Japanese Buddhist monk spends 9 days without food, water, sleep

Japanese Buddhist monk spends 9 days without food, water, sleep

Kogen Kamahori (C), chief priest of a temple in Otsu, emerges from a Buddhist training facility on Mt. Hiei in western Japan in the early hours of Oct. 21, 2015, after completing a nine-day ordeal without eating, drinking, sleeping or lying down and during which he chanted sutras 100,000 times. Kamahori, 41, is believed to be the 13th person in Japan after World War II to have completed the training known as "doiri," which is the hardest part of a 1,000-day "kaihogyo" training to achieve enlightenment and pray for people. Kamahori launched his 1,000-day kaihogyo in March 2011 and is expected to complete it around September 2017. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese Buddhist monk spends 9 days without food, water, sleep

Japanese Buddhist monk spends 9 days without food, water, sleep

Kogen Kamahori (C), chief priest of a temple in Otsu, walks while being assisted on Mt. Hiei in western Japan in the early hours of Oct. 21, 2015, after completing a nine-day ordeal without eating, drinking, sleeping or lying down and during which he chanted sutras 100,000 times. Kamahori, 41, is believed to be the 13th person in Japan after World War II to have completed the training known as "doiri," which is the hardest part of a 1,000-day "kaihogyo" training to achieve enlightenment and pray for people. Kamahori launched his 1,000-day kaihogyo in March 2011 and is expected to complete it around September 2017. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Buddhist priest faces last meal before 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest faces last meal before 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest Kogen Kamahori (2nd from R) sits before his last meal at Enryaku-ji temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 13, 2015, before chanting sutras for nine consecutive days without drinking, eating and sleeping as part of a seven-year quest for enlightenment. He did not eat any of the meal. (Pool photo by Kyoto Shimbun) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Buddhist priest enters hall for 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest enters hall for 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest Kogen Kamahori (C) enters a hall at Enryaku-ji temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 13, 2015, to undertake the challenging practice of chanting sutras for nine consecutive days without drinking, eating and sleeping as part of a seven-year quest for enlightenment. (Pool photo by Kyoto Shimbun) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Buddhist priest heads to hall for 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest heads to hall for 9-day fasting

Buddhist priest Kogen Kamahori (2nd from L) is en route to a hall at Enryaku-ji temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 13, 2015, to practice the challenging exercise of chanting sutras for nine consecutive days without drinking, eating and sleeping as part of a seven-year quest for enlightenment. (Pool photo by Kyoto Shimbun) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo