Sokushinbutsu

Sokushinbutsu is a practice of Buddhist monks observing austerity to the point of death and entering mummification while alive. This practice was particularly observed in Northern Japan between the 11th and 19th century.

Practice

The practice of Sokushinbutsu was followed by the monks of the Shingon sect in Northern Japan, particularly around the Dewa Sanzan mountain range. The process of self-mummification was long, arduous, and painful. It required a strict diet called mokujikigyo, which would help in fat loss. The diet consisted of nuts and seeds for the first 1,000 days, followed by a diet of bark and roots for the next 1,000 days. The monks would also engage in rigorous physical activity to speed up the fat loss process.

After this period, the monks would drink a poisonous tea made from the sap of the Urushi tree, which would cause vomiting, rapid loss of bodily fluids, and make the body too toxic for maggots to infest. The monk would then be sealed alive in a tomb, where he would enter a state of meditation and die. The tomb would be opened after three years, and if the body was found preserved, the monk was considered a true Buddha and was placed in the temple for viewing.

Cultural Significance

The practice of Sokushinbutsu is not considered an act of suicide within the context of Japanese Buddhism, but rather an act of further enlightenment. The monks who undertook this practice believed it to be a path to becoming a living Buddha, achieving enlightenment in the process.

See Also

• Mokujikigyo
• Shingon
• Dewa Sanzan
• Urushi
• Buddha

References

Sokushinbutsu Resources
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