"Buddha Boy" Re-Emerges From Jungle After A Year, Gains Thousands Of Followers

KATMANDU, Nepal — A teenage boy who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha has re-emerged from the jungle in southern Nepal, attracting thousands of devotees, officials said Tuesday.

After retreating into the jungle for more than a year, Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, re-emerged Monday near Nijgadh town, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of the capital, Katmandu.

Upon hearing the news, thousands of Bamjan's followers, some from as far away as India, traveled to the site Tuesday to see him, police official Abhaya Joshi said by telephone.

There has been no formal declaration by Buddhist authorities that Bamjan is the reincarnation of the Buddha. But people have worshipped the teenager since he was first seen in 2005 meditating in the jungle, where he sat for months, motionless with his eyes closed among the roots of a tree.

Joshi said Bamjan plans to talk to his followers for a few hours every day for a week before returning to the jungle to meditate.

The long-haired Bamjan, dressed in a white cloth, appeared to be in good health as he spoke to his followers about peace and ending discrimination, according to the Rajdhani newspaper.

"It was an amazing experience to hear and see him. I have no doubt now he is the reincarnation of Buddha," said Sangeeta Lama, a woman who met Bamjan for the first time.

Buddhist priests have been divided on whether the boy is truly the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as the Buddha, which means Enlightened One.

Buddhists strongly believe in reincarnation, the doctrine that every soul reappears after death in another bodily form.

Min Bahadur Shakya of the Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods in Katmandu said Buddhist priests have not reached a conclusion about Bamjan because they have not been able to fully investigate the boy.

"Meditating without food does not prove that he is reincarnation of Buddha. There is much study needed to be done," Shakya said.

Buddhism is practiced by about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia.

Comments

[strandwolf]

Goodie, goodie, gumdrops! Someone in the here-and-now who can give Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and Mohammed a good run. Say hallelujah!

[grantlingel]

I find this story incredible... I have read much of Buddhas teachings and I would love to continue learning about this inspirational young man from Nepal... great story.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[bobbyperu]

When I was a kid I once played Tetris for 24 straight hours!!!! But unfortunately no one worshipped me : (

[Sati]

The teachings of the Buddha say when one reaches enlightenment there is NO return or reincarnation. There is never, actually, a reincarnation of a past body/mind - only incarnations when certain prominent parts of a mind (Buddha describe 121 types of mind and 52 mental factors of mind) leaves one body at the time of death to arise in another body through the manifestation of subatomic particles creating the mind and body.One reaches enlightenment or nibbana (which is the Pali word in the Buddha's language which is often said as nirvanna in sanscrit) when all mental defilements are purified. Prior to the eradication of all one's suffering or defilements one takes a new "incarnation" after each death until all the impurities are extinguished through practicing the technique of Vipassana, i.e., (1) morality, (2) mastery over one's mind, & (3) total purity through wisdom. This is from the writings of Buddha's 4000 presentations in the Tipitika published in many countries and by Pariyatti.org, for example, in the U.S. Unfortunately even religious members or Buddhist organizations do not have the accurate words of the Buddha as he described the path as so much other stuff has added. In the 1950-1960 these writings were again discussed in the 6th conference for such purposes since the death and paranibbana of Buddha 26 centuries ago. Buddha, or was a teaching Buddha said the name of the next Buddha to appear in the Tipitaka. T

[Friendofthecause]

What about coming back to enlighten others, the work of the true bodhisattva, in the Mahayana tradition. HH the Dalai Lama, for example, is said to be an emanation of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of love and compassion. This would be a perfect example of an enlightened being returning in human form to help others.

[Friendofthecause]

I think the idea of disappearing into the jungle or anywhere away from civilization in order to meditate, not having to be accountable to jobs or credit card payments, material possessions or nagging spouses or offspring or siblings would be just about anybody's dream. Only in the East could it happen. Only in the East are beggars esteemed and holy people worshipped.

The idea of worship, however, is not, I agree, Buddhist at all. But always everywhere, as in America, there are those who, seeing a good thing, would rather lose consciousness over it than give it a good thoughtful poking.

This situation, the event of this boy is fascinating. I hope someone finds out who he is. I wish many more people would take his example -- seriously. He cares enough about his own mind to develop it and enough about others to come back to share what he has gleaned and offer hope.

[jon-mullen]

Isn't there some debate as to whether Siddhartha Gotama was himself the Buddha or also a reincarnation?

[OBuddha]

We are all Buddhas in our own way; some are just more so.

[Kiba]

Everyone's essential nature is Buddha nature; not everyone realizes this.

[livesimply]

Isn't it great that we live in such a diverse and interesting world that there are so many different perceptions and views of the world and the meaning of existence? I guess it just makes some people feel superior to criticize it. Too bad.

[livesimply]

"Holy GOD has provided no other way of salvation except thru the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.There is none other name under heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved.Budda,Mohammed,Confucius,Zoraster,Dr.Moon,Maharajah Ji and multitudes of others are unable to save because the Holy Word of God explicitly states that there is no other name or god who can save.Christ is the only Saviour."

Says you, free2you. I am sorry that some of you people in your fear can't open your mind enough to realize that many other good and righteous people believe entirely differently. Your belief system makes you no more superior than them and no more deserving of some afterlife or whatever.

[gbrooks]

I stayed in my mother's basement for a year and I have absolutely no followers!

Completely unfair.

[waarpe]

How'd that Ralph Nader vote work out for ya?

[gbrooks]

Why you little!

(I didn't vote for Ralph Nader, I voted for Ralphie.)

[DontBeFoolish]

LOL

[doxpin]

i wonder if he came out to support Obama

[ojim]

Actually they are all working together, Obama the reincarnation of Christ and this boy wonder ;)

[DontBeFoolish]

Your Kidding me Right! People, People, People.

[PazparaTodod]

Re-encarnation is rebirth. When you are re-born you ENCARNATE (your sould takes home in another "carnal" body) in a new form. Wether you are enlightened or not.

The re-encarnations that CHOSE to come back (for the benefit of all the suffering sentient beings) are called Rinpoche's which is a RECOGNISED reencarnation. They know who his previous encarnation was. We are all re encarnations but in the majority of cases we didn't reach enlightement nor we chose to come back, nor we know (mostly) who we were on our past life.

[ojim]

Well, technically rebirth is cumpulsory and is driven by karmic obligations, reincarnation is voluntary return of the enlightened.

[Gib]

Technically, it's what we call a pile of b.s.

[tryharder2think]

Technically - Rinpoche is a title reserved for tulku's(incarnate lamas), but this only applies to Tibetan style Buddhism and/or the Mahayana school. There are other paths - Theraveda, for example...

Just thought to provide a little clarity.

[Khanate]

Anyone interested in spititual enlightment brought to life through art, should go to alex grey's
website. His amazing anatomical accuracy (he prepared cadavers for dissection at med schools)
combined with light forces, chakra and third eye visualzations are amazing and uplifting.
Sorry to deviate....

[Khanate]

Interesting to see all of these comments. I dispute none.
But... It is wonderful to see there are those that follow these teachings
and meditate. Meditation and my meditation therapist saved my life.

[free2u]

Holy GOD has provided no other way of salvation except thru the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.There is none other name under heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved.Budda,Mohammed,Confucius,Zoraster,Dr.Moon,Maharajah Ji and multitudes of others are unable to save because the Holy Word of God explicitly states that there is no other name or god who can save.Christ is the only Saviour.

[artist4obama]

spoken like a true fundamentalist.

Funtamentalism of any flavor is dangerous, causes intolerance of others' beliefs.... and wars.

[The Ogre]

Jesus would laugh at your ignorance and misunderstanding. Like millions, you utterly fail to grasp the meaning of His words. "Heaven" and "Nirvana" are one and the same. The "Christ" and the "Buddha" are one and the same. "You" and "I" are one and the same. Read the Gnostic Gospels, which contain the true words of Christ, NOT the false gospels propagated by a misogynistic, racist, paternalistic church.

[Jimminynix]

If you substitute the word "healed" or "loved" for the word "saved" you may find that expressing an almost palpable jealousy of people's fondness for a spiritual teacher isn't required to share something "good" with your fellows. Instead, you seem to be sharing this whole concept of being "saved" as some method of being "right" instead of "wrong". I am aware of many hearts that hunger for love and for healing, but the hearts that hunger only to be "right" instead of "wrong" are the coldest hearts I have ever known.

[Pema]

your post reflects your views, but others views are as valid, jesus said none came come to the father except thru me. i was raised syrian orthodox, that church was formed before the bible had been written, so if i may suggest, what jesus meant was not his mortal body but what he was a man of peace, justice and unconditional love. no relgion has the prize on that. all of the worlds great enduring relgions share this. buddhism is as valid for salvation as any other. judgment is mine sayeth the lord, so lets all be less judgmental and more of what we really are, a family of man.

[Bright Creature]

How are you defining "God" Millions may be following God and you had know idea. "Judge not," According to your bible. Good advice