Ram Bahadur Bomjon (Sanskrit: राम बहादुर बम्जन) born c. 9 April 1990, sometimes spelled Bomjan, Banjan, or Bamjan), previously known as Palden Dorje (his monastic name) is from Ratanapuri, Bara district, Nepal.

He drew thousands of visitors and media attention by spending months in meditation, which began on May 16, 2005. He is believed to be the reincarnation of the Buddha.

Buddhist background

His story may have gained popularity because it resembles an episode in the life of the historical Buddha, although Bomjon himself has rejected such comparisons: "Tell the people not to call me a Buddha. I don't have the Buddha's energy currently. I am at the level of a rinpoche."^[1] Mahiswor Raj Bajracharya, the president of the Nepal Buddhist Council, has stated likewise: "We do not believe he is Buddha. He does not have Buddha's qualities".^[2]

Wandering in Bara District

He suddenly went missing on 11 March 2006. His followers theorized that he went deeper into the woods to look for a quieter place to meditate.^[3]

On 19 March 2006 Bed Bahadur Lama of the Om Namo Buddha Tapaswi Sewa Samiti (ONBTSS) told reporters that they had seen him in Bara district. They spoke to him for half-an-hour, during which Bomjon said, "There is no peace here," and that he would return in six years. He left a message for his parents telling them not to worry.^{[4][failed verification]}

Meditating in a pit

On 26 March 2007, news spread of Bomjon meditating underground. Inspector Rameshwor Yadav of the Area Police Post Nijgadh, found Bomjon inside an underground chamber in Halkhoriya Jungle, a bunker-like ditch seven feet square. "His face was clean and hair was combed well," Yadav said. According to him, the chamber had been cemented from all sides and fitted with a tiled roof. ^[5]

Reappearing in Ratanpuri

On 2 August 2007, Bomjon addressed a large crowd in Halkhoriya Jungle in the Bara district of southern Nepal. The Namo Buddha Tapoban Committee, which is devoted to looking after Bomjon, assembled the meeting. Around three thousand people gathered to listen to him. A video was made of the event.^{[6][failed verification]} According to Krishna Hari, Bomjon's message was, "The only way we can save this nation is through spirituality".^[7] After this event he left the place again.

Controversies

In 2012 Nepal Police held a press meet reporting that they rescued a Slovakian woman who was abducted by Bomjon. The Slovak woman had a broken arm and was very weak. The reports say she told local journalists that she has been threatened by Bomjon’s followers not to reveal anything to the media or police.^[8][9]

The BBC quoted Nepal's Republica newspaper, that the villagers claimed they had been looking for wild fruit and vegetables when Bomjon had thrashed them with an axe handle for around 22 hours on July 22, 2010. Bomjon said the locals had been interrupting his meditation by climbing onto his platform, mimicking him, and attempting to manhandle him, and that he was "therefore forced to beat them". According to the newspaper, he claims he slapped them "two or three times", while the attackers alleged that they had been assaulted more seriously.^[10]

See also

• Buddhism
• Yogi

References

External links

• Official Site of Dharma Sangha