Ṛddhi
In Buddhism, rddhi powers (Sanskrit; Pali iddhi) are "psychic powers",[1] one of the five[1] or six[2] supernormal powers (abhijñā) of the mundane plane attained by performing the four dhyānas.[3] The normal Sanskrit meaning of ṛddhi is "increase, growth, prosperity, success, good fortune, wealth, abundance".
List of rddhi powers
According to Bowker, there are eight ṛddhi powers:[4]
- Replicate and project bodily-images of oneself,
- Make oneself invisible,
- Pass through solid objects,
- Sink into solid ground,
- Walk on water,
- Fly,
- Touch the sun and moon with one's hand,
- Ascend to the world of the god Brahmā in the highest heavens
According to the Iddhipada-vibhanga Sutta (SN 51.20) [5]
- Having been one he becomes many; having been many he becomes one.
- He appears. He vanishes.
- He goes unimpeded through walls, ramparts, & mountains as if through space.
- He dives in & out of the earth as if it were water.
- He walks on water without sinking as if it were dry land.
- Sitting crosslegged he flies through the air like a winged bird.
- With his hand he touches & strokes even the sun & moon, so mighty & powerful.
- He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.
Saletore and Pio mention ten ṛddhi powers:[3][1]
- Addhitana iddhi, willpower
- Vikubbana iddhi, the power of transformation
- Manomaya iddhi, the power of the mind
- Eliminiation of unwholesome states by developing insight knowledge
- Samadhi-vippara iddhi, concentration to overcome the hindrances in the jhanic state
- Arya-iddhi, the ability of the noble ones
- The power of traversing the skies like birds
- Special gifts
- The power of magicians
- The power of overcoming unwholesome states
Guiley mentions eight iddhi powers:[6]
- Mastery over the body and nature
- Invincibility
- Invisibility
- Fleetness in running
- Ability to see the gods
- Control over spirits and demons
- The ability to fly
- Preservation of youth
- The ability to make certain pills
In the book Great Disciples of the Buddha by Nyanaponika Thera and Hellmuth Hecker, there are several additional powers described:
- The Divine Eye (Clairvoyance)- this power allows one to see beings in other realms as well as see the future
- The Divine Ear (Clairaudience)
- Travel by Mind-Made Body(Astral Travel)
- Travel with the Physical Body (to other realms)
- Telekinesis (Supernormal Locomotion)
- Flying
- The power of Transformation
- The ability to replicate one's body
- Penetration of others' minds (Thought Reading)
- Passing through solid objects
- Diving in and out of the Earth as if through water
- Walking on water
- Touching the sun and the moon with one's fingers
- Becoming invisible
- Recollection of past lives (some would call this a power, some would call it true knowledge)
See also
References
Sources
- Guiley, Rosemary (2006), The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy, Infobase Publishing
- Pio, Edwina (1988), Buddhist Psychology: A Modern Perspective, Abhinav Publications
- Saletore, R.N., Indian Witchcraft, Abhinav Publications
- Schober, Juliane (2002), Sacred Biography in the Buddhist Traditions of South and South-East Asia, Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
External links
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