Kid Buddha Goes Missing

*Katie* · 03-12-2006, 10:58 AM

From CNN:

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Hundreds of people scoured a jungle in southern Nepal on Sunday for a missing teenager who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha.

Ram Bahadur Banjan, 15, disappeared Saturday from a forest where he had meditated for the last 10 months, during which his associates said he consumed no food or water.

Local official Santaraj Subedi said police, followers and family members were looking for the boy in the jungles of Bara, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the capital, Kathmandu.

Police official Gautam Raj Kattel said some people said they saw Banjan walking southwards before dawn on Saturday. His clothes were found near where he had been meditating.

Banjan had been sitting cross-legged and motionless with his eyes closed in a niche among the roots of a tree in the jungle since May 17, 2005. Thousands of followers flocked to see him every day.

The area is known to have substantial numbers of communist rebels who have been fighting government troops for a decade. But Kattel said he doubted the boy was abducted by the rebels or by local criminals, adding he believed Banjan just wandered off.

Many followers believe Banjan is a reincarnation of Gautama Siddhartha, who was born not far away in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as the Buddha.

Visitors have only been allowed to view Banjan between dawn and dusk from a roped-off area about 25 meters (80 feet) away. His handlers kept him from public view at night, when they would place a screen in front of him.

Buddhist priests who visited him said the boy was not the incarnation of Buddha, but believed he had been meditating for months.

Buddhism teaches that right thinking and self-control can enable people to achieve nirvana -- a divine state of peace and release from desire. Buddhism has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia.

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They have a picture of the kid on the site....methinks that he got tired of all the publicity and sneaked away to meditate somewhere else. Gotta be hard to achieve nirvana when a bunch of tourists are there taking your picture and gawking at you.

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 03-12-2006, 12:04 PM

Ain't that the truth. I really hope he finds a place to attain his enlightenment in peace.

*Hannah* · 03-12-2006, 12:20 PM

Wait, he hasnt eaten for a year?
Shouldnt he be like dead?

*Sewer Bull* · 03-12-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

From CNN:
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Hundreds of people scoured a jungle in southern Nepal on Sunday for a missing teenager who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha.

...

WHAT?

What a pile of nonsense crap. No one ever can be the reincarnation of Buddha himself (if Siddhartha Gautama is meant by this name), because he is believed to have already achieved his final enlightement and the state of nirvana. Therefore, he freed himself from the recurring cycle of deaths and rebirths (samsara). As a result, his soul peacefully vanished and cannot be trasmitted to another body anymore.

Sheesh.

**Jester** · 03-12-2006, 01:45 PM

Good point, Robbie-san. Maybe the poor kid ran away cause he just wants to be...well...a kid!

*Katie* · 03-12-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sewer Bull

...

WHAT?

What a pile of nonsense crap. No one ever can be the reincarnation of Buddha himself (if Siddhartha Gautama is meant by this name), because he is believed to have already achieved his final enlightement and the state of nirvana. Therefore, he freed himself from the recurring cycle of deaths and rebirths (samsara). As a result, his soul peacefully vanished and cannot be trasmitted to another body anymore.

Sheesh.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's why the priests do not believe he is the reincarnated buddah.

I just hope the kid finds what he is looking for

*damnhooligan* · 03-12-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sewer Bull

What a pile of nonsense crap. No one ever can be the reincarnation of Buddha himself (if Siddhartha Gautama is meant by this name), because he is believed to have already achieved his final enlightement and the state of nirvana. Therefore, he freed himself from the recurring cycle of deaths and rebirths (samsara). As a result, his soul peacefully vanished and cannot be trasmitted to another body anymore.

Tibetan Buddhists believe in "Living Buddha" reincarnates, which most other sects of Buddhism don't. It's also somewhat the basis of their belief in lama reincarnations.

*Sewer Bull* · 03-12-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnhooligan

Tibetan Buddhists believe in "Living Buddha" reincarnates, which most other sects of Buddhism don't. It's also somewhat the basis of their belief in lama reincarnations.

That's true, but remember that even the Tibetan lamas are not the Gautama Siddhartha's reincarnations. They are the incarnations of bodhisattvas - the beings responsible for preaching and helping people to achieve nirvana. Gautama's soul couldn't have been just divided to so many bodies.

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 03-12-2006, 05:10 PM

I doubt he's a reincarnation of Gautama as well, but you have to wonder how close he is to attaining Buddhahood himself for all the fuss to be made.

*Raph's Girl* · 03-13-2006, 01:10 AM

I've seen this so called Buddha reincarnation on the local news several times (he's been on the local news since one of the Lama's is from Seattle). He's just somebody in a tree who wishes to meditate to himself. Not surprised at all that he's gone missing. Im sure he'll show up later on. As for him being the reincarnation of Gautama...well...Im Buddhist and even I don't believe that... People are just over analyzing the situation a tad bit too much.

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 03-13-2006, 11:19 PM

Ditto.

I was just saying that this kid must be pretty close to his own enlightenment if people are confusing him with Gautama.

*Hannah* · 03-14-2006, 02:27 PM

SHOULDNT HE BE DEAD?

o__o agghh.

03-12-2006, 10:58 AM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Kid Buddha Goes Missing From CNN: KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Hundreds of people scoured a jungle in southern Nepal on Sunday for a missing teenager who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha. Ram Bahadur Banjan, 15, disappeared Saturday from a forest where he had meditated for the last 10 months, during which his associates said he consumed no food or water. Local official Santaraj Subedi said police, followers and family members were looking for the boy in the jungles of Bara, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the capital, Kathmandu. Police official Gautam Raj Kattel said some people said they saw Banjan walking southwards before dawn on Saturday. His clothes were found near where he had been meditating. Banjan had been sitting cross-legged and motionless with his eyes closed in a niche among the roots of a tree in the jungle since May 17, 2005. Thousands of followers flocked to see him every day. The area is known to have substantial numbers of communist rebels who have been fighting government troops for a decade. But Kattel said he doubted the boy was abducted by the rebels or by local criminals, adding he believed Banjan just wandered off. Many followers believe Banjan is a reincarnation of Gautama Siddhartha, who was born not far away in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as the Buddha. Visitors have only been allowed to view Banjan between dawn and dusk from a roped-off area about 25 meters (80 feet) away. His handlers kept him from public view at night, when they would place a screen in front of him. Buddhist priests who visited him said the boy was not the incarnation of Buddha, but believed he had been meditating for months. Buddhism teaches that right thinking and self-control can enable people to achieve nirvana -- a divine state of peace and release from desire. Buddhism has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia. ``````````````````````````````````````````````` They have a picture of the kid on the site....methinks that he got tired of all the publicity and sneaked away to meditate somewhere else. Gotta be hard to achieve nirvana when a bunch of tourists are there taking your picture and gawking at you. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

03-12-2006, 12:04 PM	#2
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Ain't that the truth. I really hope he finds a place to attain his enlightenment in peace. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

03-12-2006, 01:45 PM	#5
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	Good point, Robbie-san. Maybe the poor kid ran away cause he just wants to be...well...a kid! __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

03-12-2006, 05:10 PM	#9
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	I doubt he's a reincarnation of Gautama as well, but you have to wonder how close he is to attaining Buddhahood himself for all the fuss to be made. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

03-13-2006, 01:10 AM	#10
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	I've seen this so called Buddha reincarnation on the local news several times (he's been on the local news since one of the Lama's is from Seattle). He's just somebody in a tree who wishes to meditate to himself. Not surprised at all that he's gone missing. Im sure he'll show up later on. As for him being the reincarnation of Gautama...well...Im Buddhist and even I don't believe that... People are just over analyzing the situation a tad bit too much. __________________

03-12-2006, 12:20 PM	#3
Hannah Once more, with feeling! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,111	Wait, he hasnt eaten for a year? Shouldnt he be like dead?

03-13-2006, 11:19 PM	#11
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Ditto. I was just saying that this kid must be pretty close to his own enlightenment if people are confusing him with Gautama. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

03-14-2006, 02:27 PM	#12
Hannah Once more, with feeling! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,111	SHOULDNT HE BE DEAD? o__o agghh. __________________ Last edited by Hannah; 04-02-2006 at 10:28 AM.