Miracles of Buddha
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Gautama Buddha was said to possess many superhuman powers and abilities. He attained these through deep meditation during the time when he had renounced the world and lived as ascetic. He performed so many miracles on a daily basis that they were a normal occurrence to all who knew him.
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[edit] At Birth
It is said that immediately after the birth of Gautama Buddha, he stood up, took seven steps north, and fearlessly uttered:
"Supreme am I in the world
Greatest am I in the world.
Noblest am I in the world.
This is my last birth,
Never shall I be reborn"
[edit] The Golden Bridge
During the 3rd week after Enlightenment, the devas were unsure about whether The Buddha had really attained enlightenment or not. As proof of his enlightenment, The Buddha, using only his mind, created a golden bridge in the air, and walked up and down the bridge for an entire week.
[edit] The King Cobra
One day The Buddha was meditating under a mucalinda tree. It was heavily raining and a giant King Cobra came out just to wrap himself around The Buddha to keep him warm, and placed his hood over The Buddha to shelter him from the rain.
[edit] Twin Miracle
After returning home, some people were still unsure about whether Gautama Buddha was really enlightened or not. Many people did not think he was really enlightened, they thought of him as the same Gautama that had abandoned his family to become an ascetic. He then showed them the "Twin Miracle", upon seeing this, even the King himself worshipped him.
According to the Jataka version, the twin miracle is a miracle wherein Gautama Buddha produces flames from the upper part of his body and streams of water from the lower part of his body, then alternates this. Six colors spring from every part of his body, up to the highest realms and down the lowest realms.
[edit] Brahma
One day The Buddha flew into Brahma's world. He explained to Brahma that all things are transient and temporary, after hearing The Buddha's words, Brahma decided to convert and follow the Buddha's dharma.
Brahma then requested a competition of powers between the two of them. Brahma hid himself in many places but The Buddha easily pointed out where he was located. Then The Buddha hid himself in voidness and mediation but Brahma could not spot him. Brahma's faith in The Buddha was increased.
[edit] Taming the Elephant
An enemy of The Buddha, Devadatta, sent an elephant that was known to kill others out to destroy The Buddha. The elephant ran towards The Buddha, but right before he hit him the elephant became calm and quiet around The Buddha.
[edit] Three Levels of Supernormal Power
When asked by Kevatta about Supernormal powers, Gautama Buddha replied that there were three levels of supernormal power, but that only the miracle of instruction was useful because it aided others in ridding all suffering.
[edit] 1st Level
This is the level where you able to perform many Iddhis.
"In the miracle of Iddhi, Iddhipatihariya (Superhuman power) the Bhikkhu experiences various kinds of power. From one form he becomes many, and from many he becomes one again; he becomes visible or invisible, passes through wall and rocks without touching them, as if they were space. He dives into and emerges from the earth as if it were water, and walks on water without disturbing the surface as if it were land; sitting crossed-legged, he moves in the sky like a bird. The Moon and the Sun in all their majesty, he touches and strokes with his hand, continuing with his body up to the realm of Brahma. When trusting person sees the Bhikkhu perform these acts, he relates it to some sceptic saying "The power and majesty of the Samana are stupendous. I saw him transforming himself from one form into many and so on." Then the sceptic says "That is the 'Gandhara charm' making the Bhikkhu perform those acts. What do you think, Kevaddha, would not the sceptic say so to the trusting one?" Kevaddha replied "He would, Sir." Thereupon, the Buddha warned "Well, seeing this advantage of the iddhi miracles, I am vexed with them; I deplore them and am disgusted with them"
[edit] 2nd Level
This is the level where you are able to know the minds of others.
"What is the miracle of discerning the state of another person's mind? (Adesana patihariya). Here the Bhikkhu points out the state of consciousness, mental concomitants, initial and sustained application of the mind of another person saying "This is your mind, your mind in this way, thus is your state of consciousness." When a trusting person sees that Bhikkhu performing the act, he relates it to some sceptical person saying "The mystic power and majesty of Samana are stupendous. I saw the Bhikkhu reading the mind of another person etc." Then the sceptic says "That is the 'Manika charm' making the Bhikkhu do that." Therefore, seeing the disadvantage of the miracles of discerning the minds of others, I am vexed with them, I deplore them and I am disgusted with them."
[edit] 3rd Level
This is the "miracle of instruction", where in you are able guide people to the path of enlightenment, the freedom of all suffering through instruction.
"What is the Miracle of Instruction? (Anusasani patihariya). Here Kevaddha, the Bhikkhu advises "Let the initial application of your mind to an object be in this way and not in that; pay attention in this way and not in that; renounce this; having attained to that, remain in it." This is called the Miracle of Instruction."
