millbank Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Tedai Marathon Monks Only 46 men have completed the 1,000-day challenge since 1885. It takes seven years to complete, as the monks must undergo other Buddhist training in meditation and calligraphy, and perform general duties within the temple. The first 300 days are basic training, during which the monks run 40km per day for 100 consecutive days. In the fourth and fifth years they run 40km each day for 200 consecutive days. That's more or less a full marathon every day for more than six months. The final two years of the 1000-day challenge are even more daunting. In the sixth year they run 60km each day for 100 consecutive days and in the seventh year they run 84km each day for 100 consecutive days. This is the equivalent of running two Olympic marathons back-to-back every day for 100 days. Not only do they wear clothes and shoes unsuited to running, but they have to carry books with directions and mantras to chant, food to offer along the way, candles for illumination, as well as a sheathed knife and a rope, known as the 'cord of death'. These remind the monk of his duty to take his life if he fails, by hanging or self-disembowelment. The course is littered with unmarked graves, marking the spot where monks have taken their own lives. However, there have been no cases of monks' suicides since the nineteenth century. And then there is the doiri, where the monk faces seven days without food, water or sleep or rest. During this time the monk will spend his entire day reciting Buddhist chants and mantras - perhaps up to 100,000 each day. The only time the monk will leave the temple is at 2am to walk the 200m to a well and return with water to make an offering. He is not allowed to drink any himself and the 200m walk can take up to two hours in the final days of the fast. During his time spent meditating there are two monks who are in constant attention to ensure that he does not fall asleep. For several weeks before doiri, the monk will reduce his food intake so his body can cope with the fast. The first day is no problem, but there is some nausea on the second and third days. By the fourth and fifth days the hunger pangs have disappeared, but the monk has become so dehydrated that there is no saliva in his mouth and he will begin to taste blood. The purpose of doiri is to bring the monk face-to-face with death. During this fast, the monks develop extraordinary powers of sense. They talk of being able to hear the ashes of incense sticks fall to the ground and, perhaps unsurprisingly, of the ability to smell food being prepared miles away.
Cugalabanza Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 I will add this to my list of reasons why I don't want to be a monk.
Cugalabanza Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Ok, here's my updated list... never felt comfortable in robes no girls around my knees hurt when i sit on the floor too much i like to go the movies whenever i feel like it and they frown on that monks tend to be very bad conversationalists it's hard to get good pizza delivery in those remote temple locations the whole monk thing seems kind of gay to me I'm a poor chanter I wouldn't feel like trying to explain to my parents why I'm a monk now all of a sudden why the stupid haircuts? you ever see a guy in a monestary sitting on a couch drinking beer watching a bills game? the whole run a marathon every day thing
erynthered Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Tedai Marathon Monks Only 46 men have completed the 1,000-day challenge since 1885. It takes seven years to complete, as the monks must undergo other Buddhist training in meditation and calligraphy, and perform general duties within the temple. The first 300 days are basic training, during which the monks run 40km per day for 100 consecutive days. In the fourth and fifth years they run 40km each day for 200 consecutive days. That's more or less a full marathon every day for more than six months. The final two years of the 1000-day challenge are even more daunting. In the sixth year they run 60km each day for 100 consecutive days and in the seventh year they run 84km each day for 100 consecutive days. This is the equivalent of running two Olympic marathons back-to-back every day for 100 days. Not only do they wear clothes and shoes unsuited to running, but they have to carry books with directions and mantras to chant, food to offer along the way, candles for illumination, as well as a sheathed knife and a rope, known as the 'cord of death'. These remind the monk of his duty to take his life if he fails, by hanging or self-disembowelment. The course is littered with unmarked graves, marking the spot where monks have taken their own lives. However, there have been no cases of monks' suicides since the nineteenth century. And then there is the doiri, where the monk faces seven days without food, water or sleep or rest. During this time the monk will spend his entire day reciting Buddhist chants and mantras - perhaps up to 100,000 each day. The only time the monk will leave the temple is at 2am to walk the 200m to a well and return with water to make an offering. He is not allowed to drink any himself and the 200m walk can take up to two hours in the final days of the fast. During his time spent meditating there are two monks who are in constant attention to ensure that he does not fall asleep. For several weeks before doiri, the monk will reduce his food intake so his body can cope with the fast. The first day is no problem, but there is some nausea on the second and third days. By the fourth and fifth days the hunger pangs have disappeared, but the monk has become so dehydrated that there is no saliva in his mouth and he will begin to taste blood. The purpose of doiri is to bring the monk face-to-face with death. During this fast, the monks develop extraordinary powers of sense. They talk of being able to hear the ashes of incense sticks fall to the ground and, perhaps unsurprisingly, of the ability to smell food being prepared miles away. 750038[/snapback] I hear that, ieatcrayonz is going off as a 2 to 1 favorite to win the race.
The Poojer Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Pfft.... Teddy Bruschi does 168K runs, 365 consecutive days a year and fasts the entire time, all while saving burning kittens and feeding the homeless Tedai Marathon Monks Only 46 men have completed the 1,000-day challenge since 1885. It takes seven years to complete, as the monks must undergo other Buddhist training in meditation and calligraphy, and perform general duties within the temple. The first 300 days are basic training, during which the monks run 40km per day for 100 consecutive days. In the fourth and fifth years they run 40km each day for 200 consecutive days. That's more or less a full marathon every day for more than six months. The final two years of the 1000-day challenge are even more daunting. In the sixth year they run 60km each day for 100 consecutive days and in the seventh year they run 84km each day for 100 consecutive days. This is the equivalent of running two Olympic marathons back-to-back every day for 100 days. Not only do they wear clothes and shoes unsuited to running, but they have to carry books with directions and mantras to chant, food to offer along the way, candles for illumination, as well as a sheathed knife and a rope, known as the 'cord of death'. These remind the monk of his duty to take his life if he fails, by hanging or self-disembowelment. The course is littered with unmarked graves, marking the spot where monks have taken their own lives. However, there have been no cases of monks' suicides since the nineteenth century. And then there is the doiri, where the monk faces seven days without food, water or sleep or rest. During this time the monk will spend his entire day reciting Buddhist chants and mantras - perhaps up to 100,000 each day. The only time the monk will leave the temple is at 2am to walk the 200m to a well and return with water to make an offering. He is not allowed to drink any himself and the 200m walk can take up to two hours in the final days of the fast. During his time spent meditating there are two monks who are in constant attention to ensure that he does not fall asleep. For several weeks before doiri, the monk will reduce his food intake so his body can cope with the fast. The first day is no problem, but there is some nausea on the second and third days. By the fourth and fifth days the hunger pangs have disappeared, but the monk has become so dehydrated that there is no saliva in his mouth and he will begin to taste blood. The purpose of doiri is to bring the monk face-to-face with death. During this fast, the monks develop extraordinary powers of sense. They talk of being able to hear the ashes of incense sticks fall to the ground and, perhaps unsurprisingly, of the ability to smell food being prepared miles away. 750038[/snapback]
5 Wide Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Pfft.... Teddy Bruschi does 168K runs, 365 consecutive days a year and fasts the entire time, all while saving burning kittens and feeding the homeless 750091[/snapback] I hate to correct you, but Bruschi actually does that 412 days a year.
Guffalo Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Tedai Marathon Monks The first 300 days are basic training, during which the monks run 40km per day for 100 consecutive days. In the fourth and fifth years they run 40km each day for 200 consecutive days. That's more or less a full marathon every day for more than six months. The final two years of the 1000-day challenge are even more daunting. In the sixth year they run 60km each day for 100 consecutive days and in the seventh year they run 84km each day for 100 consecutive days. This is the equivalent of running two Olympic marathons back-to-back every day for 100 days. For several weeks before doiri, the monk will reduce his food intake so his body can cope with the fast. The first day is no problem, but there is some nausea on the second and third days. By the fourth and fifth days the hunger pangs have disappeared, but the monk has become so dehydrated that there is no saliva in his mouth and he will begin to taste blood. 750038[/snapback] Ok fine and good............but what's their 40 times like?
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 I hate to correct you, but Bruschi actually does that 412 days a year. 750117[/snapback] ...and has been known to complete the thousand-day challenge in only 700 days...
Ramius Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 The only time the monk will leave the temple is at 2am to walk the 200m to a well and return with water to make an offering. He is not allowed to drink any himself and the 200m walk can take up to two hours in the final days of the fast. 750038[/snapback] pussies
Zona Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 Ok, here's my updated list... never felt comfortable in robes no girls around my knees hurt when i sit on the floor too much i like to go the movies whenever i feel like it and they frown on that monks tend to be very bad conversationalists it's hard to get good pizza delivery in those remote temple locations the whole monk thing seems kind of gay to me I'm a poor chanter I wouldn't feel like trying to explain to my parents why I'm a monk now all of a sudden why the stupid haircuts? you ever see a guy in a monestary sitting on a couch drinking beer watching a bills game? the whole run a marathon every day thing 750085[/snapback] OK, now that was funny.
udonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 Ok, here's my updated list... never felt comfortable in robes no girls around my knees hurt when i sit on the floor too much i like to go the movies whenever i feel like it and they frown on that monks tend to be very bad conversationalists it's hard to get good pizza delivery in those remote temple locations the whole monk thing seems kind of gay to me I'm a poor chanter I wouldn't feel like trying to explain to my parents why I'm a monk now all of a sudden why the stupid haircuts? you ever see a guy in a monestary sitting on a couch drinking beer watching a bills game? the whole run a marathon every day thing 750085[/snapback]
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