In 2014, a CT scan of a 900-year-old Buddha statue found in China revealed a horrifying secret

In 2014, a CT scan of a 900-year-old Buddha statue found in China revealed a horrifying secret — the body of a monk who had mummified himself alive inside. And perhaps even more shocking was the way he pulled off this macabre feat.

Centuries ago, certain Buddhist monks across Asia turned themselves into "living mummies" in preparation for their deaths. Much of this process had to do with their diet.

To prevent fat and moisture from causing their bodies to decay after death, these monks would eat very little. Sometimes, they would only eat plant materials like pine needles and tree bark. In other cases, they'd turn to sesame seeds, which were thought to stop bacterial growth.

Finally, as they wasted away and death drew near, they would ingest a deadly sap to finish themselves off and help preserve their body once they'd perished — while also keeping insects away from their corpse.