As an ascetic on the Shugendo path of training, Archbishop Eibin Morishita was the first woman to engage in numerous forms of mountain training at Mount Omine and elsewhere, being the first in history to succeed at one month of prior ascetic training followed by yokakan sekishitsu danjiki gyo (eight-day fast in a stone chamber). She is also active as the foremost person in the world who readily engages only in forms of life-risking training that even male ascetics are unable to accomplish. In Tibet she is the only female Japanese to have become a disciple as a Tibetan monk at Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, and erected Japan's first TibetaBuddhist temple at the behest of the master, Eminent Monk Bome Qamba Lozhoi.
At present the temple is visited for consultations by many members of the entertainment industry, athletes, and members of political and business circles seeking help through the transcendent powers of Buddhism and psychic powers.
- 1970
- A miscarriage serves as impetus toward the path to belief
- 1971
- First travel for overseas training in Taiwan and Hong Kong
- 1975
- Receives the Buddhist name "Myobin" by the Honzan Shugen sect temple of Honzan Shogoin
- 1976
- Welcomes the Kurikara Fudo Myo-o deity from Hongo in Fukui Prefecture
- 1980
- Training at Tendai-school monastery Hieizan
- 1981
- Training in Koyasan
- 1982
- Becomes the first woman to complete yokakan sekishitsu danjiki gyo (eight-day fast in a stone chamber)
- 1982
- Receives the Buddhist name "Eibin"
- 1983
- Performs saito ogoma ku (ritual fire ceremony) as the first female saito practitioner
- 1985
- Inception of Kurikara Fudoji Temple
- 1992
- Celebration of the completion of Kurikara Fudoji's main hall
- 1995
- Buddhist memorial service to console the souls of the war dead in Palau (with solemn memorial services thereafter held annually)
- 1999
- Becomes the first non-Tibetan to become a disciple of Living Buddha Bome Qamba Lozhoi, receiving the Buddhist name "Qamba Chodun" from him
- 2001
- Donates funds for the construction of Nyangrain Elementary School
- 2004
- Donates funds for the construction of a facility for orphans in Manila, the Philippines
- 2005
- Celebration of the completion of the main hall of Tibetan Buddhist temple Qambalin
- 2006
- Donates funds for the construction of a facility for orphans in Sri Lanka
Fasting
In this training, which is called underground contemplation, the monk goes inside a manmade stone cave and fasts for eight days.
This is an extreme fasting practice performed with only a small amount of water brought inside the chamber of wedge-shaped stones.
It has been attempted by many ascetics in the past, but few have succeeded at it.
Archbishop Eibin Morishita, as a practitioner of Shugendo, has engaged in numerous forms of mountain training at Mount Omine and elsewhere, and was and remains the first woman in history to succeed at yokakan sekishitsu danjiki gyo (eight-day fast in a stone chamber), including the grueling month-long training that precedes it.
Overseas Memorial Services
Archbishop Eibin Morishita makes many journeys abroad, not only as an activist for peace, but also to hold Buddhist memorial services.
In particular, the services for the victims of war in Palau, where she travels to every year, are ceremonies that involve the entire country.
She also maintains friendly ties with people involved in Buddhism in many countries, including such moves as constructing care facilities for orphan victims of the tsunami in Sri Lanka as well as making other donations.
