Leaving Your Mark
No, this isn’t some fancy Photoshop trick, these are real human footprints ingrained in a hardwood floor.
70 year-old Buddhist monk Hua Chi has been praying in the same spot at his temple in Tongren, China for over 20 years. His footprints, which are up to 1.2 inches deep in some areas, are the result of performing his prayers up to 3000 times a day. Now that he is 70, he says that he has greatly reduced his quantity of prayers to 1,000 times each day.
The footprints have become a source of inspiration to younger monks at the temple. “Every day I come here and every day I look at the piece of wood, and it has inspired me to continue to make the footprints myself,” Genden Darji, a 29 year-old monk in the monastery, notes.
Photos from Reuters.
He may have “wasted” some of his life leaving footprints, but half of you , including me, waste just as much time stumbling the internet to make harsh comments to some man’s beliefs. Really, have you guys done anything tremendously note worthy with your life?
Are you sure that he’s not praying that he can stop with the compulsion to do push ups? I’d like to see the rest of the floor and what else is worn into it.
you can only reach enlightenment through yourself and by yourself.
a man who love fifty people has fifty woes, a man who loves none has no woes
And a man with no friends makes up some crap to make himself feel better.
Way to waste your life asshole! Try helping someone, you useless sponge!
To everybody who doubts he can do 3000 a day, if his prayers average to 10 seconds a prayer that means he is praying 8 hours and 20 minutes a day. That would leave ample time for food and sleep. That’s probably how long most people spend at work in a day.
ok id really like to know how someone can stereotype every1 that left a negative comment as being a fat idiot who looks up porn all day hey guess what! i an american and im proud of it hey guess what else! im not overweight and im an independent fundamental baptist i dont look at porn on the computer but yet im about to leave a negative comment so all that stuff must be true right? wrong in my opinion he is going to goto hell and hes gonna be there for all eternity unless he gets saved . u wanna know why i think that? its what my religion teaches if ur not saved ur going to hell but also i admire this man for having the kind of dedication that most people will never have even if in my opinion its a waste of his dedication comments are for exactly that ur opinion if some1 says they think its a waste of his life then u have no right to classify them, as u do americans it seems, as fat porn addicted slobs
please consider what u are saying when u leave ur comments
thank you very much for ur time
and before there is a stream of comments about it yes i used bad english and spelled things wrong and didnt use much punctuation but i dont care that wasnt the point of the comment, read it slowly and use ur brain and its not that hard to understand
I think that praying enough in one spot could in fact wear it away, but really, it wouldn’t be like that. The toes, under the toes, and heel is where you put all your pressure when you stand. In the picture, those parts are raised.
Judging is the most transparent way to illuminate your own needs not being met. You have to find fault with everyone else to ease the fact that you are scared of what you haven’t achieved. BTW, it’s spelled cur.
I’m having a real hard time masturbating to this.
Why do people leave comments on this? Goddamn…
Oh ah, Satori!
“You are like this tea cup, so full that nothing more can be added. Come back to me when the cup is empty. Come back to me with an empty mind.”
Can’t beleive all the negative comments. Such dedication is pretty awesome
i don’t know why everyone is cutting this guy down. he isn’t doing this for you, he wants nothing from you, he needs nothing from you, he isn’t trying to sell you anything or make you believe anything. absolutely nothing. there is no conflict no controversy no multiple sides to this story. i really don’t get it, in what way has this guy impacted your life enough that he has become a “douchebag.”
gosh the ego is a dangerous thing
How did he do that. did he carve it? His fit is so sharp can carve woods like that.
Victor, you gave the very best comment on the entire board. I have to say I agree with you 100%. Why would anyone be offended with this display? What a bunch of losers who think this is some sort of scam. Idiots!
people who hate this guy just hate them self!just human like you..
Not my cup of tea but I’d bet his carbon footprint is minuscule. I’m not that dedicated to anything however I have created quite a butt-print on the sofa where I watch TV.
To those who mock this man: your mockery mocks yourselves more than it does him. Find some peace.
What’s with all the douchy militant atheists? Its better he spends his life meditating and taking life one second at a time then sitting on his ass boasting about how enlightened he is on the internet compared to all the “sheeple” out there.
And seconding the idea that a majority of people posting in such a way are Americans. Most likely white and middle-class as well.
is it even possible! are they from same person?
Is it so impossible that he left his footprints?
I’ve been living in the same house my entire life (which by the way, hasn’t been that long), and there are holes almost like those where the chairs slide in the dining room, where the locks rub on the wood in the bathroom, trails outside where I used to play as a kid. It’s call erosion guys, and it’s real.
As for religion, I’m an agnostic, and I only WISH that I could believe in a higher power, or to believe that everything will be okay in the after life. I have no yet gained the gift of unconditional faith, such as this monk.
You don’t have to “waste” a life on prayer. To that monk, that may be what he WANTED to spend his life on, greater physical and spiritual connections. That man is 70 years old and can still get up and down up to 1000 times a day. I’d like to see some people, not just in America, but otherwise, do the same. I’m a healthy weight, and fairly active, but I still don’t think that I could constantly get up and down in prayer like that 3,000 times a day.
In the Western World, we have been raised to believe that in our life we should go to school, then college, then get a job, find a partner, start a family, and die. We waste twelve years of our life in school, most of which we don’t even pay attention to what we’re being taught. Then a few of us go to college, where we do the same exact thing, most likely to not even to get a job in the field we studied for. Then after that, you settle on a desk job that you can’t stand, spend years there, find someone you can tolerate, make babies, and the process starts all over again. If you ask me, that’s a wasted life. You all say that he’s wasting his life, but he doesn’t just spend his time praying, he’s a doctor as well. There was a great man named John Lennon, and I live by these words of his. “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”
He spent his life, doing exactly what he wanted, devoid of materialistic objects. I only WISH I could go a day without checking Facebook or reading blogs. He doesn’t need money to be happy, unlike every other person in the Western World.
I seriously could only dream of having that much devotion to one thing like that. Even just sitting outside in the yard for a few minutes a day.
Maybe he thinks God has short term memory…Could have just prayed for ‘many things’ once per day…. OCD in its finest
If he slept for 6 hours (I felt that was a likely amount of time for someone so pious) and has 400 seconds to do everything else (eat, sleep, defecate and walk to prayer) then he still had about 20 seconds per prayer. I’m not sure how long a standard buddist prayer would be but seeing as it’s more about self-control and self-respect it probably wouldn’t be too long, perhaps even the time to prostrate yourself then stand up again (20 seconds is more than enough, even for a 50-70 year old). And btw he doesn’t have a god.
what a LOAD OF SHIT
still, i have better things to do with my life than to worship a god who doesn’t exist…
The ppl who say god does not exist, don’t get it. from both a religious, and secular angle. its funny how enlightened atheists think they are. you’re all really blinded, not by sin, but by yourself. enjoy your life.
He did do something more with his life, taken from the original article :Hua, who is also a doctor of traditional medicine, hopes his dedication will take him closer to his goal – a smooth transition to the afterlife.
‘I reconstructed this temple and have prayed and walked around the temple all these times so that after my death my spirit will not suffer,’ he said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1155980/Is-miracle-Monk-prays-left-footprints-ingrained-FLOOR.html#ixzz0lbO38BRb
I think those of you saying it is a waste of a life, need to evaluate your own. He isn’t wasting his life on stress, driving time, in an office, etc, etc…
It’s interesting how a picture of a Monk has sparked such hatred.
How are all of you criticizers even writing all of this?! He isn’t praying to a ‘god’. Buddha is not a god, only a mentor who set a wonderful example. I was an atheist before becoming a Buddhist. The reason why I decided on Buddhism IS BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE TO WORSHIP A GOD. The term ‘prayer’ used above is to represent that he probably did a short Tibetan chant while performing a prostration (full bowing to a statue of Buddha), which only takes between 5-10 seconds. If he’s done it this much, he actually probably finishes one in about 3 seconds. Buddhists follow Buddhism to seek their own enlightenment and to help OTHER PEOPLE FIND TRUE HAPPINESS. You critical atheists are the ones who give all atheists a bad name. I was/am a tolerant and peaceful atheist. Meditation is used to clear the mind and find true peace and beauty in the world. Even though I am infuriated right now by the ignorance being spoken about something so beautiful, I am thankful that it was spoken because it gave me a chance to reflect on my own views. Welcome to the world of delusion, friends. When you want to free yourself from your shut out and angry, ignorant ways, look up a little Buddhism. You may find it’s not so bad after all. When I was a proud and prominent atheist, I showed disgust for religion only when someone criticized my own views, but I NEVER disrespected Buddhism, for the simple fact that it is a philosophy WITHOUT A GOD and WON’T judge other religions who have god(s). Buddhism teaches TOLERANCE and it sounds like you need to learn a little tolerance. After you graduate high school, maybe you get a little more worldly and stop disrespect people for no apparent reason.
Namaste.
By the way, I am an American. Most of us are lazy, but some of us are fighting the stereotype. America needs a freaking treadmill.
No thanks.
First, 3000 times a day is quite a lot of dedication. Second, you guys offering your unregarded opinions about Americans, thanks! But we don’t need your help or your opinions, in the end we do what ever we want. Most likely it turns out you usually need our help due to some off-hinge dictator is sodomizing your citizens (Fact). Third, if you want to use esoteric words learn to spell them, the word is “cur” not “curr.” Lastly, I rather him join Peace Corps than pray, maybe that would have been a bit more useful for the rest of the world, then again like the American I am, ‘Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn” what he does.
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Sad, how people just assume it to be fake or just a waste of life. They have no regards for his dedication and determination. Atleast he’s doing something that’s productive not only for this life, but in the next life. People waste their life when they don’t get a job, don’t get an education, just run their mouth without thinking about the consequences. I think some of those people who commented above defines the word, ‘ignorant’.
I dont think we should just look at why he did it focus on the messege that it sends out, showing everyone that if they really believe in something and have the determination then it can be done. Perhaps not being narrow minded and applying it to something relevent in your own life might make you see the beauty in it.
I just love the people saying it’s a waste of life and/or there is no God.
What are you people doing or dedicating yourselves to?
“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”
-John Lennon.
You know, that guy with one of the most influential bands ever.
your new share!
Bruce….you are a moron just as zen buddhist said, you Americans are such egotistical pricks (and no I am not American but i have lived here since I was 3) and as much as i would like to be proud to live here all these posts just reassure how ignorant all of you are. Thats awesome that you prefer this monk to be in the peace corps but what that hell have you done for the world. None of you have any right to judge this monk and my only defense for judging you is your complete lack of any respect for this mans attempt at enlightenment. You are all extremely embarrassing to the rest of this country and should really shut the hell up. Get a god damn grip(no pun intended) and do something useful before you think you have the obligation to tell others what to do.
what he has done for the world or for any one in this world?
Only praying is not the way to live your life.
so think on it and change your living style.
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he could be reciting a line of prayers. they dont have to be intermitent. every say a hail mary? and he’s a buddhist monk. fasting and praying isn’t that far fetched. now i doubt he could continue such a feat for that many years continuosly but i do not doubt his devotion to his faith one bit.
@Mike
I have some questions for you. You stated and I quote “Yes but did prayer change shit ?”
Where you listening to what he prayed about? Did he tell you what he prayed about? Where you inside his thought proccess? Im guessing that the answer to those questions where “No”. So therefore there is no justifible reason for you to make that comment. Everybody has a different belief system that they either grew up with or found later on in life, so therefore I see no reason to judge someone just because of what they believe. Who are we to judge him?
“Amendment 1 – Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Yes, this is true, we are not in court but my point for bringing this up only to show that everone is entitled to their own freedom of ____ whatever the case maybe. Unitl you walk in his/her shoes I see no reason to judge anybody. The last time I checked you werent God. And for those for you who say that there is no God, then thats fine. It is your right to believe in whoever/whatever you choose. But dont discredit someone else beliefs just because they differ from yours.
And finally, for those who say that its unbelievable that he “Prayed 3000 times a day” do you know how long they were? Where you there with a stopwatch?
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”~ Gandhi
Thank you @ZenBuddhist
Nam Myo Ho Rang Ge Kyo
Wow… what a tremendous waste of time and a human life that could have been spent in much better ways. Somebody please, explain the difference between this guy and somebody who is a couch potato for their life.
not to poke holes in this but i don’t understand how he found the same spot everyday for 20 years, its statistically impossible.
I agree with the other commenters. This person has wasted his life and done nothing.
Plus, I suspect there is some fraud going on here. I’ve been to plenty of Buddhist monasteries in China, and they are most often basically businesses designed to get dollars from tourists. This would be a great tourist draw.
Huh. I’ve stood in those footprints. Or a pair exactly like them at another monastery. The monks at the monastery told us they were initially carved, but many people use them for prayer. Perhaps we were misinformed, but if so, they were not left by a man standing in one place. They are used for prostration praying, during which a person stands straight, then lies face down on the floor, stands, lies down, etc. For me, it was very difficult to even find the footprints with my own bare feet as I lay down. My Buddhist friend did better than I, after about twenty minutes of continuous praying. As for whether these monks are doing anything to help anyone– he is praying for compassion for all beings, which couldn’t hurt, but they tend to use less, waste less, teach people to read, help solve disputes…
If it helps any– This is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Quinghai that I have visited, (I apologize; I missed the clear reference to Tongren above) and thus somewhat different than Buddhist monasteries found elsewhere in China. Anyone praying there is most likely praying the Om mani padme hum, but possibly the longer form prayer, or both. The mani prayer is, as I said earlier, a prayer for compassion for the world. If each of us contemplated such a thing every day, mightn’t we become more compassionate ourselves? If we treat others with compassion, mightn’t some of them do likewise? My experience at that monastery was life-changing; I am more considerate and more compassionate. If they (or he) did nothing else, they changed ten of us Americans for the better.
Uh…he’s a Buddhist, he’s not praying to any gods.