NationStates Jolt Archive

Since religion is such a hot topic, here we have a thread about a reincarnation of Buddah.

http://news.aol.com/article/devotees-say-teen-is-buddha-reborn/244051

RATANPUR, Nepal (Nov. 12) - The teenage boy revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha sat silently in the jungle as he blessed his devotees Wednesday with a light tap on the head, which they consider the touch of the divine.
His face was still, his long hair spilled over his white robe, and he never said a word.
The followers of Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, believe he has been meditating without food and water since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005, when believers say he spent months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree.
Bamjan re-emerged this week to meet his followers, who have come by the thousands to see him in the jungles of Ratanpur, about 100 miles south of Katmandu.
"I got a chance to see God today," Bishnu Maya Khadka, a housewife, said after receiving Bamjan's blessing Wednesday. "They say he is Buddha, but for me he is just God."
Bamjan was expected to address his followers on Nov. 18 and then retreat again into the jungle for meditation, said Kamal Tamang, a Buddhist priest.
Bamjan received the pilgrims from atop a podium covered in yellow cloth and placed before a massive tree. He looked healthy and strong and showed no signs of starvation or dehydration.
Buddhism, which has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia, teaches that every soul is reincarnated after death in another bodily form.
But several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One.
"Being Buddha means the last birth and the highest level that can be achieved. There can be no reincarnation of Buddha, even though Buddhists believe in life after death," said Rakesh, a Buddhist scholar in Katmandu who goes by only one name.
"Meditating without food does not prove that he is the reincarnation of Buddha," said Min Bahadur Shakya of the Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods, a Buddhist research center in Katmandu. "There is much study needed to be done."
Bamjan has never addressed the subject in any of his speeches.
The devotees who have flocked to visit him have fewer doubts. Colorful prayer flags fluttered and incense filled the air Wednesday as the pilgrims silently approached Bamjan, who was surrounded by a line of Buddhist monks.
"I have no doubt in my mind he is a god," said Meg Bahadur Lama, a local farmer. "He has been meditating without food and water and no human can achieve such a feat. I used to hear about such miracles in the past but now I got to see one."

Comment to your heart's content. At least this one ain't about the LDS Church.

Oh yeah I herd about that... really weird. I found it a little amusing. :p

Oh yeah I herd about that... really weird. I found it a little amusing. :p

It is amusing because, according to the Buddhist Research Institute, Buddah or being Buddah is achieving the highest level of being and, because of that, there can be no reincarnation of Buddah.

It is amusing because, according to the Buddhist Research Institute, Buddah or being Buddah is achieving the highest level of being and, because of that, there can be no reincarnation of Buddah.

Well, you know... people like to believe. Gives them false hope.

What a phail. Reincarnation is unfeasible anyway, seeing as populations increase/decrease, meaning more or less souls than what was started with.

Well, you know... people like to believe. Gives them false hope.

It's deeper than that, wether it's true or false hope.

What a phail. Reincarnation is unfeasible anyway, seeing as populations increase/decrease, meaning more or less souls than what was started with.

Do remember, Adu-kun, that according to Hindu beliefs, reincarnation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation_and_Hinduism) is possible.

Don't they find a reincarnation of him every few years?

Don't they find a reincarnation of him every few years?

Not according to the Buddhist Research Institute. Buddah cannot reincarnate.

What a phail. Reincarnation is unfeasible anyway, seeing as populations increase/decrease, meaning more or less souls than what was started with.

Does that mean you have population statistics on gliese 581 d and other extrasolar planets to back it up?

It's deeper than that, wether it's true or false hope.

True. I guess it's something I don't understand.

Since religion is such a hot topic, here we have a thread about a reincarnation of Buddah.



looks nothin like him though.... (http://nathaneffi.chinagoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/buddha-1.jpg)

Not according to the Buddhist Research Institute. Buddah cannot reincarnate.

Hmm, maybe I was thinking of something else. I seem to remember hearing about someone being reincarnated,mainly in Buddhist areas.


-sigh- Oh well. I could care less, either way. I just feel sorry for him, going without some sort of enjoyment in life, since 2005.

True. I guess it's something I don't understand.

But you can try to learn about it.:wink:

looks nothin like him though.... (http://nathaneffi.chinagoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/buddha-1.jpg)

Heh. I love how everyone always thinks of the Chinese buddha, when they think about him. The jolly, fat man. Tee hee hee.

But you can try to learn about it.:wink:

A valid point. :)

looks nothin like him though.... (http://nathaneffi.chinagoer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/buddha-1.jpg)

Hehe... It does sits like him.

Do remember, Adu-kun, that according to Hindu beliefs, reincarnation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation_and_Hinduism) is possible.

Population decrease is possible in Hinduism, not increase. Another religion that doesn't work.

What a phail. Reincarnation is unfeasible anyway, seeing as populations increase/decrease, meaning more or less souls than what was started with.

While I certainly don't believe it, remember that you can be reincarnated as an animal or an insect too. Under the idea that souls are limited, it would mean that as we get fewer humans, we should get more animals and bacteria.

Of course, massive extinctions kinda rule those out, but only kinda... who is to say that there wasn't a massive amount of bacteria, enough to make no impact that we could see, but enough to cover for all the souls of the dead?

In short, it's not entirely unfeasible, once minuscule lifeforms enter the picture.

The other way around, as we get more humans, fewer animals. This has certainly been the case in many places (But not because of reincarnation).

At least they're not saying he's L. Ron Hubbard.

Population decrease is possible in Hinduism, not increase. Another religion that doesn't work.

It's not about that, Adu-kun. All religions have some sort of failure in them. And do have in mind that Hinduism does belives in reincarnation, but you don't always, according to the doctrine, come back as a person. You can come back as an insect.

At least this person, wether he's Buddah reincarnated or not, gives these people some sort of hope.

Of course, massive extinctions kinda rule those out, but only kinda... who is to say that there wasn't a massive amount of bacteria, enough to make no impact that we could see, but enough to cover for all the souls of the dead?


Bacteria reproduce incredibly fast, creating more living souls. Where do they come from then?

Bacteria reproduce incredibly fast, creating more living souls. Where do they come from then?

Suscribe to Hinduism, which is the subject in question.

Bacteria reproduce incredibly fast, creating more living souls. Where do they come from then?

Bacteria have no soul...frigging heretic!1!!:mad:

Besides in the spirit world time and space mean nothing. You can be reincarnated in many people simultaneously.

Bacteria have no soul...frigging heretic!1!!:mad:

Besides in the spirit world time and space mean nothing. You can be reincarnated in many people simultaneously.

Te quiero!:fluffle:

:D

Bacteria have no soul...frigging heretic!1!!:mad:

Besides in the spirit world time and space mean nothing. You can be reincarnated in many people simultaneously.

Lol source for both or fail.

Te quiero!:fluffle:

:D

:confused:

I was being sarcastic....were you?

Lol source for both or fail.

Soul is a human concept. Bacteria isn't human, therefore, bacteria have no souls.

Wiki sez:
...the soul is the immaterial spirit or essence of a person. It is usually thought to consist of one's thoughts and personality, and can be synonymous with the mind or self. In theology, the soul is often believed to live on after the person’s death, and some religions posit that God creates souls.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul

Soul is a human concept. Bacteria isn't human, therefore, bacteria have no souls.

Then if it's a human thing how can we be reincarnated as animals? Either way reincarnation fails.

:confused:

I was being sarcastic....were you?

What do you think?

Then if it's a human thing how can we be reincarnated as animals? Either way reincarnation fails.

You're a knucklehead! *thwaps Adu-kun in the head*

What do you think?

:(:(:(:(


On the other hand, animals in hinduism don't include bacterias, ONLY superior animals like dogs and cats and cows who DO have souls!

You're a knucklehead! *thwaps Adu-kun in the head*

Seriously. If it only applies to humans then it doesn't work, if it includes other animals, it doesn't work.

Seriously. If it only applies to humans then it doesn't work, if it includes other animals, it doesn't work.

I already told you. Time and space don't matter for reincarnation. You can be reincarnated in several people at once! What part of it you do NOT understand?!

I already told you. Time and space don't matter for reincarnation. You can be reincarnated in several people at once! What part of it you do NOT understand?!

Please give me a source for this.

:(:(:(:(


On the other hand, animals in hinduism don't include bacterias, ONLY superior animals like dogs and cats and cows who DO have souls!

Te quiero igual. :fluffle:

You're all so odd... I love it. :D

Please give me a source for this.

I am the source of this. Boddishatva Santiago the first!!!

you may start worshiping now.

I am the source of this. Boddishatva Santiago the first!!!

you may start worshiping now.

*Signs up*

You're all so odd... I love it. :D

Because you're sooo normal. :p

I want to go see him now.

You're all so odd... I love it. :DI object!

Because you're sooo normal. :pCorrect! :tongue:

What a phail. Reincarnation is unfeasible anyway, seeing as populations increase/decrease, meaning more or less souls than what was started with.

As much as I hate to disagree with the coolest nickname, no, pop growth doesnt make rei impossible. One explanation is:

"If reincarnation is a fact, and if we assume that the total number of human souls – both incarnated and unincarnated – evolving on the earth remains more or less constant, then the global population can only increase if the average period between two lives decreases. Conversely, for the global population to decrease, the average period between two lives must increase."

Well.. there are Hindu's who believe Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. From that view he could be reborn...

As much as I hate to disagree with the coolest nickname, no, pop growth doesnt make rei impossible. One explanation is:

"If reincarnation is a fact, and if we assume that the total number of human souls – both incarnated and unincarnated – evolving on the earth remains more or less constant, then the global population can only increase if the average period between two lives decreases. Conversely, for the global population to decrease, the average period between two lives must increase."

Another is that souls can be "spread" over different persons. "Soulmate" can then be taken literally.

If He's Buddha, why isn't he laughing?

Well.. there are Hindu's who believe Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. From that view he could be reborn...



Another is that souls can be "spread" over different persons. "Soulmate" can then be taken literally.

Then finding your soulmate is like masturbation. I didnt like that explanation.

Then finding your soulmate is like masturbation. I didnt like that explanation.

I prefer "completing your soul" ;)

I prefer "completing your soul" ;)

No, it's soul masturbation....

Not according to the Buddhist Research Institute. Buddah cannot reincarnate.

Doesn't mean that no one else can reach that level of enlightenment. I figure this is just a badly written piece by Westerners who don't know what they're talking about.

I prefer "completing your soul" ;)

And it may happen that to complete your soul you need two or three or more girls!!! :)

Doesn't mean that no one else can reach that level of enlightenment. I figure this is just a badly written piece by Westerners who don't know what they're talking about.

My understanding is that 'Buddha' is a title as well as a person. Being 'Buddha' can also indicate, as was said, achieving supreme enlightenment and all that jazz.
Yeah, my bet is that they got a poor translation, fobbed a good translation to make it more 'newsworthy' or didn't understand what they were being told.
Of course...Buddhism has almost as many sects as Christianity, so they may've just encountered the Buddhist equivalent of the Mormo-...nevermind :p

If you meet the buddha, kill the buddha.

If you meet the buddha, kill the buddha.

*bows* Precisely.

It is amusing because, according to the Buddhist Research Institute, Buddah or being Buddah is achieving the highest level of being and, because of that, there can be no reincarnation of Buddah.

That's true to reach the stage of Buddah means that you have have obtained the highest level of enlightenment.

I am sure someone will correct me but IIRC there are nine stages once someone embarks on a path of religion and to reach the stage of the Buddah is the highest of the nine.


Tathagata Buddha, the Father Buddha, said, "With our thoughts, we make the World"

Soul being restricted to human is a Christian belief. The understanding of soul is very different in Buddhist beliefs.

Also, from what I know they do not believe that earth is the only world. So fluctuation in the population here on earth doesn't prove anything.

Although, the concept of soul in itself is pretty outdated to begin with. You will think by now people can accept that the physical brain is enough to explain why we think and feel.

Soul is a human concept. Bacteria isn't human, therefore, bacteria have no souls.

Wiki sez:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul

And that is why dogs and cats go to hell because they have no soul :p

But that does raise an interesting issue, but I won't threadjack on this issue.

I will continue to talk about this Buddha. I wonder what his name in religion is?

If He's Buddha, why isn't he laughing?

You're thinking the Chinese version. The original Indian version didn't laugh much.

I never considered the population fluctuation on Earth to be a problem for reincarnation because I always assumed that there could be a waiting period until you got your next body. I mean, why couldn't a soul just hang out for 2,000 years?

You're thinking the Chinese version. The original Indian version didn't laugh much.

Hmm. Maybe that's why he moved to China; better senses of humor.