| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| luna |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 12:48:20
The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
John Stevens, 1988
With dramatic black and white photographs taken by Tadashi Namba, John Stevens presents a two-part story of the Tendai monks of Mount Hiei. In his words, “It may well be that the greatest athletes today are not the stars of professional sports, nor the Olympic champions, nor the top triathlon competitors, but the marathon monks of Japan’s Mount Hiei.”
Those who are allowed to undertake the challenge complete the equivalent of 1000 marathons over a seven-year period, sennichi kaihogyo. The runs are scheduled in ten 100-day terms and are between 18 and 52 miles. In the fifth and seventh years 200 marathons are run.
Known as kaihogyoja, “mountain marathoners” or “those who practice circling the mountains”, 18 have successfully finished the sennichi kaihogyo since 1853. 46 are on record for finishing the 1000 marathons since the late 1500s. The mountain marathons have been practiced for more than 1200 years.
Since 1868 another 50 priests have completed the 100 days of kaihogyo, mountain marathons. Many more of the Tendai monks accompany the kaihogyoja as assistants on the runs. And several of the abbots hold monthly marathons for parishioners and others wishing to train with the monks. Several baseball teams are known to spend time running with the monks for pre-season training.
Part One describes the teachings and history of Tendai Buddhism and helps to set the stage for the type of spiritual training which provides the fuel for the “running buddhas.” Part Two describes the intricacies of the training and provides fascinating biographical sketches of the 18 most recent kaihogyoja.
The practice of the Tendai monks is highly choreographed, precise and rigorous. The monks follow an exact route and stop at hundreds of stations to offer prayers. Prayer breaks last from 10 seconds to several minutes. The monks sit only once during the run.
Skeptics try to claim that the monks must accomplish their marathons at a walking pace. In fact the monks average 20-minute miles, and this is over steep mountain trails. It should also be noted that the monks run in traditional garb, which includes straw sandals for shoes, and typically their runs begin at midnight. After the nightly runs, chores for the temples must be completed, scriptures read, and visits made with guests. It is common to sleep for only one or two hours an evening during the running terms.
The daily runs are only one aspect of the otherworldly endeavors completed by the monks. At the end the 700th run, the monk sits for nine days in meditation, doiri, without food, water, sleep or recline. Two assistants, working in 24-hour shifts offer gentle pats to remind the monk not to doze off.
Stevens explains that the monks believe the most difficult aspect of the doiri is not the lack of food or water but the need to keep the head erect. Stevens compares the practice with sculpting a Buddha. “It is interesting to note that the hardest part of making a Buddha image is the carving of the head. If the head is not perfectly balanced between the shoulders and the top of the body, sooner or later it will fall off due to improper stress. Maintaining the correct posture at all times is the ultimate challenge.”
Other memorable lines from the book include
"The first and last day of the 1000 day walk are no different; the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning. Your only aim is to achieve your initial purpose, then you can really enjoy what you have done. There is no backing out. When you have finished what you have set out to do, you have created something of huge value."
“To get to the top you have to climb the mountain step by step. If you find that painful you should not have set out on the journey in the first place. It is not the pain that really matters, pain is only a symptom of the effort you are putting into the task."
Stevens also mentions the lung-gom-pa runners of old Tibet. These legendary lamas were said to have been able to run 200 miles at a time. Like the monks of Mount Hiei they were energized by their spiritual practice, and their running served as a means to impart compassion and Buddhist teaching.
Since the 1988 publication at least one other monk has attempted the sennichi kaihogyo. In 1993 Christopher Hayden produced a video documentary about Tanno Kakudo of Mount Hiei and his seven-year journey. It is available through Documentary Educational Resources.
Not mentioned by Stevens but equally captivating are the stories of the amazing Raramuri or Tarahumara Indian runners in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. Raramuri means “foot runner.” They play a game called carera la bola while they run in which they dribble a small wooden ball for distances up to 500 miles. They legitimately claim the title to being the most adept and fastest ultra-marathon runners in the Americas.
As in Aikido: the Way of Harmony, Stevens presents a wonderful history and colorful biographies. He is revealing and respectful. With his book he opens the door to a profoundly rich spiritual tradition.
The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei is a joyful text, which should be of interest to anyone engaged in the practice of traditional and martial arts.
"Never look back, be forever mindful of others, and keep the eyes at all times set on the way. If you do this, the Marathon Monks are telling us, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished."
B Luna
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cpoor |
Posted - 01/31/2005 : 09:05:38
Another great book search engine is www.BookFinder4U.com
And the search for Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei brought up the following:
http://www.bookfinder4u.com/OutOfPrint.aspx?title=marathon+monks+mount+hiei&author=&keyword=&publisher=&isbn=&binding=&dj=&fe=&sg=¤cy=USD
The results will change from day to day.
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| cpoor |
Posted - 01/31/2005 : 09:00:41
Forgot to mention that you can glimpse the book at www.AikiBib.org thru the following link:
http://www.aikibib.org/Books/View.aspx?id=509
Regards,
Chas |
| cpoor |
Posted - 06/02/2004 : 08:17:55
We have a wonderful resource on the shobukan dojo website, see www.aikibib.org.
AikiBib.org, a bibliographic database, will give you an idea of the book contents, flyleaf, and other information. Secondly, it will direct you to Amazon.com to see if there any copies available. If you buy it on Amazon through aikibib.org, the dojo will get a small commission.
There are many book search engines. Probably one of the best is www.Bookfinder.com Others are www.addall.com, www.alibris.com, www.half.com, and even copies may be found up for auction on www.ebay.com.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
cp |
| kokyudoza |
Posted - 05/30/2004 : 15:09:39
Have you tried Amazon? I've found many obscure spiritual texts are available from third parties on their website.
Nick Kiritz |
| emma |
Posted - 05/28/2004 : 19:29:30
I would be eternally grateful if anyone could let me know how to get a copy of this book..... it is out of print and impossible to find. Please help!!! |
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