Living Buddhas: The Self-Mummified Monks of Yamagata, Japan

by Ken Jeremiah

Northern Japan is home to an ancient, esoteric tradition of self-mummifying Buddhist monks, little known to the outside world. Long after death, these ascetics continue to be revered as Living Buddhas. This first English-language work on the subject recounts the process by which these monks starve themselves for a decade, bury themselves alive with only a small breathing tube, and meditate until death. After three years, the mummified body is exhumed and displayed. The biographies of various monks are presented within, as is an examination of the religious beliefs involved, an amalgamation of three distinct religious traditions. Also explored is the role of asceticism in religion, and beliefs about life and death shared by the Buddhist sects involved in self-mummification.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2010

About the author

Dr. Ken Jeremiah has written extensively about history, religion, and the martial arts. His previous books include Living Buddhas: The Self-Mummified Monks of Yamagata, Japan, Christian Mummification: An Interpretive History of the Preservation of Saints, Martyrs, and Others, If the Samurai Played Golf…Zen Strategies for a Winning Game, and Aikido Ground Fighting. More information can be found at www.kenjeremiah.com.

Reviews

[Amlux · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book about a little-known topic that should be more well-researched. Though it is worth warning that the writing isn't always removed in the typically atheistic, objective academic sense (something I don't mind, but might be worth noting). I do generally very much like the writer's style though, quite syncretic in the true sense of the word, full of allusions to varied religious traditions that embraces a spirit of coming together around an ultimate truth.

[JEREMIAH F LYONS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but at times tedious

One of the only English language texts on the history and mythology behind the self mummification and self immolation of Buddhist monks.

[Samuel Norberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely the most interesting book iv'e read about eastern religion and esoteric cults, a must read if you are interested in such things

[Anca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that goes beyond the historical aspects of self-mummification, Living Buddhas is a unique masterpiece in which the author talks about the diverse religious influences that led to the sect of Shugendo, on life and death being two sides of the same coin (and how these mummified monks are neither alive, nor dead, but in suspended animation), about the discipline and altruism of asceticism and the diverse ways people find meaning in life - whether through creating values, children or being devoted to religious life.

A very rarely-researched subject, self-mummification is a shock to most people when they first hear about it. This was practiced by a Japanese Buddhist sect called Shugendo (Sokunshin jobutsu is the Japanese name for the practice of self-mummification) - a sect which favors asceticism - and it was virtually unknown to Westerners until this detailed print appeared for the English-speaking public. Shugendo is still practiced today, but the practice of self-mummification was banned in Japan.

In a religion that favors non-attachment in order to avoid pain, how could such a practice be developed? Since these highly spiritual monks performed miracles during their lives. preserving their bodies as much as possible was an act of altruism.

Their behavior is not that different from the ascetic saints of Europe - the incorruptibles - on which the same author wrote a book called Christian Mummification.

Their self-mummification was done in three stages:

-losing fat

-dehydration

-poisoning

In the first 1000 days, the monks were doing strenuous physical activity while eating only nuts, berries and seeds, foregoing all cereals. For another 1000 days, they ate only bark and roots and decreased their food consumption almost to nothing but pine needles and resin.

Dehydration and poisoning were attained by drinking a poisonous tea from the Urushi tree. This caused severe vomiting, diarrhea and made the body poisonous, so as to avoid being eaten by maggots.

Afterwards they would bury themselves alive in a cave leaving only one bamboo tube for oxygen while meditating in front of upcoming death, keeping oneself in the lotus position. They would ring a bell every day for the other monks to know they are still alive. Once the bell didn't ring anymore, they sealed the cave and waited for another 1000 days, after which they checked to see whether mummification was achieved. This signified great spiritual achievement and the monk would be painted in lacquer and displayed in temples.

This whole process took about a decade(!). If the self-mummification did not succeed, the bodies were forgotten in time. The state in which these monks continued their existence as mummies was considered a form of suspended animation and not actual death.

Once can still see some of them in Buddhist temples in the Yamagata region of Japan, thanks to the directions provided by this book for the English speaker.

The book includes lots of exclusive photos of these monks and the Buddhist temples they inhabit and also an index of their names in Japanese.

The Japanese language skills and the trips to Japan were fruitfully used for writing this book and I am deeply grateful for the information in it - it is amazing how much unique information you can get access to by knowing a foreign language.

[Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone interested in esoteric Buddhism and/or Tantric religion. Even though it is fascinating to the end, the last few chapters however get a bit repetitive which could easily have been avoided by some careful editing.

Still, I do recommend it.