Ram Bahadur Bomjon

Ram Bahadur Bomjon (Sanskrit: राम बहादुर बम्जन) born c. 9 April 1990, sometimes spelled Bomjan, Banjan, or Bamjan), previously known as Palden Dorje (his monastic name) is a controversial ascetic from Ratanapuri, Bara district, Nepal who gained widespread attention and media popularity because of perceived semblances to Gautama Buddha, leading to allegations that he is a reincarnation of Gautama Buddha. Bomjon has also been accused of violent attacks, sexual assault and false imprisonment by victims and witnesses. He is currently under investigation for rape, and separately for the disappearance of four of his ashram members.

Bomjon's followers believe he is an incarnation of the historical Buddha, Gautama.^[1]Bomjon has rejected any such comparisons, saying "Tell the people not to call me a Buddha. I don't have the Buddha's energy currently. I am at the level of a rinpoche."^[2]Mahiswor Raj Bajracharya, the president of the Nepal Buddhist Council, has stated likewise: "We do not believe he is Buddha. He does not have Buddha's qualities".^[3]

He went missing on March 11, 2006.^[4] On March 19, 2006 Bed Bahadur Lama of the Om Namo Buddha Tapaswi Sewa Samiti (ONBTSS) told reporters that they had seen him in Bara District and that they had spoken to him for half-an-hour, during which Bomjon reportedly assured of returning in six years.^[5]

He was again seen in August 2007, preaching to crowds in Nepal’s Hallori jungle, around 100 miles south of Kathmandu.^[6]