T H E E N D C O M M U N E

The Sokushinbutsu Monks

I want to tell about the Sokushinbutsu monks (即身仏). The term describes the Buddhist practice of self-immolation through literal self-mummification. Reportedly, the dedicated monk would succumb to a decade of strict asceticism, eating only the most necessary in order to survive. Only nuts and seeds found in the surroundings of the temple would be eaten. This diet would be maintained for a 1,000-day period. The body fat saw a drastic reduction, thus removing a large portion of the body that decomposes after death. After the 1,000 days, the diet would become even more austere, as the monk was now only allowed to eat smaller amounts of barks and roots, and other― nutrience-wise―worthless foods. This had to be endured for another 1,000-day period. The diet caused ongoing vomitation and bodily fluids hit extreme lows. The body thus becomes increasingly emaciated and dehydrated, literally mummifying itself slowly. At this point, the body would be so poisonous and decayed, even maggots would discard it. After this 2,000-day ordeal, the monk would entomb himself alive in a stone room just big enough for a man to sit in lotus position. He had air intake into the tomb, and a bell. Each day, as long as he lived, he rang the bell. When the bell stopped, the flabbergasting ritual of sokushinbutsu would be complete, the soul having transcended.
 
This tradition was mainly practiced in the northern parts of Japan (Yamagata region) until the 19th century. According to the custom, it is not viewed as suicide per se, but rather a pursuit of further divine development and enlightenment. It is believed that many hundreds of monks tried, but only between 16 and 24 successful sokushinbutsu mummifications have been discovered to date. Clearly, the process of sokushinbutsu was a prolonged, extremely painful and harsh process that required profound mastery of self-control, discipline, dedication and denial of physical sensation. These people are monuments to human capacity, relics of the heroic Will. A sane culture would erect these monuments and let them overshadow all the weak debaucheries, the snake-pits of self-deceit and confusion, the repulsive megalomania and arrogance―the slow but steady collective failure of western culture. But we don’t. We erect steles instead to the very folk who is cheeringly watching from a distance, having fooled us into believing they are our friends.