The young man many believe to be Buddha-reincarnated blesses a Tibetan monk Friday shortly before returning the the jungle to continue meditating.Ram Bahadur Bamjan, a Nepalese teenager revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha, yesterday returned to the jungle to meditate after emerging less than two weeks ago.
Bamjan, 18, reappeared November 10 after several months of meditation. His followers say Bamjan has been meditating beneath a tree without food and water ~ sitting for months on end without moving, with his eyes closed ~ since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005.
Bamjan, 18, reappeared November 10 after several months of meditation. His followers say Bamjan has been meditating beneath a tree without food and water ~ sitting for months on end without moving, with his eyes closed ~ since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005.
Thousands Turn Out to be Blessed
Bamjan made an appearance yesterday when thousands of followers lined up near the jungle of Ratanpur, about 100 miles south of Katmandu, to be blessed by Bamjan. He tapped the believers on their foreheads but did not speak to them individually.
He then returned to the jungle to meditate. It was not clear when he would return again.
Several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One. Some say that being Buddha indicates the final birth and the highest level that can be achieved and that there can be no reincarnation of Buddha.
He then returned to the jungle to meditate. It was not clear when he would return again.
Several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One. Some say that being Buddha indicates the final birth and the highest level that can be achieved and that there can be no reincarnation of Buddha.
