Life as a monk is something I would NOT be able to do in a million years. Sure, studying martial arts as a monk would be awesome, and it would totally play out like it does in movies. As far as a monks day-to-day life goes however, I couldn’t do it. Giving up everything to dedicate yourself solely to others is a huge responsibility. One that I know I wouldn’t be able to live up to for the rest of my life. I like technology and the ease that comes with using it in today’s world. There is a lot of tradition and ceremony that comes along with being a monk, even after your dead. That is what prompted these monks to do something to one of their brothers who has been dead for four years. It may seem a bit gross or morbid, but to them this is one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed on one of their own. Check out what they did to this dead monks body!
This is a photo of Fu Hou, a very highly revered and respected monk who lived most of his life at the Chongfu Temple in China. He died in 2012 at the age of 94.
After he died his body was mummified and sealed inside this large pottery jar shaped tomb. Earlier this year, the jar was unsealed and his body was exhumed.
The body was then washed, covered in layers of gauze, lacquer and finally painted with layers of gold leaf.
This tradition is reserved for only the most highly respected amongst the monks.
The belief is that only the purest of monks would emerge from the jar with their body in tact.
Fu Hou will be placed in the ancestral hall of shrines at the Dongdan inner chamber. People will be able to come visit and worship him.
This really is an incredible honor that I think Fu Hou would have been incredibly proud to have achieved. Monks really are some of the best people on the planet. They have an almost non-existent environmental footprint and promote peace and equality for everyone. It takes a special kind of person to dedicate themselves to a life-like this, but at least you can die knowing that you will be revered and respected for it.