Doctoral Student Takes Ascetic Retreat to Mountains of Japan

Frank Clements' dissertation, which focuses on the Shugendô religious tradition, recently led him to the mountains of Japan for hands-on research. Shugendô blends esoteric Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto into a complex tradition of mountain austerities and other related practices. Clements, an East Asian Languages and Civilizations doctoral student, took part in a three-day retreat at a pilgrim lodge in Haguro in Northeastern Japan. During the retreat, Clements sought spiritual and personal enlightenment, eschewing everyday creature comforts.

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