 Master Sunim spent six years in rigorous practice alone in hermitages in remote mountain areas where he followed a raw food diet, eating what the mountains made available.However, from the time he lived and practice in Zen meditation halls Master Sunim experienced health difficulties which no medical doctor or Chinese herbalist was able to alleviate.His lay supporters would bring him expensive ginseng to help give him more energy and strength, but this just worsened his condition and over time he became continually weaker.