Shinto turns to cold squatting beneath freezing waterfalls in winter, standing in icy springs, or repeatedly dousing the body with frigid water — I prefer a winter river
Shinzen Young tells of his training in the shamanic tradition of Shinto, Japan’s pre-Buddhist tribal religion. Many tribal cultures seek visions of gods or spirits through prolonged exposure to extremes. In India, some Hindus practise the “five fires.” In North America, certain Indigenous traditions use the sweat lodge and the sun dance. These lean toward heat. Shinto goes in the other direction. It turns to cold squatting beneath freezing waterfalls in winter, standing in icy springs, or repeatedly dousing the body with frigid water.
For Shinzen, this meant approaching a cistern filled with half-frozen water, breaking the ice crust, filling a huge wooden bucket, and then squatting as he dumped the bone-chilling liquid over his bare skin. The water froze as it hit the floor. His towel froze in his hand. He slid around barefoot on the ice, trying to dry himself with a towel that had turned to a board. It was, for him, a horrific ordeal. He suspected that being a thin-skinned Californian did not help.
I prefer a winter river. There are always three stages. First, my mind tells me not to do it. It warns me that this is a threat to my life. I quiet the mind. Second, as I descend past my waist, I begin to hyperventilate. My body triggers its survival response, drawing blood toward the core. It lasts only seconds. Third, I adapt. After a minute, the cold becomes neutral, even spacious. I stay in for up to five minutes.
Beginners enter and exit quickly. They cannot silence the mind or allow the body to adapt. They fear death. Experienced practitioners settle into calm. They release the mind’s grip and the fear that shadows it. Immersed in the river, the sense of body and ego separation dissolves. They feel connected with everything. Samadhi.
Cold water immersion is a masterclass in meditation. In one minute, it teaches you to quiet the mind’s cry for comfort, a skill that carries into every hard thing in life. Or you could spend a lifetime sitting on a pillow. No doubt there are lessons in both practices.
Last Updated on December 4, 2025 | Published: December 4, 2025