Buddha and Twilight

KATHMANDU (AFP) – A young man believed by followers to be a reincarnation of Buddha has returned to Nepal's jungles to meditate alone, police said Saturday, as scholars cast doubt on his supporters' claims.

Known as the "Buddha Boy," Ram Bahadur Bomjam, 18, became famous in 2005 after supporters said he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep.

"Bomjam went back into the jungle late Friday and all the devotees have left," police officer Gobinda Kushwaha told AFP from Neejgad, a town in Bara District, 60 kilometres (37.5 miles) south of Kathmandu.

The "Buddha Boy" reappeared earlier this month after supporters said in March 2007 that he was going to meditate for three years in an underground bunker, although he was spotted on two occasions.

For the last 10 days, he has been blessing thousands of devotees who came daily to the site in dense jungle close to Neejgad.

The president of the Nepal Buddhist Council said claims by his supporters that he was a reincarnation of Siddartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, were not credible.

"We do not believe he is Buddha. He does not have Buddha's qualities," said Mahiswor Raj Bajracharya, president of the Nepal Buddhist Council, a centre for Buddhist study and research in Kathmandu.

"He may have achieved great heights in meditation, but that alone does not make him a Buddha. A Buddha needs life experience, a young man who has not seen the world at all cannot be a Buddha," said Bajracharya.

Despite being officially secular under the new Maoist government, Nepal -- where around 80 per cent of people are Hindu and 11 per cent are Buddhist -- remains a deeply spiritual place.

"This is a country where people worship idols and stones, and everyone educated or not believes in the supernatural," the Buddhist scholar said.

Some 7,000 people gathered Friday to hear the youth speak.

"Materialism has brought forth fear, worry and disputes and has created war in this country. One should follow religion and philosophy for inner happiness," Bomjam told the crowds in a 15-minute address.

People joined a six-kilometre (3.75-mile) queue to be blessed, a wait that 43-year-old farmer Singha Bahadur Tamang said was worthwhile.

"This is a miracle and he is the reincarnation of Lord Buddha himself," said Tamang, who traveled eight hours by bus to hear Bomjam speak.

"I've been here for the last 10 days and the feeling is amazing. I really feel at peace here," he said.

The head of the committee that organises events around Bomjam insists he survives without food and water.

"We have never seen him eat or drink and we believe he's a god in human form," said Bed Bahadur Thing, president of the Buddha Jungle Meditation Conservation and Prosperity Committee.

At the height of Bomjam's fame, a French TV crew filmed the youth eating fruit and an AFP correspondent caught him napping.

On Friday, visitors to the jungle site put money into collection boxes, though Thing declined to say how much had been collected.

"Many people say we're just doing this for the money, but we have expenses for volunteers, food, security and maintenance," he said. "After he has gone back into the jungle, we will make our accounts public."

WHILE BACK IN LOS ANGELES ....FANS GO NUTS OVER

TWILIGHT

I went to the first show on Friday morning just to see if there was any unusual behavior from fans of this very successful book series by Stephanie Meyer.

I'm sort of happy to report that yes there was unusual behavior at the show.

First let me explain that while I am much more interested in the Buddha boy story I am also a realist and understand fully that millions of young people will go to see Twilight and perhaps about 1 percent of them will ever question whether Buddha boy is real.

Imagine if young girls started screaming when Buddha boy appeared on the screen. For all I know young girls in Katmandu ARE screaming when he shows his face.

But here in good old Santa Monica young girls were screaming at the screen when EDWARD first appeared.

I like the fact that young people are excited about this movie because it means they READ A BOOK.

Actually they have read FOUR BOOKS if they are big fans...and the reading of any book is a good thing.

It could start an entire new craze. Imagine these same kids finding out about Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling.

WOW.

The fact that Stephanie Meyer created Vampires that don't suck human blood is a stroke of genius.

But if these new fans of reading stumble on Bram Stokers Dracula...they will probably vomit. And then if they follow that up with Ann Rice's work they will never sleep at night.

Vampires have suddenly become the new rock stars....as long as they promise not to drink human blood they can now show up for Thanksgiving dinner and even appear in sunlight. Just a little twinkling to get use to.

Knowing that the new breed of Vampires love to play baseball makes everything perfect.

I would have liked to have seen a little longer game but I understand the reality of holding people's attention...especially young people.

I wonder if Buddha Boy will get to his local cineplex in Nepal this weekend and catch Twilight? He probably just has to think about it and then watches it while he meditates. Obviously it sounds like he doesn't need the popcorn and soda.

Twilight and Buddha Boy.....does life get any better?