Nepal 'Buddha Boy' returns to jungle

[JackDaniel]

KATHMANDU (AFP) – A young man believed by followers to be a reincarnation of Buddha has returned to Nepal's jungles to meditate alone, police said Saturday, as scholars cast doubt on his supporters' claims.

Known as the "Buddha Boy," Ram Bahadur Bomjam, 18, became famous in 2005 after supporters said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep.

"Bomjam went back into the jungle late Friday and all the devotees have left," police officer Gobinda Kushwaha told AFP from Neejgad, a town in Bara District, 60 kilometres (37.5 miles) south of Kathmandu.

The "Buddha Boy" reappeared earlier this month after supporters said in March 2007 that he was going to meditate for three years in an underground bunker, although he was spotted on two occasions.

For the last 10 days, he has been blessing thousands of devotees who came daily to the site in dense jungle close to Neejgad.

The president of the Nepal Buddhist Council said claims by his supporters that he was a reincarnation of Siddartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, were not credible.

"We do not believe he is Buddha. He does not have Buddha's qualities," said Mahiswor Raj Bajracharya, president of the Nepal Buddhist Council, a centre for Buddhist study and research in Kathmandu.

"He may have achieved great heights in meditation, but that alone does not make him a Buddha. A Buddha needs life experience, a young man who has not seen the world at all cannot be a Buddha," said Bajracharya.

Despite being officially secular under the new Maoist government, Nepal -- where around 80 per cent of people are Hindu and 11 per cent are Buddhist -- remains a deeply spiritual place.

"This is a country where people worship idols and stones, and everyone educated or not believes in the supernatural," the Buddhist scholar said.

Some 7,000 people gathered Friday to hear the youth speak.

"Materialism has brought forth fear, worry and disputes and has created war in this country. One should follow religion and philosophy for inner happiness," Bomjam told the crowds in a 15-minute address.

People joined a six-kilometre (3.75-mile) queue to be blessed, a wait that 43-year-old farmer Singha Bahadur Tamang said was worthwhile.

"This is a miracle and he is the reincarnation of Lord Buddha himself," said Tamang, who traveled eight hours by bus to hear Bomjam speak.

"I've been here for the last 10 days and the feeling is amazing. I really feel at peace here," he said.

The head of the committee that organises events around Bomjam insists he survives without food and water.

"We have never seen him eat or drink and we believe he's a god in human form," said Bed Bahadur Thing, president of the Buddha Jungle Meditation Conservation and Prosperity Committee.

At the height of Bomjam's fame, a French TV crew filmed the youth eating fruit and an AFP correspondent caught him napping.

On Friday, visitors to the jungle site put money into collection boxes, though Thing declined to say how much had been collected.

"Many people say we're just doing this for the money, but we have expenses for volunteers, food, security and maintenance," he said.

"After he has gone back into the jungle, we will make our accounts public."

[Riky_dave]

translate dong...hehehe

Salam hangat,
Riky

[Angel_kiung]

kenapa ak ada tanggapan dari Buddha-boy sendiri? (sepanjang yang aq baca dengan kemampuan inggris yang payah....) bener gak? aq pengen bener tanggapannya sendiri tentang dirinya, bagaimana cara dia menjawab pertanyaan seseorang bilang menanyakannya, dia Buddha atau gak?

[Toni]

Buddha atau bukan? Heran wa ini.
Dalam video discovery menceritakan bahwa dia bermeditasi selama beberapa hari. Simak ini.

[Nevada]

Ram Bahdur Bomjom dengan tegas menyatakan dirinya bukan seorang Buddha ataupun titisan dari Buddha Siddhattha Gotama. Dia hanya menyatakan bahwa dirinya adalah seorang pertapa hutan yang mendalami Buddhisme. Ini pernyataan yang mengklarisifikasi kontroversi seputar isu hadirnya titisan Sang Buddha...

[Toni]

oh i c

[xenocross]

dia bilang dia baru level rinpoche, setelah meditasi bbrp tahun mungkin bisa jadi Buddha

[tesla]

The "Buddha Boy" reappeared earlier this month after supporters said in March 2007 that he was going to meditate for three years in an underground bunker, although he was spotted on two occasions.

"Buddha Boy" muncul kembali lebih awal pada bulan ini setelah dikabarkan pada Maret 2007 dia akan bermeditasi 3 tahun (2007-2009) di sebuah bunker bawah tanah, walaupun dia pernah dijumpai pada 2 tempat.

"We have never seen him eat or drink and we believe he's a god in human form," said Bed Bahadur Thing, president of the Buddha Jungle Meditation Conservation and Prosperity Committee.

At the height of Bomjam's fame, a French TV crew filmed the youth eating fruit and an AFP correspondent caught him napping.

"Kami tidak pernah melihatnya makan atau minum dan kami percaya ia adalah Tuhan dalam wujud manusia," kata Bed Bahadur Thing, president of the Buddha Junggle Meditation Conservation and Prosperity Commitee

(geez... seandainya ia benar2 Tuhan dalam wujud manusia, tidak seharusnya B.B Thing ini menyembahnya sebagai seorang Buddhist, apalagi president sebuah komite... diri sendiri adalah penolong bagi diri sendiri)

Di awang2 ketenarannya Bomjam, sebuah kru TV Perancis memfilmkan anak ini sedang makan buah dan seorang koresponden AFP juga mendapati anak ini sedang tidur siang

"Many people say we're just doing this for the money, but we have expenses for volunteers, food, security and maintenance," he said.

"Banyak orang mengatakan kami melakukan ini demi uang, padahal kami hanya membutuhkan biaya utk sukarelawan, makanan, keamanan, dan perawatan" katanya...

[xenocross]

dia sendiri ga minta dipuja, dan ga minta uang. Dia hanya ingin meditasi dgn tenang. Entah gimana orang2 itu manfaatin dia buat dapet uang

[sumana]

 
well, semoga berita ini memberitakan kebenaran dari ajaran buddha.
sabbe satta bhavantu sukhittata.