The Most Extreme Spiritual Practices Still Happening Today (8 Photos)
1
Jain Ascetics – All Life Is Sacred
Jain monks and nuns are living proof of devotion through discipline. They own nothing, not even clothes in some sects. They walk barefoot across India, even in scorching heat or sharp gravel, and carry a feather duster to gently move insects out of their path. They wear cloths over their mouths to avoid inhaling tiny lifeforms. The most extreme form of their practice is Santhara, a ritual where a monk will slowly fast until death, often taking weeks. This is seen as a final purification, a peaceful, conscious exit from worldly ties. As of today, thousands still live this way, with Santhara deaths documented in the news regularly.
Google
Facebook
