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Doubts about Fasting Buddha Boy

• Asian

Ram Bahadur Bamjon returns to the headlines. The Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology is planning to investigate claims this teenage idol that some think a reincarnation of Buddha has survived without eating or drinking for six months. Might as well: reports are that the volume of gullible visitors is diminishing.

How about a TV show: Who's The Next Buddha?

"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, which is sacred to Hindus, with his eyes closed in meditation. He does not speak and followers are only allowed to see him from a distance of 50 metres.

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.

Nepal to probe mystery 'Buddha' boy

Richard Evans Lee
November 28, 2005 •
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why would anyone like to sit for six long years under a tree in a very difficult posture at the prime time of life, just for the sake of fooling the world and gaining fame. and even if someone does just that, he/she is certainly praise worthy inspite of the fraud because sitting still day and night for years is not a matter of joke. that feat in itself is a miracle to me,let alone the claims of him not eating or drinking.if someone achieved the greater feat some 25 centuries ago, then time would definitely not be cruel to somebody else who strongly believes he can achieve the same state of enlightenment by following the same route of absolute deprivation and concentration. i think comparing him to siddhartha gautam and calling him as an incarnation of gautam buddha is also a faulty comparision because every person in the world is a potential buddha, "Buddha" meaning the one who has achieved enlightenment and eveyone in the world has a right towards enlightenment should he/she desire for it and possess the strength and determination to tackle with all hardships that come on the path towards that enlightenment. by calling "reincarnation" and similar terms, we are saying that enlightenment is a divine thing out of the reach of normal people i.e. one needs to be a reincarnation of previously enlightened body or god to achieve it, which i think is against the very principles of buddhism which has reserved enlightenment to any person seeking it very earnestly. its a different thing that we normally cant show that earnestness or the determination for a time long enough and therefore have this false concept that enlightenment is a divine privilege. if this teen boy has shown that huge courage to walk on that perilous path where the rest of us so easily fail, to deprive oneself of all desires and needs, to give the message to the world that an earnest desire does bear its fruit if backed up by great determination and courage and above all, to reach the zenith of knowledge and make mankind aware of the faults it has been committing so frequently so that the world gets united in peace and love, then let him do it without much fuss. in the long run, he may not succeed in achieving the enlightenment that he has sought for, but even then, i would have my hats off for the immense courage he showed to mankind . most of us set our own abilities as standards and tend to put off others' greatness as fake without understanding that with immense determination, concentration and patience, we might lift ourselves to a level which would seem miraculous if compared against our ablilities under normal state. most of us are ignorant of such higher states of existence and there are very few people who can understand and appreciate that feat. i believe the list of appreciators will get bigger as time moves on. i would love to hear someday that he successfully went through the immense period of self deprivation and achieved the ultimate wisdom which he has so intently desired for.........MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!!!

Posted by: Aawaz khadka | January 16, 2006 5:44 AM

it is impossible for the body to survive without water for so long the child would be long gone after little more than a week, food no problem, fluids a must

Posted by: sue | January 25, 2006 8:52 AM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Doubts about Fasting Buddha Boy. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

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