NEPAL -- This is a documentary on Ram Bahadur Bomjon, "Buddha Boy," a teenager who has been meditating for three years without food or water. Also known as Tapaswi Palden Dorje, he is thought by many to be the rebirth of an exalted being. Who? He is a bodhisattva -- someone bent on full-enlightenment and aiming for buddhahood. It is a mistake and a misnomer to consider him the "reincarnation" of the historical "Buddha" (Shakyamuni). A buddha no longer undergoes rebirth, having overcome all defilements. The meaning of buddhahood is uprooting all delusion, aversion, and greed. The practical upshot of accomplishing this is that one no longer undergoes rebirth of any kind. It should also be noted that Buddha Boy does not fit the canonical profile of the future buddha, Maitreya.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Buddha Boy Documentary (2)
NEPAL -- A documentary on Ram Bahadur Bomjon ("Buddha Boy") who has been meditating for three years without food or water. Ram is known by many as a bodhisattva (someone who bent on full enlightenment and aiming for buddhahood). It is a misnomer and a mistake to think Ram is a "reincarnation" of the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni). A buddha is not reborn, but rather has destroyed the delusion, aversion, and greed that lead beings to continued rebirth.
Buddha Boy Documentary (3)
NEPAL -- A documentary on Ram Bahadur Bomjon ("Buddha Boy") who has been meditating for three years without food or water. Ram Bahadur Bamjan is known by many as a reincarnation of a bodhisattva (a being bent on full enlightenment, aiming for buddhahood). It is a misnomer and a mistake to think he is the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni). A buddha no longer undergoes rebirth, but rather has broken through the delusion, greed, and aversion that bind beings to continued rebirth.
Buddha Boy Documentary (4)
NEPAL -- This is a documentary on Ram Bahadur Bomjon, "Buddha Boy," a teenager who has been meditating for three years without food or water. Also known as Tapaswi Palden Dorje, he is thought by many to be the rebirth of an exalted being. Who? He is a bodhisattva -- someone bent on full-enlightenment, a person aiming for buddhahood. It is a misnomer and a mistake to consider him the "reincarnation" of the historical "Buddha" (Shakyamuni). A buddha no longer undergoes rebirth, having overcome all defilements. The meaning of buddhahood is uprooting all delusion, aversion, and greed. The practical upshot is that one will no longer undergo rebirth of any kind. It should also be noted that Buddha Boy does not fit the canonical profile of the future buddha, Maitreya.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Buddha Boy Documentary (5)
NEPAL -- A documentary on Ram Bahadur Bomjon ("Buddha Boy") who has been meditating for three years without food or water. Ram is known by many as a bodhisattva (someone who bent on full enlightenment and aiming for buddhahood). It is a misnomer and a mistake to think Ram is a "reincarnation" of the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni). A buddha is not reborn, but rather has destroyed the delusion, aversion, and greed that lead beings to continued rebirth.
