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200-Year-Old Mummy In Mongolia Found Meditating In Lotus Position

Author:

Emi Boscamp

January 29, 2015

By Emi Boscamp

mbg Contributor

Emi Boscamp is the former News Editor at mindbodygreen. She received a BA in English and minors in Spanish and Art History from Cornell University.

January 29, 2015

Having trouble getting in your daily dose of meditation? Well, imagine doing it for several centuries.

The mummified remains of a Buddhist monk, pictured below, was recently found in Songinokhairkhan province, according to Mongolia's Morning News. Other than its antiquity — experts say it's at least 200 years old — the mummy is remarkable because it's seated in a pensive lotus position. Reportedly found under some type of animal skin, the remains showed no visible decay.

Initial speculation is that the mummy could be a teacher of the late Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, a Buryat Buddhist Lama of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, whose body was also found preserved in the lotus position.

Sokushinbutsu, the Buddhist practice of self-mummification, which was performed between the 11th and 19th centuries primarily in northern Japan, was considered to be the ultimate act of religious commitment and therefore further enlightenment.

The remains were taken to Ulaanbataar National Centre of Forensic Expertise for further study.

Now that's dedication.