Having perfect good fortune and wisdom, realizing the empty nature of absolute reality (true such-ness), and acquiring mastery over one’s own living and dying are the goals of Buddhism. This is the essence of liberation and liberation in this life time is the goal of Buddhism as expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. It is not just gaining peace of mind, tranquility, or mental clarity as is the goal of much Buddhist practice in the US today or attaining supernatural powers or the ability to shape-shift as is desired by others, even though all of these qualities or results may happen as a side effect of Buddhist practice.
The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation contains 128 evil or erroneous views that can keep you from becoming liberated and the second such evil view is believing that attaining supernatural powers is the goal of accomplishment in the dharma. This does not mean that supernatural powers are not important or that they are not exhibited in Buddhism. They can serve as a guide to how you are progressing on the path and they enable you to know the level of holy realization of a master and whether that master is qualified to transmit the higher dharmas. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and the Holy Virtuous Ones at the World Buddhism Association Headquarters talk about this in a recent Public Announcement, but obtaining supernatural powers is not the goal. They are only a useful tool and a by-product that enable you to know who is accomplished and who is false. They are like measuring sticks. They also enable you to know if you are progressing in your practice.
The Buddha Master also warns us in Evil View #27 that we must be careful to distinguish between the kinds of mystical and strange paranormal phenomena that are used to deceive and confuse living beings and the holy manifestations of supernatural power that can flow from the Buddha-dharma and not to be attached to either. Examples of this are given in Erroneous View #50.
Evil View No. 2: Acknowledging that attaining supernormal powers is the purpose of attaining accomplishment. Those with this view think the purpose of cultivating and learning Buddhism is realizing supernatural powers and the ability to shape-shift. They think that obtaining supernatural powers is the ultimate goal that we should pursue. They think that obtaining supernatural powers is tantamount to attaining accomplishment or liberation. You must understand that supernatural powers and accomplishment or liberation are two completely separate things. No matter how great one’s supernatural powers may be, they do not belong to the essence of accomplishment or liberation. Therefore, the goals of accomplishment are perfecting good fortune and wisdom, realizing the empty nature of true such-ness, and acquiring mastery over one’s own living and dying.
CLICK for dharma discourse given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III on “Supernatural Powers in Buddhism.”
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