Nepal to probe mystery 'Buddha' boy

HT.com ^ | Kathmandu, November 27, 2005|13:23 IST | Reuters

[CarrotAndStick]

Authorities in Nepal urged religious groups and scientists on Sunday to help solve the mystery of a meditating teenaged boy who some believe is an incarnation of Buddha.

At least 100,000 devotees from Nepal and neighbouring India have flocked in recent weeks to a dense forest in southeastern Nepal to see 15-year-old Ram Bahadur Bamjon, who, his associates say, has been meditating without food or water for six months.

Shanta Raj Subedi, district administrator of Bara, 150 km (95 miles) southeast of Kathmandu and where the boy is meditating, said he had requested the Lumbini Development Trust, a Buddhist panel, and the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology to get to the bottom of the mystery.

"We want to investigate claims that the boy has survived for so long without food or drink," Subedi said.

Bamjon sits cross-legged beneath a "pipal" tree, with his eyes closed in meditation. He does not speak and followers are only allowed to see him from a distance of 50 metres (165 feet).

The young mystic is hidden from public view at night behind a curtain drawn by his followers. Doctors observing from a distance have said the boy is breathing normally but is weak.

Local journalist Govinda Devkota, who has visited the site, said the boy sits with a shawl across his chest from armpit to shoulder, in the same posture as Buddha is shown in pictures.

The number of visitors had reached up to 10,000 a day but fewer people are going to the retreat now, he said.

"He sits motionless from dawn to dusk when visitors are allowed to see him. This demands something," said Devkota. "But whether he is an incarnation of Buddha, I have doubts because we don't know what he does at night. This must be investigated."

His mother, Maya Devi -- the same name as that of Buddha's mother -- said Bamjon, the third of her seven children, is a quiet boy who kept aloof from friends.

"Initially, I was worried about him. But now I am happy. He is in devotion to Buddha," Devi told Nepali daily, Rajdhani.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Well it is probably as legitimate as visions of Mary or other apparitions that appear to be indemic to every culture.

The whole Dalai Lama thing is also quite an interesting phenomenon too.

But, if you keep in mind what the Hindus beleive will happen with the 10th incarnation of Vishnu, perhaps we can delay his return a bit.

[The Red Zone]

What they don't show you are the squirrels that feed him at night.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

indemic = endemic (note to self: use spell check)

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

There's not a lot of meat on squirrels, but I suppose enough to keep him alive.

Regardless, remaining motionless for the entire daytime for several weeks is a pretty impressive feat.

I somehow doubt that he is supernaturally surviving without water.

[tomakaze]

did they rub his belly for luck?

[Forte Runningrock]

I somehow doubt that he is supernaturally surviving without water.

---

It's just not possible. Just another get rich scheme, in a land where that is entirely possible. Take the Dali Lama for instance. The guy is a complete goof-ball, but it beats working for a living I guess. He gets anything he wants.

[wunderkind54]

Seriously folks........

A teenager that doesn't move or allow anyone within 50 feet of his personal space...??

Been there, done that.

This is Nepal's version of a sideshow.

[leadpenny]

"probe"

Ya gotta love those headline writers.

[razoroccam]

"indemic = endemic (note to self: use spell check)"

In this case, you should not have. Was a good pun.

[razoroccam]

The biggest problem with this story is that when Gautam Siddharta achieved enlightenment and became Buddha, he broke from the cycle of birth and death. By definition, The Buddha cannot be re-born.

[CarrotAndStick]

As someone mentioned, this buddha is not THE Buddha.

[wolfpat]

...remaining motionless for the entire daytime for several weeks is a pretty impressive feat.

You haven't seen an avarage US teenager in front of the television or a video game, have you?

[razoroccam]

In that case, they should not call him Buddha.

[MinuteGal]

Rhetorical questions......where is the Nepalese version of Child and Family Services? Do they even have one?

In this country, law enforcement would have swooped in, put this kid on a gurney, taken him to a hospital and then arrested his parents.

Glorified in song, art, poetry, movies, in unconcerned media articles such as this, and romanticised in the minds of 1960-ish hippies, most third-world "religions" are actually savage, horrifying and kinky.

Leni

[DarkSavant]

So in the east someone is holy by sitting and doing nothing? I never did get that.

[ConsentofGoverned]

"Glorified in song, art, poetry, movies, in unconcerned media articles such as this, and romanticised in the minds of 1960-ish hippies, most third-world "religions" are actually savage, horrifying and kinky."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>........
ah hem, you have confused Buddhists with Islamo fascist,
Buddhism is not savage, or horrifying and only Kinky Buddhist are kinky..many of the Eastern mystical religions are by design systems to avoid inter personnel conflicts for a culture living in very crowded feudal societies.

[MinuteGal]

I'm not confusing anything. It depends on how you look at cults. Horrifying, savage and kinky things do not necessarily mean physical abuse.

For instance, hours of robotic meditation and/or mind-numbing, brain-washing hypnotic, trance-like sessions every day to me are a horrifying aspect of several "religions" no matter how they are sugar-coated and romanticised.

Would you teach your your children these daily mystical incantations along with Passiveness 101?

Leni

[ConsentofGoverned]

"Would you teach your your children these daily mystical incantations along with Passiveness 101"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.........
Nope and have not. brain washing and hypnotic trace like sessions you are not referring to the current movie and music videos loosely referred to Pop culture?? Buddhism is not a threat to anyone of balanced mind..if you are mentally sick then any belief system can be harmful.

[ThreePuttinDude]

.......most third-world "religions" are actually savage, horrifying and kinky.

HA HA HA, I like your use of descriptives. I've never associated kinky with Buddhists.
I'm sure they are, but I've always viewed them as other than kinky or wierdo's.


TPD