The Kaihōgyō is a 1000-day pilgrimage around Mount Hiei, which takes seven years to complete on foot.
It is a ritual performed by monks, or gyoja, in the Tendai sect. The journey is equivalent to a trip around the globe and is traditionally seen as a way for monks to offer prayers to the Buddhas and for the well-being of others.
Only 46 monks have survived the ritual since it began in 1885, and those who are .
About Kaihōgyō
The kaihōgyō (回峰行) ("circling the mountain") is an ascetic practice performed by Tendai Buddhist monks.
The practice involves walking a route on Mount Hiei (the location of the Tendai school headquarters), the longest of which takes 1000 days to complete; all the while offering prayers at halls, shrines and other sacred places.
The Spiritual Athlete’s Path to Enlightenment
Throughout this world, there are many mysterious and amazing feats that can be found. People are capable of doing most incredible things that we have never deemed possible.
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Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
In Mount Hiei of Japan, there can be found a small group of monks who live in a monastery and can accomplish many remarkable challenges. This mountain had .