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Ram Bahadur Bomjon

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File:Palden Dorje closeup.jpg
Palden Dorje in meditation.

Ram Bahadur Bomjon (born May 9, 1989, sometimes Bomjan or Banjan), also known as Palden Dorje (his official Buddhist name), is from Ratanapuri village, Bara district, Nepal and drew thousands of visitors and media attention for spending months in meditation, allegedly without food or water, although this claim is widely contested. Nicknamed the Buddha Boy, he began his meditation on May 16, 2005, disappeared from his hometown on March 11, 2006, and reappeared elsewhere in Nepal on December 26, 2006 only to leave again on March 8, 2007. On March 26, 2007, inspectors from the Area Police Post Nijgadh in Ratanpuri found Bomjon meditating inside a bunker-like square ditch of seven feet.

Early life

According to his family and neighbours, Bomjon often acted differently from his childhood friends, frequently observing other people in worship and praying himself. He has been described as being born with a peaceful nature, and would never get into a fight or kill an animal[citation needed]. Beginning at the age of five he only took leftovers for food, and went hungry if there was nothing. He was accepted into the monkhood by Sombahadur Lama of Suhdha, Ward 8 of Chitwan Village Development Committee. He hesitated to shave his head as is typical for a Buddhist monk; photos show him with a full head of hair. At the end of his training his class went to Lumbini, birthplace of Gautama Buddha, but instead of returning directly home with the rest of his class he continued on to Dehradun to receive additional teaching.

Returning home from Dehradun, he became ill for some time, and when he recovered he walked with a limp. On May 16 2005, he admonished his family not to kill animals or drink alcohol, then left home while they slept. A search was conducted and he was found meditating under a nearby pipal tree. He told his family to go home and not worry. When his mother continued to despair, he plucked six leaves from the tree and gave them to her, saying, "Take these leaves home and keep them in a safe condition. If you lose these leaves, you will not be able to find me. If you keep them safe, I will remain with you forever."

On July 24, 2005, he opened his eyes to tell his brother to call him "Om Namo Buddha Gyani" ("salute to the wise Buddha". The phrase Buddha Gyani might not mean wise Buddha as much "one who has knowledge (gyan) of Buddha").

Wandering to Bara district

After about ten months of meditation, Bomjon went missing on March 11, 2006. Due to his lack of explanation, some believed he was abducted. His followers theorized that he went deeper into the woods to look for a more quiet place to meditate.[1] Police abandoned a search for him after the possibility of foul play was eliminated. Interestingly, the authorities froze the bank account of the local committee managing the crowds, which had gathered more than Rs. 600,000.[2]

On March 19, a group of Bomjon's followers met with him about 2 miles (3 kilometers) southwest of his meditation site. They say they spoke to him for thirty minutes, during which Bomjan said "there is no peace here" and that he would return in six years, or roughly 2011 or 2012. He left a message for his parents telling them not to worry.[3][4]

On December 25, 2006, villagers in Bara district spotted Bomjon meditating. He was carrying a sword which he had used to protect himself in the jungle, reminding reporters that "Even Gautama Buddha had to protect himself," and claimed to have eaten nothing but herbs in the interim.[5] He reiterated his commitment to Buddhist devotion for six years and said he would allow people to come observe him as long as they kept away some distance and didn't bother him. When a reporter pointed out that pilgrims to his meditation site would be making donations in his name, he asked not to abuse their donations or put them to commercial purposes.[6] A new wave of visitors came to see him and pray at his new meditation spot.[7][8] On 8 March 2007 he left Bara district to find a more quiet place to meditate again.[9]

Meditating in pit

On March 26, 2007 Inspector Rameshwor Yadav of the Area Police Post Nijgadh found Bomjon inside a bunker-like square ditch of seven feet. A police team, under the command of Yadav, had gone to the place after word of Bomjon being on underground meditation spread in the area. “His face was clean and hair was combed well,” Yadav said. According to him, “the bunker” has been cemented from all sides with roof of tiles. Indra Lama, a local, who has been deployed as caretaker for him since he began meditation, said the “bunker” was prepared as per Bomjon’s order. “After granting audience a week ago, he expressed his desire to meditate inside the ground; so we built it,” he said. [10]

Preaching in Hallori jungle

On August 2, 2007 Bomjon addressed a large crowd in Hallori jungle in Bara district of southern Nepal. The Namo Buddha Tapoban Committee, a committee that looks after the "modern Buddha", assembled the meeting. The notice about the first ever preaching by the boy was broadcast in a local FM radio station and the committee also invited people by phone. Around three thousand people gathered to listen to Ram Bahadur Bomjom. A video[2] has also surfaced of the event. According to Upendra Lamichhane, a blogger who wrote an article and took pictures of the meeting, Bomjon's message was "The only way we can save this nation is through religion". [11] The following English translation is a direct translation from the speach in the Hallori jungle made by the "buddha boy" Ram Bahadur Bomjon.


A message of peace to the world:

Murder, violence, greed, anger and temptation has made the human world
a desperate place. A terrible storm has descended upon the human
world, and this is carrying the world towards destruction. There is
only one way to save the world and that is through 'dharma" (religious
practice.) When one doesn't walk the righteous path of religious
practice, this desperate world will surely be destroyed. Therefore,
follow the path of religion and spread this message to your fellows.
Never put obstacles, anger and disbelief in the way of my meditation's
mission. I am only showing you the way; you must seek it on your own.
What I will be, what I will do, the coming days will reveal. Human
salvation, the salvation of all living beings, and peace in the world
are my goal and my path. "Namo Buddha sangaya, namo sangaya." I am
contemplating on the release of this chaotic world from the ocean of
emotion, on our detachment from anger and temptation, without straying
from the path for even a moment, I am renouncing my own attachment to
my life and my home forever, I am working to save all living beings.
But in this undisciplined world, my life's practice is reduced to mere
entertainment.
The practice and devotion of many Buddhas is directed at the world's
betterment and happiness. It is essential but very difficult to
understand that practice and devotion. But though it is easy to lead
this ignorant existence, human beings don't understand that one day we
must leave this uncertain world and go with the Lord of Death. Our
long attachments with friends and family will dissolve into
nothingness. We have to leave behind the
wealth and property we have accumulated. What's the use of my
happiness, when those who have loved me from the beginning, my mother,
father, brothers, relatives are all unhappy. Therefore, to rescue all
sentient beings, I have to be Buddha-mind, and emerge from my
underground cave to do "vajra" meditation. To do this I have to
realize the right path and knowledge, so do not disturb my practice.
My practice detaches me from my body, my soul and this existence. In
this situation there will be 72 goddess Kalis. Different gods will be
present, along with the sounds of thunder and of "tangur ," and all
the celestial gods and goddesses will be doing "puja" (worship.) So
until I have sent a message, do not come here, and please explain this
to others. Spread religious knowledge and religious messages
throughout the world. Spread the message of world peace to all. Seek a
righteous path and wisdom will be yours.


Dharma Religion pretext meaning: Dharma is religion unlike religion is religion. It isn't the stories or beliefs in god or gods. It is what it is and we do what we do. The Sanskrit term Dharma (help•info) (Devanāgarī: धर्म) (Pali: Dhamma) signifies the underlying order in nature and life (human or other) considered to be in accord with that order. The word Dharma literally means 'that which upholds or supports' (from the root 'Dhr' - to hold), here referring to the order which makes the cosmos and the harmonious complexity of the natural world possible. Dharma is a central concept in Indian civilization and Dharmic Traditions where it governs ideas about the proper conduct of living. So central is it, indeed, that the symbol of the dharma - the wheel - takes central place in the national flag of India. In its most frequent usage (in the sphere of morality and ethics) dharma means 'right way of living', 'proper conduct', 'duty' or 'righteousness'. With respect to spirituality, dharma might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. What is in the West called religion in India comes within the general purview of dharma. Thus the various Indian religions and Dharmic Traditions are so many versions of Dharma (versions of what is considered to be 'right' or in truest accord with the deepest realities of nature). A fraction of scholars called these various paths dharmic religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are referred to in India as sanatana-dharma, Buddha-dharma, Jain-dharma and Sikh-dharma respectively. Each of these paths emphasize Dharma as the correct understanding of Nature (or God, as the origin of nature) in their teachings.[12][13][14] In these traditions, beings that live in accordance with Dharma proceed more quickly toward Dharma Yukam, Moksha or Nirvana (personal liberation). Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the founders of these traditions, such as those of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. In traditional Hindu society with its caste structure, Dharma constituted the religious and moral doctrine of the rights and duties of each individual. (see dharmasastra). Dharma in its universal meaning shares much in common with the way of Tao or Taoism.



View video at: [3]

Buddhist background

Bomjon's story gained popularity because it resembled a Buddhist legend from the Jataka Nidanakatha about Gautama Buddha's enlightenment, so much so that some devotees claimed Ram was the reincarnation of the Buddha. However, on November 8 2005 Dorje arose and said to the public, "Tell the people not to call me a Buddha. I don't have the Buddha's energy. I am at the level of rinpoche." A rinpoche is the level of a teacher, which indicates he believes he has achieved a significant amount. He said that he will need six more years of meditation before he may become a Buddha.

According to his followers, Bomjon could be a Bodhisattva, a person on the path to attaining full enlightenment of Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. According to the historical Buddha, Gautama Buddha, there were innumberable Buddhas before him and infinite Buddhas to come in future. Proponents claim that Bomjon could also be the emanation of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the predicted successor to Sakyamuni.

It is reported that his mother fainted when she found out that her son meditated for an undefined period of time. His mother's name is Maya Devi Tamang, the same first name as Buddha's mother.

Claims of inedia

File:Palden Dorje in grove.jpg
Prayer flags have been raised throughout the pipal grove. Bomjon is visible under the Pipal tree.

An average human being who stops drinking will die of dehydration in three to four days. According to the Guinness Book of Records the longest time a human has survived without water is 18 days. The boy's followers claimed the boy went for several months without drinking any water.[12] Skeptics considered Bomjon's purported ability to survive without food or water an elaborate hoax,[13] while Nepalese security sources claimed that the money collected from tourists went to Maoist rebels. The boy's handlers denied such charges.[14]

Bomjon was observed not to leave the tree at least during the daytime, but nobody was allowed to approach him too closely. Between 5:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. nobody was allowed to see him, and a screen was erected for that purpose. Many people speculated that he ate and drank water during that time.

Some supporters believe that Bomjon's claims of inedia are irrelevant, and that the ability to sit nearly motionless in the same position day after day, with no regard for extremes of weather including a cold winter and a monsoon season, is notable. Bomjon's local supporters claimed that the money donated by visitors is used to provide security and assert that he meditates all night, although these claims are highly suspect due to the opportunities for financial gain. In addition to an entrance fee, books, pamphlets, and cassettes have all been sold promoting Ram as a new Buddha.[15]

In December 2005, a nine-member government committee led by Gunjaman Lama watched Bomjon carefully for 48 hours and observed him not to take any food or water during that time. A video recording was also made of this test. However, they were unable to approach closer than 3 meters or take readings of his vital signs. A group of rationalist physicians tried to conduct an independent study but were prevented from doing so by the screen erected at night.[16] The Nepalese government planned a more careful scientific study but this plan was later scrapped.

More recently, the Discovery Channel did record Bomjon's meditation on a 96-hours non-stop video, and for those total of 4 days, Bomjon didn't eat, drink, or move. Doctors interviewed in the documentary were stunned, and noted that for an explanation of Ram's activities, the science textbooks must be rewritten. The documentary was later packed in the special show of 'The Boy with Divine Powers'.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bhagirath Yogi (11 March 2006). "Nepal's 'Buddha' boy goes missing". BBC. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Nepal freezes missing 'Buddha Boy' committee bank account". newkerala.com. 14 March 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Nepalese Buddha Boy 'reappears'". BBC. 20 March 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ UPIN (20 March 2006). "'Buddha Boy' emerges, then vanishes again". United Press International. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ [[Daily Telegraph, Buddha Boy found after retreating into jungle. 27 December 2006
  6. ^ eKantipur.com. 'Buddha Boy' Bomjon found in Bara jungle. 25 December 2006.
  7. ^ Gopal Sharma. "Nepal's mystery "Buddha boy" reappears". Reuters.
  8. ^ "Nepal Buddha Boy 'sighted again'". BBC. 26 December 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Nepal's 'Buddha Boy' does second vanishing act. 8 March 2007
  10. ^ Buddha Boy Update: Ram Bahadur Bomjon Now Meditating in Pit. 28 March 2007
  11. ^ Ram Bahadur Bomjom, the Buddha Boy, Starts Preaching: Arrival of a Meditation Guru or a Religious Zealot?. 3 August 2007
  12. ^ Navin Singh Khadka (30 November 2005). "Scientists to check Nepal Buddha boy". BBC. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Connie Levett (11 February 2006). "Buddha Boy has nation guessing: holy or hoax?". The Age. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Ekantipur team (27 January 2006). "The little Buddha of Bara". Kantipur. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ Rationalist International #150, 2 December 2005
  17. ^ http://www.discoverychannel.com.au/ontv/boy_with_divine_powers/index.shtml

Articles on his disappearance

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