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Dubbed the "ultra-running monk," Acharya Ryojun Shionuma has completed two of the most difficult practices of the Buddhist Shugendo tradition: the Omine Sennichikaihogyo (1,000 days trekking on Mount Omine in southwestern Japan) and the Shimugyo (a fourfold renouncing practice).
Shionuma, a senior teacher, will give a talk during a seminar titled "A Life-long Spiritual Journey," 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at Hawaii Tokai International College, 2241 Kapiolani Blvd. The talk will be in Japanese with English translation. Seating is limited. Admission is free for students, $10 general through Monday and $15 starting Tuesday.
Shionuma will participate in this year’s Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 14.
Since the Omine Sennichikaihogyo trekking challenge became part of the religious tradition more than 1,000 years ago, Shionuma is the second person to complete its regimen of 48-kilometer (nearly 30-mile) daily runs along a sacred trail. The fourfold renouncing practice includes no sleeping, eating, drinking or lying down for nine days.
After finishing the two practices, he founded the Jigenji (Merciful Eye Temple) in a small village close to the city of Sendai.
Shionuma has written a book, "The Life-long Spiritual Journey of an Apprentice Japanese Bonze."
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