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| Mummified monk in Mongolia 'not dead', say Buddhists | Mummified monk in Mongolia 'not dead', say Buddhists |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A mummified monk found preserved in Mongolia last week has been baffling and astounding those who uncovered him. | A mummified monk found preserved in Mongolia last week has been baffling and astounding those who uncovered him. |
| Senior Buddhists say the monk, found sitting in the lotus position, is in a deep meditative trance and not dead. | |
| Forensic examinations are under way on the remains, found wrapped in cattle skins in north-central Mongolia. | Forensic examinations are under way on the remains, found wrapped in cattle skins in north-central Mongolia. |
| Scientists have yet to determine how the monk is so well-preserved, though some think Mongolia's cold weather could be the reason. | Scientists have yet to determine how the monk is so well-preserved, though some think Mongolia's cold weather could be the reason. |
| But Dr Barry Kerzin, a physician to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, told the Siberian Times that the monk was in a rare state of meditation called "tukdam". | But Dr Barry Kerzin, a physician to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, told the Siberian Times that the monk was in a rare state of meditation called "tukdam". |
| "If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha," Dr Kerzin said. | "If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha," Dr Kerzin said. |
| The monk was discovered after being stolen by a man hoping to sell him on the black market. | The monk was discovered after being stolen by a man hoping to sell him on the black market. |
| Mongolian police have arrested the culprit and the monk is now being guarded at the National Centre of Forensic Expertise. | Mongolian police have arrested the culprit and the monk is now being guarded at the National Centre of Forensic Expertise. |
| Worship for eternity | Worship for eternity |
| The identity of the monk is unclear, though there is speculation that he is the teacher of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, who was also found mummified. | The identity of the monk is unclear, though there is speculation that he is the teacher of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, who was also found mummified. |
| In 1927, Itigilov - from neighbouring Buryatia in the then Soviet Union - supposedly told his students he was going to die and that they should exhume his body in 30 years. | In 1927, Itigilov - from neighbouring Buryatia in the then Soviet Union - supposedly told his students he was going to die and that they should exhume his body in 30 years. |
| The lama sat in the lotus position, began meditating and died. | The lama sat in the lotus position, began meditating and died. |
| When he was dug up, legend has it that his body was still preserved. | When he was dug up, legend has it that his body was still preserved. |
| Fearing interference by the Soviet authorities, his followers re-buried him and he remained at rest until 2002 when he was again dug up to great fanfare and found still well preserved. | Fearing interference by the Soviet authorities, his followers re-buried him and he remained at rest until 2002 when he was again dug up to great fanfare and found still well preserved. |
| The lama was then placed in a Buddhist temple to be worshipped for eternity. | The lama was then placed in a Buddhist temple to be worshipped for eternity. |