Genshin Fujinami, 44, recently finished a bit of exercise.

Over 7 years, he covered 24,800 miles.

A Buddhist priest of Tendai sect in Japan, “the Marathon Monk” is only 46th monk since 1885 to complete this ancient running ritual through Hiei Mountains, a range of 5 peaks that rise above Kyoto.

The ritual dates to 8th century and is considered a path to enlightenment.

In each of first 3 years, pilgrim rises at midnight for 100 consecutive days, prays, and runs 18 miles, stopping along way for more prayer 250 times.

In next 2 years, he extends this regimen to 200 days.

In winter, aspirant gets a break.

A King was trying to choose between three maidens to be his wife and queen. It was very difficult to judge since these women were all very intelligent and beautiful. He gave each maiden a bag of seeds and told them he was going on a pilgrimage for one year. When he returned, each of them were to give seeds back to him. Whoever protected seeds best would become his wife. The first maiden locked them in a safe to protect them. The second maiden sold seeds at market, thinking she would purchase new seeds when king returned. The third maiden threw seeds in garden. When king returned, first maiden pulled seeds from safe where they had died due to lack of light, water, and air. The second maiden rushed to market, purchased new seeds, and presented them to king. The King said that although seeds were alive, they were not same seeds. The third maiden brought him into garden where there were many flowers blooming. She told King that flowers were from seeds he had given her. The king said to third maiden that she would be his wife because she understood that a seed, like love, should be treated with care, tended with kindness and allowed room to grow for it to become strong and beautiful. Relationships, like seeds need proper environment to grow. The environment needs a balance of five elements. The seed will die if there is too much or too little water, air, light, or earth. Just as a seed needs this balance in life to flourish, we also need proper balance in our homes to create, maintain, and nurture our relationships.

SIX KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP