Monks, Meditation, and Mummies

In honor of Halloween (which is actually also the anniversary of Martin Luther pounding his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg in 1517), I have dedicated a post to the mysterious mummified monks of Japan. While we are all familiar with the mummies of Egyptian acclaim, I argue that these mummies of northern Japan are more remarkable. Why? Because they didn't wait to die to be mummified; they did it themselves as the ultimate expression of devotion.

In lecture on Tuesday, Dr Petersen addressed mysticism and the occult (the direct denotation secret not the devil worship modern connotation). She mentioned the different mystic sects of great religions: the Eleusisian Mysteries, the Kabbalah, Sufism, Gnosticism. One of the early mystic branches of Buddhism was Shugendo established by Kukai. Adherents to this sect tried to attain spiritual enlightenment through discipline. This would situate it nicely in the scholastic mysticism discussed in lecture, because they seek spiritual experiences as opposed to the affective mysticism that comes across it suddenly.  The monks broke with monastic life to live extreme aestheticism in the mountains. They would go on long hikes and pilgrimages through the mountains, eat little food and work extremely hard. Shugendo monks sought an intense unity with nature. The highest expression of devotion and self-discipline was Sokushinbutsu (becoming buddah while in this body).

Sokushinbutsu is the long and extremely painful process of self-mummification. It involved a 1,000 days of a diet of nuts accompanied by intense meditation, often in freezing mountain streams. This was followed by another 1,000 days of a more restricted diet, a tea similar to lacquer, and more meditation. Finally, the monk sat to meditate in the lotus position and was sealed in a prayer room. After 1,000 days the room would be opened to see if he become mummified. The specifics of the Sokushinbutsu ritual can be found here.

While it is thought that hundreds of monks attempted Sokushinbutsu, only 24 mummies have been found, so it appears the success rate was rather low.  But, as the name implies, those who were successful were regarded as having reached Nirvana and were venerated. Also, as buddahs they would be able to reenter the world in a different carnation.

Sokushinbutsu was seen as the culmination of a life of prayer and devotion. It was also believed to benefit the local population. The monk who achieved Sokushinbutsu brought blessings to the people; his mummification was a gift of kindness and compassion that could bring a good harvest or freedom from disease. Lowe described the ritual transformation as the most "appropriate sign to show true belief than leaving one’s temporary abode on this earth in exchange for eternal salvation and the possibility of becoming one with the beloved Buddha."

While I realize this is awesome, especially the week of Halloween, and that these monks showed great self control and dedication, I invited you to think about the price they were willing to pay to have communion with the divine.

For more information:
This book is a good source of more information and has lovely pictures of the mountains.
This one gives good scientific and archaeological information.
This article focuses on the physiological processes