07.07.2023 Do You Believe in Magic? In ancient Buddhist texts, you’ll find stories of magic and miracles. There are tales of demons, sorcerers, and unseen beings alongside reports of Buddhist mystics with the power to levitate and fly. In Milarepa’s case, he’s said to have held the ability to walk straight through the solidity of a mountain. It’s written that every place the baby Buddha put his foot, a lotus flower bloomed, and some of his historical disciples are said to have had magical powers and clairvoyance.  How do we grapple with these supernatural tales in our own — often mundane — practice? Should I expect meditation to give me magical powers? The obvious answer is no, but it also depends on how you define magic. There’s plenty of powers to be gained and nurtured in dharma practice, as the Summer 2023 issue of Buddhadharma explores. Time and time again, the teachings and practices of Buddhism have offered me their transformative gifts. The well-wishing phrases recited in metta meditation serve as an incantation, transporting my mind and heart to a place of love and connection. In basic breath meditation, I can transform negative emotions through the simple practice of sitting and breathing, which can feel supernatural in its own right. Setting a good intention acts as its own sort of magic spell, shifting my perspective on the day that lies ahead. The teachings and conversations in this Weekend Reader explore the magic of Buddhism — both the supernatural and (seemingly) ordinary. In today’s world, the ability to be present is a superpower — as are kindness, compassion, and equanimity.  And yet, there will inevitably be moments where we find ourselves unable to access these states of being, feeling stripped of the powers we once felt that we’d gained. But as a wise friend once told me in a moment of anxious future-tripping, as I wondered aloud if things would work out: “Sometimes you just have to believe in magic.”  —Lilly Greenblatt, Digital Editor, Lion’s Roar Forum: Do You Believe in Miracles?   Judy Lief, Ari Goldfield, and Glenn Wallis debate the supernatural in Buddhism.   Ari Goldfield: The main point is to work with the mind. The teachings talk about the common siddhis, or powers, and the extraordinary siddhis. The common siddhis are what we would call supernatural powers — flying, walking through walls, and so forth. The extraordinary siddhi is bodhichitta, to realize the true nature of mind and to practice love and compassion. That’s the real power we are looking for when we enter the dharma. The real miracle is when you can work with negative emotions by practicing on the path, and discover compassion and wisdom, the true nature of mind. Beyond that, it’s good not to pre-judge, because if you’re open to things and do not reject the possibility of other people having these experiences, one’s own experience becomes broader, and one becomes able to relate and connect with others with less judgment. LION’S ROAR PROMOTION Fun & Games: Psychic Powers in the Wilderness   Buddhist monk and scholar Thanissaro Bhikkhu reflects on encounters with his dharma teacher, who “could obviously read my mind and anticipate future events.” From the Summer 2023 “Power & the Practitioner” issue of Buddhadharma. So if you have psychic powers, that’s how you practice them: not publicly, and not for sake of fame or power. You practice them indirectly, with a sense of humor, keeping in mind the virtues of the Buddha: wisdom, compassion, and purity—wisdom in not letting the powers aggravate your defilements, compassion in using them for your own genuine good and that of others, and purity in keeping them under wraps and not using them for your own selfish ends. That’s how you keep yourself, and the people around you, safe. If you don’t gain psychic powers in the practice, don’t dismiss them, but at the same time, don’t be overly impressed by those who do have them. Instead, focus on fostering within yourself the two qualities that the Buddha looked for in a student: your honesty and your powers of observation. Four Steps to Magical Powers Before you fully embark on the path of the bodhisattvas and buddhas, says Chan master Sheng Yen, you must first practice the four steps to magical powers. What are these steps and what are the magical powers you need? In both the early Buddhist and Mahayana traditions, there are records of supernatural powers being used. But what did the Buddha do when he was hungry? Did he conjure up a feast or have one catered by a deity? No, he walked around with his alms bowl begging for food. After he attained buddhahood, he walked from village to village spreading the dharma. He didn’t fly through the air. He didn’t magically erect monasteries but instead relied on laypeople to build them and to sew robes for the sangha. Before entering parinirvana, he received an offering of food that was tainted. You would think that he would have used his supernatural powers to know the food was bad, but instead he ate it and became very sick. So even though the Buddha possessed supernatural powers, he did not use them in self-centered ways. LION’S ROAR PROMOTION Subscribe to Buddhadharma with the Patron plan!