The practice of self-mummification by Buddhist monks is called Sokushinbutsu. The practice dates back to the 11th century.
The practice involved: A strict diet and rigorous exercise Sealing themselves in a tomb while still alive Starving themselves of calories and nutrients The monks believed that the extreme diet would "toughen the spirit" and "distance [them] from the common human world". The diet would also eliminate the fat and moisture that encourages decay after death.
The practice was observed by monks who were mostly members of the Shingon sect of the Japanese Vajrayāna school of Buddhism. Between 1081 and 1903, around 20 living Shingon monks successfully mummified themselves.
The monks believed that they would cheat death to enter a state of eternal meditation.
Sokushinbutsu is a Japanese tradition that dates back to the 11th century. It's a process where Buddhist monks slowly mummify themselves before death. The goal is to become "a Buddha in this body".
The process of self-mummification is long and arduous, taking at least three years of preparation before death. The preparation includes a diet called mokujikigyō, literally "tree-eating training".
The practice was mainly practiced in Yamagata in Northern Japan between the 11th and 19th century. The practice continues at a handful of temples, predominantly of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, scattered around Japan.
Between 1081 and 1903, around 20 living Shingon monks successfully mummified themselves. Most failed in their efforts.
Since the law was changed in the Meiji period (1868-1912), it is no longer possible to become a Sokushinbutsu even if one wishes to do so, as it would violate the law.
Self-mummification is a process that monks used to enter a state of eternal meditation. The monks believed that they would cheat death and enter a state of suspended animation. They believed that they could continue their lives in a different dimension of reality.
The process of self-mummification took at least three years of preparation. The monks would eat a diet of nuts, tree roots, bark, edible wild plants, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. They would then retreat into the mountains to sacrifice themselves for the karmic suffering of their communities.
The monks would die in a state of jhana (meditation) while chanting the nenbutsu (a mantra about Buddha). Their bodies would become naturally preserved as mummies with skin and teeth intact without decay and without the need of any artificial preservatives.
The monks were called sokushinbutsu, or “Buddhas in Their Very Body”. They were enshrined in special temples.
Today, there are 16 mummified monks whose corpses are still preserved in Japan. Six of them are centered around the rural city of Tsuruoka, Yamagata, in northern Japan.
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