The Marathon Monks

The Marathon Monks, primarily from Japan’s Tendai tradition on Mount Hiei, undertake a demanding spiritual practice called “sennichi kaihōgyō,” which involves walking a marathon (42.195 km) daily for 100 consecutive days, totaling over 4,000 km annually. The monks aim to achieve spiritual enlightenment and purification through rigorous physical endurance and discipline. This intense pilgrimage, repeated for multiple years, exemplifies dedication, renunciation, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, often pushing practitioners to physical and mental limits. Their practice is both a profound spiritual discipline and a testament to human endurance.