Scientists in Mongolia are examining a 200-year mummified monk who some Buddhists believe is still alive because he is in a deep meditative trance. The preserved body of the monk, sitting in the cross-legged lotus position, was discovered last week, covered in cattle skin, in the Songino Khairkhan district of the capital, Ulan Bator. The ash-coloured mummy has reportedly been sent to the National Centre of Forensic Expertise in Ulan Bator for further study. Gankhüügiin Pürevbat, the founder of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art at Ulan Bator Buddhist University, told the Siberian Times, a news website: “The lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolises of the preaching Sutra. 'This is a sign that the lama is not dead, but is in a very deep meditation according to the ancient tradition of Buddhist lamas”.

Some experts on Buddhism said the monk could be in “tukdam”, a kind of deep meditative state that crosses over between life and death. Dr Barry Kerzin, a monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, told the website: “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.” Local media said a 45-old-man had been arrested because the monk’s body had been stolen from a cave with the intention of selling it off. It was unclear in what circumstances it was originally found.

The mummified monk is generally thought to have died in the 19th century. His identity is unknown. In a similar case, the body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, a lama in Russia’s Buryatia region, showed few signs of decay when it was exhumed in 2002. Monks say Itigilov is “not completely dead” and the temperature of his body rises during ceremonies at the monastery where it is kept near Ulan Ude. Itigilov died in 1927 while meditating, having asked fellow monks to bury him in the lotus position after he passed away. His body was packed in salt.


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A Mongolian Buddhist monk, about 200-years-old, was found in Songino Khairkhan province on January 27th. He is believed to be in 'deep meditation' and 'not dead'. According to The Siberian Times, the monk was covered with cattle skin and was found in the cross-legged lotus pose. Not only was he still in the sitting position but his open palms seem to be placed on top of each other in the 'dhyaan mudra'. Famous Buddhist monk and doctor to the Dalai Lama, Dr Barry Kerzin, believes that the monk is in tukdam, which is one of the deepest stages of meditation. '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', says Dr Kerzin. Local papers report that the monk was found in a cave in the Kobdsk region by a man, who first hid the mummified monk at his home in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. The man who is as of now only known by his first name - Enhtor, had been planning to sell off the mummy in the black market when the local police caught wind of his plan and arrested him. While the monk is currently in the custody of the National Centre of Forensic Expertise, Enhtor faces five to 12 years in prison or a fine of up to $43,000, if found guilty of smuggling heritage property under Mongolian law. Speculations are rife that the mummified monk may be the teacher of the 12th Pandito Hambo Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov (1852 - 1927), whose body was also found in a life-like meditative state. However in his case, it is said that Dashi-Dorzho who had instructed his followers to exhume his body 30 years after his death. His followers had found his body in the lotus position, barely having suffered any decay. A mummified monk found in the lotus position is "not dead" but is in "very deep meditation", academics claim. Forensic examinations are under way on the amazing remains, which are believed to be around 200 years old, having been preserved in animal skin. But experts insist the human relic 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. Ganhugiyn Purevbata, who is the founder and professor of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art at Ulaanbaatar Buddhist University, said: "Lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolizes of the preaching Sutra. "This is a sign that the Lama is not dead, but is in a very deep meditation according to the ancient tradition of Buddhist lamas." Over the last 50 years there are said to have been 40 such cases in India involving meditating Tibetan monks. Dr Barry Kerzin, a famous Buddhist monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, said: "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'. He added: "If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha. "Reaching such a high spiritual level the meditator will also help others, and all the people around will feel a deep sense of joy." Initial speculation is that the mummy could be a teacher of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov. Born in 1852, Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov was a Buryat Buddhist Lama of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, best known for the lifelike state of his body. Professor Ganhugiyn Purevbata believes the fact he was found in the lotus position proves he's still meditating in the 'tukdam' state The mummified remains of a Mongolian monk, sitting in the Lotus position, believed to be over 200 hundred years oldPreserved: Experts claim the monk is in a very rare spiritual state known as 'tukdam' A mummified monk found in the lotus position is "not dead" but is in "very deep meditation", academics claim. Forensic examinations are under way on the amazing remains, which are believed to be around 200 years old, having been preserved in animal skin. But experts insist the human relic 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. Ganhugiyn Purevbata, who is the founder and professor of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art at Ulaanbaatar Buddhist University, said: "Lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolizes of the preaching Sutra. "This is a sign that the Lama is not dead, but is in a very deep meditation according to the ancient tradition of Buddhist lamas." Over the last 50 years there are said to have been 40 such cases in India involving meditating Tibetan monks. The mummified remains of a Mongolian monk, sitting in the Lotus position, believed to be over 200 hundred years oldPosition: The mummified remains of a Mongolian monk, sitting in the Lotus position Dr Barry Kerzin, a famous Buddhist monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, said: "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'. He added: "If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha. "Reaching such a high spiritual level the meditator will also help others, and all the people around will feel a deep sense of joy." Initial speculation is that the mummy could be a teacher of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov. Born in 1852, Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov was a Buryat Buddhist Lama of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, best known for the lifelike state of his body. The mummified remains, which were covered in cattle skin, were found on January 27 in the Songinokhairkhan province of Mongolia. But police have revealed that the monk had been stolen from another part of the country and was about to be sold off. An unnamed official said that it was taken from a cave in the Kobdsk region by a man who then hid it in his own home in Ulaanbaatar. He had then been planning to sell it on the black market at a "very high price", with local media claiming he wanted to take it over the Mongolian border. Police uncovered the plot and quickly arrested a 45-year-old, named only as Enhtor. According to Article 18 of the Criminal Code of Mongolia smuggling items of cultural heritage are punishable with either a fine of up to 3million roubles ($43,000) or between five and 12 years in prison. The monk is now being guarded at the National Centre of Forensic Expertise at Ulaanbaatar.