A controversial Buddhist sect in Thailand is raising eyebrows by asserting that the legendary Steve Jobs has been reincarnated as a mid-level angel-like divine being.
In response to a question about Jobs’ whereabouts in the afterlife from Tony Tseung, a Buddhist engineer at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Phra Thepyanmahamuni, abbot of the Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a temple in Thailand’s Pathum Thani province posted a sermon on the sect’s website, http://www.dmc.tv.
“After Mr. Steve Jobs…passed away, he reincarnated as a divine being…His reincarnation is a Thepphabhut Phumadeva [divinity] of middle rank-half a Witthayathorn, half yak [Thai for giant] that lives in a parallel universe not very far away from where he was as a human,” the abbot said.
Witthayathorn is the Thai term for a type of angel that seeks scientific knowledge Another charcter trait of his angel is a hot temper, which Jobs himself had.
According to the abbot, who reached these conclusions after meditation, Jobs is living in a heavenly palace, the height of a six-storey building, made of silver metal and crystal glass and located not far from where he worked when he was alive. He has 20 servants as a result of his worldly virtue.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple has been embroiled in controversy over its donation campaigns and claims of miracles. It is believed to have millions of followers around the world, including many powerful Thai politicians.