27-11-2008

Nepal: Has Buddha returned to save Asia?

The continent of Asia is without a doubt going through one of it's most tumultuous months in a very long time. In India multiple locations in the capital city Mumbai have been attacked in a large scale terrorist operation. Hotels and other buildings are in flames and over 200 have died. In Thailand all out chaos has erupted as protesters storm and closes the very busy international airport. In Japan and China the financial crisis wreaks havoc on the economy and investors. Asia as a whole waits for the effects of the banking collapse to rain down on them, like terrified extras in an action movie waiting for the aftershock of a comet that has hit earth.

'Asian's are more nervous than they has been in a very long time' David Ang a Hong Kong social commentator noted 'No one knows what is around the corner'. However in all this turmoil a corner of peace exists. In Nepal a young man has been hailed as a re-incarnation of Buddha set to save the world, and he is preaching that the end of times is coming and although the world is in a state of chaos peace and enlightenment will soon reign.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan or 'Bamjan' for short was born in the village Ratanapuri in the Bara district of Nepal. He is a member of the Taamaang ethnic group, who came to Nepal from Tibet over a thousand years ago and are known for their devotion to the teachings of Buddhism. In 2005 he left his home to go into the Jungle to meditate and achieve enlightenment. Occasionally he was met within the jungle by a few people who had recognised his special and holy character however he was generally left alone. Legend of him grew and by 2007 large crowds would already come to hear him speak in the depth of the forest. Earlier this month he returned to the village to preach and by this time he was famous not just in Nepal but throughout Asia. Thousands would arrive to hear him preach in the village temple and under sacred trees.

It is believed that he spent ten months meditating in total silence without moving at all. In this period it is alleged he did not eat, drink or sleep. Though this cannot be proven Nepalese government officials did observe him for over two days and confirmed that in this time he did indeed remain motionless without sleeping, eating, drinking or relieving himself. Foreign journalists have been awestruck by the boy’s ability to achieve such mastery over his physical nature.

'Our world is in turmoil because people have left the holy path. We will see much change, misery and chaos over the coming period. People will panic and they will lose their reason but this is just a precursor to the next cycle which shall be the era of the return of the Buddha' or 'Mayetria Buddha': the Buddhist equivalent of the Messiah. 'Then the cycle will refresh anew and the world will achieve heavenly peace and enlightenment'. As despair in Asia grows daily and indeed panic does rise many Asians are returning to their Buddhist roots and millions are now looking for inspiration to a young man in Nepal, known also by his Buddhist spiritual name 'Palden Dorje' for guidance and salvation. Will he lead them into a golden era?

Comment on this story