The 44-year-old monk, Genshin Fujinami, returned Thursday from his
24,800-mile spiritual journey in the Hiei mountains, a range of five peaks that
rise above the ancient capital of Kyoto.
Dressed in his handmade sandals and robe, with a straw raincoat draped over
his head, Fujinami was greeted at the end of his journey by a crowd of
worshippers, who knelt to receive his blessings, said an official at Enryakuji
Hoshuin, the temple that is guardian of the grueling tradition.
"I entrusted everything to God. I am satisfied," Fujinami was quoted as
saying.
Since 1885, only 46 other so-called "marathon monks" of the Tendai sect have
survived the ritual, which dates to the 8th century and is believed to be a path
to enlightenment, according to temple officials. The last monk to complete it
returned in 1994.
A few have done it twice; many more have not lived to finish. Traditionally,
any monk, or gyoja, who can't continue to the end must take his own live, either
by hanging or disembowelment.
A rigorous regimen dictates that in each of the journey's first three years,
the pilgrim must rise at midnight for 100 consecutive days to pray, run along an
18-mile trail around Mount Hiei ? stopping 250 times to pray along the way. He
can carry only candles, a prayer book and a sack of vegetarian food.
In the next two years, he has to extend his runs to 200 days.
In the winter, the pilgrim runner takes a break and spends the days doing
temple chores.
His most difficult trial, however, comes during the fifth year when he must
sit and chant mantras for nine days without food, water or sleep, in a trial
called "doiri," or "entering the temple."
In the sixth year, he walks 37.5 miles every day for 100 days. And in the
seventh, he goes 52.5 miles for 100 days and then 18 miles for another 100 days,
before returning to the temple, located in Otsu city, about 234 miles southwest
of Tokyo.
Back to School: Textbooks
at Wal-Mart | 100%
Online Degrees | Online
or Campus? | Decorate
A Dorm 
