I design, carve, and cast the medals myself in lead-free pewter; they have designs on both sides. The pendant comes with a jump ring, so it can be attached to any chain you have. This listing is for the pendant alone, but it does come with a split ring so it can also be used on a key chain (see photo of packaging). Each medal comes in a felt jewelry pouch with a history card that states: "The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei are Buddhists who undergo extreme physical and mental training. To simplify: over seven years, they run 1000 marathons and maxi-marathons: 800 25-mile runs, 100 37-mile runs, and 100 52-mile runs. The runs take place in cycles of 100/200 consecutive days, over mountain paths, in all weather (much snow). They never take a day off or fail to finish a run: never. They run wearing white robes, handmade paper sandals, and an unusual straw hat. Why? Simplifying again: they run in order to be 'awakened,' the running a type of meditation. The front of this medal bears an image of one of the monks in stride (people who've watched the monks say they seem to effortlessly 'sail' across the landscape). The back bears the word 'Mu,' which in Japanese means 'no,' 'not,' but for Buddhists the word, in a way, means to 'cut off the mind road.' When one is running (or simply living day to day), one can become so enmeshed in thought ('I've run 4 miles, 3 to go,' 'my foot hurts,' 'did I...?') that one experiences only one's thoughts, not the world, not even one's 'true nature.' When one cuts off the mind road and calms the mind or stops thinking, whether through meditation, walking, or running, one finds that a natural pace, stride, and gracefulness are there underneath. Thus, in a nutshell, the meaning of the monks' practice for us might be: first, persist; and, second, try cutting off the mind road and joining the 'primary, nonconceptual world,' and sail across the landscape." Dimensions: 1 inch high
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