Slog - Comments on Buddha-Boy: A Conjecture that the Famous Ram Bahadur Bomjon, Rumored to Be a Nepalese Child-Saint, Is Not a Charlatan and Just Wants to Be Left the Fuck Alone http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu Here he is, the Buddha Boy: Also known as Ram Bahadur Bomjon, the 16-year-old BB is a spiritual celebrity who disappeared into the jungles of Nepal in March and reappeared on Christmas day. (Notably, carrying a sword—on Christmas. "I came not to bring peace but a sword," said Christ in Matthew 10.) The news is all over this kid. Anyway, his followers believe BB is the reincarnation of Guatama Buddha, with the usual wild claims that congeal around child saints: that as a young boy he would never fight or kill an animal, he refused to eat anything but scraps,... Copyright 2008 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:28:23 -0800 Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:39:08 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by The Peanut Gallery Shouldn't a 16 year old be in school or something and not sitting under a tree for the last year living on herb and water?

]]> The Peanut Gallery http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578855 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:25:05 -0800 Comment by roots haha, peanut gallery, that is only in the good ol' US of A.

]]> roots http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578858 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578858 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:41:24 -0800 Comment by The Peanut Gallery reply to @2

True enough, but I subscribe to the UNESCO belief of free and COMPLUSORY basic education for all people. In our global world, a 16 year old in Iowa and a 16 year old in India should both be in school getting an education, not spending the days sitting under a tree, living on herb and water, looking for the universe to simply spill out its secrets. Holy Boy or Teenage Burn-Out, school needs to be a way of life at 16.

Life is long, teenagers the-world-over often have a holier-then-you & me attitude, but a life spent pinching pennies or rupees due to the impetuousness of youth is no way to live a life.

]]> The Peanut Gallery http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578883 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578883 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:18:53 -0800 Comment by Gitai Dear G-d, let that mudra work. I'm having the shittiest birthday in nearly a decade.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578897 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578897 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:35:03 -0800 Comment by Jude Fawley The fact that he denies that he is the Buddha is further evidence that he might not be a huckster.

Regarding those who think he should be going to some crappy school, I would consider sincere meditation to be something of an alternative education, and possibly more valuable than. The Buddha among others came to talk about what real education is.

]]> Jude Fawley http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578908 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578908 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:15:51 -0800 Comment by Misty Brown He looks a little fleshy to liviing on herbs and water.

]]> Misty Brown http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578931 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578931 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:45:00 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me why is Hugh Foskett beneath that pipal tree? (He's sooo hot!)

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578967 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c578967 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:50:08 -0800 Comment by Tahn He's not a fraud because of his hands... uh, right.

You don't think that maybe, I don't know, he got tired of holding them up as per the examples you gave?

@5: Of course, it could also just be a double bluff -- hmm, what can I do to make me seem more genuine? I know, deny it!

]]> Tahn http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579029 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579029 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:06:58 -0800 Comment by elenchos Studies have shown that teenagers actually need 14 to 18 hours of sleep per day, and so this is part of the normal, healthy development of a 16 year old. Nagging them about their need for rest only increases their alienation.

He probably just wants a Pepsi. But his mom wouldn't give him one. All he wanted was Pepsi and he didn't want to talk about it but she wouldn't give him one. He goes no mom I'm not on drugs okay I was just thinking you know. And she goes no you're on drugs! He's not crazy! You're the one that's crazy!

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579052 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579052 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:49:39 -0800 Comment by Rev.Raikes Most of you commentors are making me lose my shuni mudra. You (again, one of you seemed intelligent and lacking in the argument gene that denotes social retardation) represent the innate ability of Americans (possibly Westerners in general) to totally miss the point and become entrenched in minutia.

Especially...school? You sir are an idiot perfectly embodying the tenets of the modern education system. What our system teaches is how to be a mental/economic slave and do what the white coats tell you.

Shut up and read (pretend I'm wearing one of those lab-jackets) http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/bb/bb04.htm

(woah, I just lost a ton of karma points)

]]> Rev.Raikes http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579070 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579070 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:26:38 -0800 Comment by big shirtless Billy Bob no, you shut up! take a good look at that picture. your so called saint is no different than any other 16 year old boy. He is obviously masturbating under a tree with his eyes closed.

]]> big shirtless Billy Bob http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579107 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579107 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:58:52 -0800 Comment by burping cletus wow, I should move over there. In America if you sit under a tree and beat off you get arrested, in asia you are proclaimed to be the next coming of god himself

]]> burping cletus http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579108 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579108 Life Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:02:43 -0800 Comment by Mirror Back to the Chiller Room with him!

]]> Mirror http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579234 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c579234 Life Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:56:33 -0800 Comment by Rev.Raikes Dear big brainless Billy Bob, do you see anywhere in my post where I pledge allegiance to the boy wonder? No...the writing was tongue-in-cheek.

Look, I'm sorry you were molested as a child, but that's no reason to foist your circle-jerk fantasies on the Stranger's gentle reading community.

And, please read before you flame. I do enjoy a good burn.

]]> Rev.Raikes http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c580814 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c580814 Life Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:17:35 -0800 Comment by Dushan BOODHENA I have nothing against him nor any bias for him. But the true question should be: "Aren't we ourselves frauds? How many times do we, ourselves, deceive?" Start with these questions. Start with your own self and you will start your journey towards enlightenment...

]]> Dushan BOODHENA http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c581523 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/12/buddhaboy_a_conjectu#c581523 Life Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:39:08 -0800