Buddhists claim Mongolian monk mummy 'not dead, just meditating'

A 200-year-old Buddhist monk found mummified in Mongolia "is still alive" and nearing a state of Nirvana, it has been claimed.

According to an expert on Buddhism, the lotus position in which the body was found indicates the mummy is still in a heightened spiritual meditation called "tukdam".

That is very close to Nirvana, which according to Buddhist beliefs, is the highest possible state achievable when the physical body dissolves.

Profesor Ganhugiyn Purevbata of Ulaanbaatar Buddhist University in Mongolia, has advanced the incredible theory the mummified monk is still alive - despite it looking very dead after two centuries spent wrapped in an animal hide.

"Lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolises of the preaching Sutra," he said.

"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."

Buddhist monk Dr Barry Kerzin told the Mirror said the continuing meditative state of the 200-year-old monk is a source of joy to those nearby.

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

FOR centuries, the golden glow of a life-size statue of Buddha has given its followers a feeling of serenity. Now a CAT scan has revealed what lies within.

The 11th century relic known as the Liuquan mummy was recently passed through a CAT scanner by the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

It’s part of a major mummification exhibition at the venue.

Behind the serene, golden facade was found to be the mummified remains of a monk.

But that’s not the real discovery.

It’s not an altogether uncommon practice.

Instead, the scan found that the monk’s internal organs had been replaced — by rolls of paper covered in Chinese writings.

Amersfoort’s hospital employees conducted the scan in their spare time. A gastrointestinal doctor also sampled some of the preserved remains.

“He made a spectacular discovery: at the place where once had been organs, he found, among all kinds of rotten material, paper scraps that were printed with ancient Chinese characters,” a statement from the hospital reads.