A mummified monk found in lotus position and covered in cattle skin, was claimed “not dead” but in a very deep meditation by a Buddhist academic. The remains, which is believed to be around 200 years old was found on January 27 in the Songinokhairkhan province of Mongolia.

Experts insist that the mummy is in a rare and very special spiritual state known as ‘tukdam’ and just one stage away from becoming a real-life Buddha.

Investigators believe the remains belong to a man who may have been a Lama, or a teacher of Tibetan Buddhism as forensic examinations are being carried out.

It has been also suggested the mummified monk was a teacher of the Buryat Buddhist “Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov”, who was born in 1852 and was reported to have died in 1927 while meditating.

Ganhugiyn Purevbata, 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.”

Famous Buddhist monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama Dr. Barry Kerzin 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.

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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 also 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.”

Over the last 50 years there have been 40 cases of mummified monks in such state in India including meditating Tibetan monks.

However, the police revealed that the monk had been stolen from another part of the country and was about to be sold off. And they also said it was taken from a cave in the Kobdsk region by a man who then hid it in his own home in Ulaanbaatar by an unnamed official.

The police also said that he is 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 but he was busted and they arrested the 45-year-old, who is only known as Enhtor.