100 days on their path of enlightenment

Part of me thinks it's totally insane, but mostly I'm totally awed by the shear mental effort and strength that these guys have.
.
As am I. I'm all for finding your limits and learning self-discipline, but this is a bit much!

:rolleyes: Why don't they just get a job and make themselves useful!

How does one become enlightened by running themselves to death?

I wonder if their enlightment after 200 marathons in 100 days is:
"Fuck, that was a dumb thing to do"


What's particularly odd is that it's odds on that Buddha himself probably never did anything like this. I mean look at the guy. I think his idea of enlightenment was scoffing down several boxes of Guylian chocolates and Ferro Roches.

Incidently it was his birthday last week (May 16th). It was a public holiday here (yay! go Big guy! I love ya!)

id rather listen to the sound of one hand clapping

How does one become enlightened by running themselves to death?

Good question.

This just smells like a hazing ritual.

Here's something I read about today that is truly amazing:
Japan's monks run up to two marathons a day for 100 days on their path of enlightenment
That's right: the equivalent of two full marathons evey day for 100 days. That's 84 km (52mi to you Imperialists).
This is the last stage of a 1000 day path to enlightenment, which takes 7 years to complete.
<snip>
I saw a documentary on this. Apparently they only have these wooden shoes made with reeds and they go through a few pais a day (which they have to make, of course).

Personally, I don't see the point in going to the extremes of pain and hunger for any reason whatever. These guys must be really bored, or really deluded. I guess than when any group is arteficially removed from market reality they can veer off in to pure insanity. What a waste of time.

I saw a documentary on this. Apparently they only have these wooden shoes made with reeds and they go through a few pais a day (which they have to make, of course).

Personally, I don't see the point in going to the extremes of pain and hunger for any reason whatever. These guys must be really bored, or really deluded. I guess than when any group is artificially removed from market reality they can veer off in to pure insanity. What a waste of time.
They'd probably make the same claim about people spending several hours a day in internet chat-rooms, games and (dare I say it) forums. ;)

That's pretty whacky. I used to be in that kind of condition, where I could run 40-50 miles at a clip, but I'd be so sore the next day, I'd have to lay off for a couple days. You certainly do go into a sort of "out-of-body" state after 20 miles though, so I guess it might help them meditate.. Of course, collapsing from exhaustion and having your entire body go numb, tounge and face included, isn't much fun, so I assume they take precautions..

They'd probably make the same claim about people spending several hours a day in internet chat-rooms, games and (dare I say it) forums. ;)Not really. I happen work full time, and this is part of my leisure time. I'm learning and enjoying myself.

They, on the other hand, don't make their own living, and spend their time endangering their own lives through extreme deprivation. I don't condone pointless suffering, be it voluntary or not. It's not enjoyable or productive, and if they find some some ultimate nirvana because of it, I'll eat my hat. Again, what a waste of time.

I'll just echo my fellow Americans in saying I much prefer to sit on my ass, masturbate and watch television, and I'm sure it's far more rewarding.

:eek: wow, cleary budists and all other eastern religions win.

Not really. I happen work full time, and this is part of my leisure time. I'm learning and enjoying myself.

They, on the other hand, don't make their own living, and spend their time endangering their own lives through extreme deprivation. I don't condone pointless suffering, be it voluntary or not. It's not enjoyable or productive, and if they find some some ultimate nirvana because of it, I'll eat my hat. Again, what a waste of time.

They do provide for their own living, though. They grow their own food and make their own clothes.