A teenage boy worshipped by followers as the reincarnation of Buddha emerged briefly from the jungles of southern Nepal to offer 11 days of prayers and blessings to tens of thousands of followers. Ram Bahadur Bomjan, 18, was first seen in 2005 meditating in the jungle. Followers claim that for the past three years he has meditated in the jungles, sitting motionless with his eyes closed among the roots of a tree, foregoing food and water for several months at a time.
A French TV crew claims to have filmed Bomjan eating fruit and an AFP correspondent reported catching him napping. Most Buddhist authorities are skeptical about the claim of his followers, who have established a website for the ascetic paldendorje.com and are reportedly setting up the Terchen Heshey Tharpaling Monastery in Ratanpuri. | |
