The Buddha Boy - Ram Bahadur Bomjon

[Robot_Butler]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...09055767132866 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Bahadur_Bomjon I was just reminded of this guy today, and was surprised to have not found any threads about him except for Leo Volont's crazy old ramblings. Is there already a thread on this that I didn't know about? I haven't thought about him in years, since he disappeared. Apparently he reappeared a couple months ago and began preaching. Anyone out there been following this interesting story? I just think it is amazing what humans are capable of when we put our minds to it. I can't imagine the kind of mental control he must have over his body. I am a Buddhist, but I do not deify those who have achieved enlightenment. I also do not believe that starving yourself for extended periods of time is a useful way to achieve enlightenment. I respect his commitment, and I'm sure he has achieved some wisdom from his long periods of meditation. In general, I believe wisdom also comes from life experience, and interaction with other people. Sitting under a tree in solitude does not really qualify you to be a religious leader, in my book.

[Invader]

I haven't heard anything about him since, either. I was also under the impression that his meditation had to last 6 years without interruption, which leads me to wonder why he'd deliver the radio message if uninterrupted fasting was important. I'd like to see what becomes of him once his 6 years are up, regardless.

[Specialis Sapientia]

Just watched the documentary, truly remarking. Some intersting stuff: "On 19 March 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." "On 25 December 2006, villagers in Bara district spotted Bomjon meditating. He was carrying a sword for protection in the jungle, reminding reporters that "Even Gautama Buddha had to protect himself," and claimed to have eaten nothing but herbs in the interim. He reiterated his commitment to Buddhist devotion for six years and said he would allow people to come observe him as long as they remained at 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 for the donations to not be abused or used for commercial purposes. A new wave of visitors came to see him and pray at his new meditation spot. On 8 March 2007 he left Bara district to again find a quieter place to meditate." "On 26 March 2007 Inspector Rameshwor Yadav of the Area Police Post Nijgadh found Bomjon inside a bunker-like ditch seven feet square. A police team, under the command of Yadav, had gone to the place after word had spread through the area of Romjon meditating underground. "His face was clean and hair was combed well," Yadav said. According to him, the bunker had been cemented from all sides and outfitted with a tiled roof. Indra Lama, a local deployed as Bomjon's caretaker since the beginning of his intensive meditation, said the bunker was prepared per Bomjon's request. "After granting audience a week ago, he expressed his desire to meditate inside the ground; so we built it," he said." This was 2007, would like to know where is now. He also did a preach in August 2007, it's on the wiki page in English, astounding words from 18 year old. Edit: He was last seen 4 months ago.

[Robot_Butler]

I just watched the documentary again, and had the same feeling I had when first watching it several years ago. I have this anticipation where I keep waiting for them to figure out he hoax. Normally in documentaries like this, they talk it up for a couple minutes, then expose the slight of hand. Not so in this case. That crazy kid really is just sitting completely still for days on end, defying what we know about bodily function. I remember, years ago, seeing a documentary about the experiment mentioned with the monks who melt snow. The one where they put cold water soaked blankets on some monks, and watched them turn the water to steam. Anyone know where that one is? I haven't been able to find it since I first saw it on TV.

[Loonybin Resident]

Amazing stuff...

[Invader]

The one where they put cold water soaked blankets on some monks, and watched them turn the water to steam. Was it the same documentary in which they did this inside a cave in the Himalayas? If I remember correctly, they wore nothing but what looked like makeshift diapers as well, which would leave them with significantly less protection in the already freezing temperatures. That's what was supposed to have made turning the water into steam so amazing as well, as it wasn't just done in a room temp laboratory. I cannot seem to recall which episode it was though, as it has been several years since I've seen it.

[Liberty]

He's kinda doing what Buddha did. Sitting under a tree and starving himself. But Buddha did it because he wanted to feel the sufferings of his people. That and he was learning self restraint. He was raised as a prince and didn't know what was going outside his palace walls. I'm not sure how anyone survives without water for that long though. I don't even think Buddha went without water. He cut out all of the extra stuff and spent all of his time meditating to achieve enlightenment. Then again, bears can go months without food and water so I don't know... By the way:There are different schools of Buddhism. Not all are the same or equal. That's why you can find Buddhist monks in S. Korea driving around in BMWs while there are Buddhist monks in Thailand that live out in huts in the woods. Buddhism is different than other beliefs because to be a religious leader, we don't go around preaching about our beliefs. If you want to know about it find a Buddhist temple or reading material. What makes someone a leader in Buddhism is their restraint, sacrifice of material wants, human desires. They do this so that they can spend as much time as possible meditating to achieve enlightenment.

[Invader]

He's kinda doing what Buddha did. Sitting under a tree and starving himself. Starvation is the process of perishing from lack of nutritional sustenance. He is not starving. Assuming, of course, that this is legitimate. It so far appears to be true.

[Liberty]

Starvation is the process of perishing from lack of nutritional sustenance. He is not starving. Assuming, of course, that this is legitimate. It so far appears to be true. I was just using the same word the poster did. I know he's not starving.

[Invader]

Apologies. In that case, I aim my correction at Robot Butler too. (Didn't Siddhartha have a small wooden bowl next to him so that people may leave him rice to eat? Or am I mistaken?)

[Liberty]

Apologies. In that case, I aim my correction at Robot Butler too. (Didn't Siddhartha have a small wooden bowl next to him so that people may leave him rice to eat? Or am I mistaken?) I thought so too but it's been awhile since I've actually gone to temple with my parents. Honestly, I don't go because I can't sit still for more than 5 mins. It would make sense though. I know that's how it works in Theravada Buddhism (the oldest school of Buddhism and closest one to early Buddhism). The monks only eat the food that is given to them. I can't remember if the offering is done daily or weekly.

[Specialis Sapientia]

Have you read his speeches? It's worth the time. http://www.paldendorje.com/index.php...&id=5&Itemid=2 (The four dates in upper left contains the speeches)

[Taosaur]

He's kinda doing what Buddha did. Sitting under a tree and starving himself. But Buddha did it because he wanted to feel the sufferings of his people. That and he was learning self restraint. He was raised as a prince and didn't know what was going outside his palace walls. (Didn't Siddhartha have a small wooden bowl next to him so that people may leave him rice to eat? Or am I mistaken?) It seems like you're both conflating different parts of the Buddha's life. When he originally left his wife and son and his father's palaces to find a solution to suffering, Prince Siddhartha spent six years seeking out the prominent spiritual teachers of his time, learned all they had to teach him, but found he was still subject to suffering. The final stop on this tour was a group of forest recluses, Jainists I believe, who believed the way to spiritual knowledge was denial and abuse of the body. It was here that the prince grew emaciated from fasting. Having become the star pupil and most disciplined faster in the forest, he still felt he was making no progress, and when a young woman from the nearby village brought him a bowl of rice and milk, he abandoned the fast and accepted the offering despite the jeers and protests of his fellow ascetics. Having renewed his strength, he set his eye on a certain tree. He crossed the river to this tree, sat beneath it, and vowed that he would not move from that spot until he found the way to the cessation of suffering. Later, when the Buddha had a following of monks, their routine was to go from door to door with a bowl in the late morning hours, accepting whatever was offered until their bowl was full, and this was their only meal. As his fame and renown grew, alms were sometimes unnecessary, as the laity would hold dinners or bring alms wherever the community of monks traveled. He explicitly rejected the extreme asceticism of the Jains, advocating instead a Middle Way. So while this young man may be imitating the Buddha's life, he's not following the teachings. For a good naturalistic telling of the Buddha's life, based on historical and anthropological research and the Theraveda suttas, I recommend The Way of Siddhartha.

[etapasvi]

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