200-year-old Mongolian mummy 'not dead', says Buddhist academic

ULAN BATOR - A mummified monk sitting in a lotus position has been found in Mongolia, but some believe he is in a rare meditative state and is not dead, reported various media outlets.

The well-preserved body was found in Mongolia last Tuesday. It was suspected to be bound for sale in the black market, reported The Siberian Times.

According to The Mirror, some experts insist the monks is actually in a rare and very special spiritual state known as 'tukdam' and is just one stage away from becoming a real-life Buddha.

Famous Buddhist monk Dr Barry Kerzin told The Mirror "I had the privilege to take care of some meditators who were in a tukdam state.

"If the person is able to remain in this state for more than three weeks - which rarely happens - his body gradually shrinks, and in the end all that remains from the person is his hair, nails, and clothes.

"Usually in this case, people who live next to the monk see a rainbow that glows in the sky for several days. This means that he has found a 'rainbow body'.

"This is the highest state close to the state of Buddha'.

"If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha," he added.

There are 40 such cases of tukdam found in India over the last 50 years involving Tibetan monks, reported The Straits Times.

candicec@sph.com.sg