[Cigarsstoreonline]

Hello,


In the Theravada perspective, is it a belief/superstition or the truth that if you cultivate your meditation practice to a certain level, you will have special abilities like mind reading? I heard this from a Mahayana monk yesterday. He even said you could "walk through walls" and see into the past and future (past lives).

I'm not too sure if it was metaphorical or not. Any ideas?

Not that it should matter, but it kind of does, because this sort of thing is very distracting.


Thanks

[DenisLevvin]

from post #2

In your perspective then. It's only the icing that's different, the cake inside should be the same.

So, in your experience, is it true?

[nerkvcbtre]

I have not heard these things claimed in this way

You are unlikely to hear such things as it's considered a very serious offense,the results are that one is no longer considered a monk.

The Buddhist Monastic Code I
Chapter 4

Pārājika (the most serious type of offense)

(4) falsely claiming to have attained supernatural powers.

A monk who commits a pārājika offense is compared to 'a person whose head is cut off, or a withered leaf dropped from the tree, or a stone slab split in two, or a Palm tree cut from the top'. Such a one has been 'defeated' (the traditional etymology of pārājika) and cannot be readmitted to the Order.

[bgsavings]

Hi Jack,

The purpose of Buddhist meditation in any tradition is not to achieve supernormal powers nor is it considered acceptable to claim them, even if one has any, irrespective of whether one is a monk or layperson.

One of the purposes of meditation is to let go of attachments and discursive mental chatter and be more peaceful, mindful and aware in the present moment.

Kind regards,


Aloka

[esconsise]

a belief/superstition or the truth

Jack,I don't want to sound 'heavy' about this and l understand anybodies natural curiosity about these matters. It does not sound as though you are dis-beliving so this is more in the way of a word of caution.
We should be a little more thoughtful about what we consider belief/superstition.
Until a person has experienced the truth of a matter for themselves it would be more skilfully to suspend any judgment.

[Timoxari]

Buddha said :

"Again, Udayi, I have declared to my disciples the method for developing the fivefold powers.

The bhikkhu develops the power of faith leading to appeasement and emancipiation.

The bhikkhu develops the power of effort leading to appeasement and emancipiation.

The bhikkhu develops the power of mindfulness leading to appeasement and emancipiation.

The bhikkhu develops the power of concentration leading to appeasement and emancipiation.

The bhikkhu develops the power of wisdom leading to appeasement and emancipiation.
Thus too my disciples abide aiming perfect knowledge for emancipation.


Again, Udaayi, I have declared to my disciples the method for developing the seven enlightnment factors.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor mindfulness settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor investigation into the Teaching settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor effort settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor, joy settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor, delight settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor, concentration, settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

The bhikkhu develops the enlightenment factor, equanimity settled in seclusion, for detachment and cessation ending in relinquishment.

Thus too my disciples abide aiming perfect knowledge for emancipation." MN 77

Continued here :URL

[flowersnewacq]

This meditation video series is a good one. Here's the introduction:

[casinoboneerer]

The purpose of Buddhist meditation in any tradition is not to achieve supernormal powers

As Aloka-D said. They would be at best a distraction and change nothing of themselves. If a contemplative got 'hooked' on them he would be missing the point.

[Amoniustauns]

They would be at best a distraction and change nothing of themselves. If a contemplative got 'hooked' on them he would be missing the point

We should be quite clear about "the point". If as l hope the point is Liberation then how can we know the extent to which we limit ourselves,(and therefore hinder our search) without approaching these matters...carefully.
What are we frightened of?

If all is mind made,(1st verse in the Dhammapada) and we understand Anatta,(non-self),then the only thing that holds us back is our own fear.
Surely it is obvious that for as long as we cling to our old ways we will not become Enlightened.

Are we going to live forever,that we don't have to start NOW.

[ptolerezort]

I will disregard it. I also agree that this matter cannot be resolved, the only way it can be is to experience this sort of meditation and see what happens myself.

Neither will my reason for meditation be to cultivate these things, I understand already that there's enough good that meditation does for me in my present situation and that came about slowly understanding the truth behind the Buddhas teaching.

Still, the monk in my meditation society saying that baffles me a little. Maybe I will kindly ask him what it is all about.

BTW, this monk isn't the first person I've heard this from, though he is the first monk I've heard this from. First time I heard it didn't bother me, but hearing it from a monk, it's hard to shake it off.

[giftbestcom]

Still, the monk in my meditation society saying that baffles me a little. Maybe I will kindly ask him what it is all about.

BTW, this monk isn't the first person I've heard this from, though he is the first monk I've heard this from. First time I heard it didn't bother me, but hearing it from a monk, it's hard to shake it off.

Possibly it might also be wise to investigate offline with another tradition and other centres and meditation teachers. It's useful to look carefully at different approaches, teachings and traditions before choosing one in particular.

[HoniSoniproca]

I have an experience with the people who can read another mind.
One is my teacher, he teached me to know what is too focus and what is loss focus by checking or calling me and told my mind status.
Mind is the source of energy. If we can detect that energy, we can know other mind.
But if we need to progress in Buddist practice. To know other mind is not good for practicer. Because during know other mind, we don't know our mind.
One of our group, Told me at first he could know other mind, it was a bad period of his live. He could not classify which one his feeling, which one the other. Sometime he sad without any reason.
My teacher don't like if his pupils that know other mind will teach the other how to know other mind.
We have the tons of case study in mp3 recording during my teacher teach his pupils with his mind knowing. (But in Thai language).

http://pramote.naddalim.com/

For now, many pupils just study from his mp3 and can be awaken without direct learning from him. Because some cases are the same his/her situation.

You tube URL

[abossakon]

Such things as mind reading/clairvoyance-y, etc occur but are merely "by-products", and as others have stated above, such things should be hardly given any attention (or none at all) in regards to the task at hand ("Liberation").

In fact, I think it's said to be quite dangerous if such things are given much attention...