Sender:       Forum on Indian and Buddhist Studies 
From:         Pua_Yeow_Cheong
Subject:      Re: mystical experience/powers

Mr Kamenetz asked,"what is the Buddhist attitude towards such experiences?"
 
I am not a Buddhist scholar so I can't quote you which books/writers talks
about this. However, my teachers reach out to quite a fair amount of people in
Asia, Europe and America so their words can be quite representative of the
views of the Buddhists in the real world outside the classroom.
 
Nowadays, many people are very fascinated by mystical powers and experiences.
My teachers tell me that the Buddha specifically advice his disciples not to
use such powers to convert others. The best way to teach others about Buddhism
is still through teaching Dharma and good conduct and be a living example to
others.Why? Because both the buddhas and "devils" has the ability to display
such mystical powers, but only the buddhas and bodhisattvas has the ability to
teach the proper dharma.
 
There are many instances here which prove how true the above statement is.
There are many self proclaimed "living buddhas" and "bodhisattvas come again"
who has the ability to cure incurable diseases, who can hyponotise people, who
can float in the air etc. And many people believe their claims because of these
abilities. But when you ask them about the Dharma, all that comes out of their
mouths are rubbish. Some demand total obedience from those who want to learn
from them, while others are out to get "worship money". And they all get very
angry at any slightest doubt of their abilities or claims. Some kind of
bodhisattvas they are.
 
But unfortunately, many people nowadays meditate for the purpose of gaining
such powers, or seek to have some out-of-the-world, out-of-the-body
experiences. They have forgotten what is the original purpose of meditation.
(Have you?) But such purpose of meditation is a sure way "to invite the "devil"
into your life and lead you into the "fire". Because though
such experiences and powers are by-products of meditation, if you get
distracted by them, you are further away from enlightenment than if you don't
meditate at all.
 
My teachers' advice if you have these experiences? Ignore them. Treat them as
if they don't exist at all. For if you start to analyse it, or love or fear it,
it is the beginning of an attachment to it.
 
So when can we trust our experiences? It should be as clear as the pain you
feel when someone stabs you in the back. You certainly don't need a vision to
tell you that is painful. You certainly don't need to rely on books, nor logic,
nor reasoning, nor tradition, nor wise teachers etc to tell you that. Because
you KNOW, you don't need to believe nor trust nor deduce nor argue nor prove
that experience.
 
Yeow Cheong