Monk Begins 12-Year Isolation for Extreme Buddhist Training

A Japanese monk has commenced a 12-year period of complete isolation as part of an extreme Buddhist training regimen. Sogaku Taguchi, 31, has confined himself to the mausoleum at Enryakuji temple on Mount Hiei, located northeast of Kyoto.

As the chief monk of Nanzambo Temple, Taguchi will have no contact with other people and will remain unaware of outside world events until September 11, 2038. This demanding task is undertaken to achieve the status of 'jishin,' meaning 'true watcher,' a monk dedicated to tending the tomb of Saicho, the founder of Tendai Buddhism.

Taguchi's daily routine is stringent. He must rise before dawn to prepare and present meals at the tomb. Several hours each day are dedicated to reciting sutras and performing 3,000 prostrations to the Buddha while chanting. He is expected to sleep only a few hours each night, a level of exhaustion believed by followers to induce vivid visions of the Buddha. In addition to his religious duties, he is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the mausoleum and its gardens.

The physical labor involved is considered a form of Zen meditation. Mount Hiei experiences harsh, freezing conditions each winter, adding to the rigor of the training. Historically, the practice has been so arduous that some monks have died from illness before completing the 12 years.

Taguchi is only the 118th individual to undertake this training since records began in 1699, and the eighth in the past 80 years. Before entering the mausoleum complex, Taguchi expressed his devotion, stating, "My desire to live by Saicho's teachings has grown in my heart and I have walked the path of a monk with that as my goal. I am overflowing with joy to stand at its starting line."

Mount Hiei is also known for the 'kaihogyo' practice, where monks walk circuits of the mountain for 1,000 days spread over seven years. This involves walking 19 miles daily for 100 days for the first three years, increasing to 52 miles a day for 100 days in the seventh year. The fifth year is particularly challenging, requiring 19 miles of walking daily for 200 days, culminating in the 'doiri'—a nine-day period without food, water, sleep, or the ability to lie down.