Buddha boy
The week's news at a glance.
Bara, Nepal
Thousands of pilgrims are trekking through the jungles of Nepal to see a teenage boy hailed as a new Buddha. Locals say that Ram Bomjon, 15, has been meditating for six months straight, and has not had anything to eat or drink the entire time. “I have faith that God will feed him,” his mother said. “Early in the morning he looks sunken, as if there’s no blood in him, but as the sun rises he seems to get brighter and brighter.” Last week, he finally spoke, asking the crowd not to call him a Buddha, saying he is only a “rinpoche,” a lesser divinity. Still, many observers have recalled a similar incident in the life of the historical Buddha, who was born about 2,500 years ago only 160 miles away.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibe
The Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort