Buddha Boy & the Scientists

A teenage boy in Nepal has doctors, scientists, and religious leaders scratching their heads.

Fifteen-year-old Ram Bomjon has meditated for six months – allegedly without food or water. A makeshift city of 100,000 devotees has formed around his forest sanctuary, and some proclaim him a living Buddha.

Ram’s mother grew anxious about her son’s health, but after visiting him, she praised his devotion to the Buddha, and announced, “God will feed him.”

Nepalese authorities are not so sure, and have urged doctors, scientists, and Buddhist lamas to help solve the mystery. Skeptics point out that the boy’s attendants close a curtain around him at night.

Buddha-boy, as the media has dubbed him, appears entirely removed from all the hoopla. He’s said very little, but he did request, “Don’t call me Buddha. I’m not a Buddha.” This humility is the best evidence yet that he has achieved some measure of enlightenment.

Buddhism doesn’t promise paradise, but rather places personal responsibility on each individual to discover the truth.

I’m not so sure they should spoil this with scientists. Who cares if the Buddha Boy is sipping mango juice behind the curtain? He has inspired thousands to seek a more religious life. This is miracle enough. He’s sitting. He’s meditating. He’s attempting to gain wisdom. The scientists and media should leave him alone. Let the people marvel. Perhaps they’ll be inspired.

In a world where wars rage over religious doctrine, I find it refreshing to see people excited about a meditating boy.

This was posted on Sunday, January 1st, 2006 at 1:20 pm and is filed under Spiritualism . Feel free to respond, or trackback.