Buddhism teaches that after a practitioner achieves a certain
degree of realization, spiritual power develops. Furthermore, it is
acknowledged as well that supernatural powers are not attainable
exclusively JUST by Buddhists and Buddhists only, but possible for
anyone who has deep religious and spiritual cultivation to develop
some kind of "supernormal powers."
Siddhi is typically defined as "a magical or spiritual power
for the control of self, others and the forces of nature." The
siddhis described by occultists and yogis are in actuality supernormal
perceptual states available to all human beings. These are absolutely
natural abilities that can be explained in highly rational terms. There
is nothing mysterious or magical about the siddhis. More formally
Siddhi can be defined as follows:
SIDDHI (Sanskrit -- Accomplished One). A term for
different capabilities: Through recognizing emptiness, clarity and
openness of the mind, different qualities arise naturally, since
they are part of mind. The Buddha, whose personal name Siddharta
is based in the root-word and means "he whose aim is
accomplished," distinguishes between two types:
- Normal Siddhis: all those forces of the conditioned
world that transform elements.
- Extraordinary Siddhis: the ability to open beings up
for the liberating and enlightening truths; to lead to
Realization.
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NINE MAIN SIDDHIS
Just like any other natural human ability, different people display
differing abilities towards learning and/or spontaneously displaying
siddhis. Some people are born with siddhis that they exercise without
being aware that their particular psychic gift is unusual. In such
cases, it may come as a traumatic event to the individual when they
learn that their ability is not common and that they are considered a
"misfit" by other people not possessing the psychic ability.
In other cases, one can practice yoga and actively develop siddhis.
According to occult theory, this is the rational and desirable way to
go about achieving siddhis.
Another means to trigger siddhis, albeit in an unexpected and
uncontrolled manner, is by the use of certain drugs. For example,
certain hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, mescaline, peyote and
others, UNLESS used under the auspices of something similar to
a Velada Ceremony (A Shamanic Mazatec Mushroom Ceremony),
typically stimulate siddhis in an uncontrolled fashion. This is a very
dangerous way to evoke siddhis and can lead to great psychological
trauma.
As well, a variety of other stimuli may cause siddhis
spontaneously, such as a fall or a blow to the head.
No matter in what fashion the siddhis are produced, the fact is, THEY
EXIST. The existence of the siddhis is doubted by most people
because they have no experience with them. However, the act of
dreaming is considered a siddhi. Thus, any one who has dreamed has
utilized a siddhi.
Our so-called normal psychological attributes bleed
imperceptibly into the perceptual realms (the Planes of Nature) opened
up by the awakening of the siddhis, thus it is not clear cut at all as
to where "normal" psychological behaviors end, and siddhis
begin.
And to further complicate the situation, though academic
psychologists see many cases of people experiencing siddhis, the
academic psychology community, on the whole, is completely unaware of
the nature and existence of the siddhis. Often this leads to the
psychologist or psychiatrist treating individuals who are experiencing
siddhis in an inappropriate and damaging fashion. Often, cases of
so-called insanity or psychosis are cases of people experiencing
siddhis who are scared and confused, in which case the individual may
be given completely inappropriate treatment that only worsens the
individual's condition. Of course there are valid forms of psychosis
in which confinement or institutionalization are required. Again,
however, the borderline between such cases and cases of people
experiencing siddhis is ambiguous and ill defined presently.
In the future, Western academic science will be forced to accept
the realities of the siddhis as their nature becomes better
understood.
In conclusion, it must be strongly and thoroughly stressed that the
siddhis are absolutely natural abilities latent in all humans. If one
takes the time to learn and practice the correct yoga exercises, then
it is inevitable that one will directly experience the awakening of
their own siddhis. Again, there is nothing magical or mysterious going
on here, and all claims put forth regarding the siddhis stand open to
any type of test of their validity that anyone wishes to pose.
However, those skeptical of the siddhis and who wish to challenge the
claim to the existence of the siddhis must be prepared to recognize
that the nature of the siddhis will not fit easily into biased
misconceptions. One who experiences siddhis operates in a greater,
more expanded psychological reality than one who does not and
therefore the skeptic must be prepared to expand his or her
understanding in an attempt to either prove or disprove the existence
of the siddhis.
However, with all of the above taken
into consideration, the following, by Sri Swami Sivananda
from his paper Satsanga and Svadhyaya, is being offered
as a word of advice:
"Another great blunder people generally commit is that they
judge the Enlightenment of Sadhus by the Siddhis they display. In
the world generally, the common inclination is to judge the merits
and ability of a Sadhu through his Siddhis. It is a blunder indeed.
They should not judge the Enlightenment of a Sadhu in this way.
Siddhis are by-products of concentration. Siddhis have nothing to do
with Self-realization. A Sadhu may manifest Siddhis due to strong
passions and intense desires, and if that be the case, he is
undoubtedly a big householder only. You must believe me when I tell
you that Siddhis are a great hindrance to spiritual progress, and so
long as one is within the realm of Siddhis and does not try to rise
above it and march onwards, there is not the least hope of
God-realization for him. But, this does not mean that a person
manifesting Siddhis is not a realized soul. There are several
instances of such persons who have exhibited several Siddhis purely
for the elevation and uplift of the world, but never for selfish
motives.
"During the days of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a
certain Sadhu approached him and showed two Siddhis: one was that he
could roam about without being seen by anybody. The other was that
light emanated from portions of his body when he walked.
This man, after some time, began misusing his power,
entering the apartment of a lady unseen, fell in love with her and
LOST his two powers.
In the world generally, the common run of people and even
educated persons judge Sadhus by their Siddhis only. It is a serious
blunder and hence I seriously warn you."
"Moreover, it is to trivialize
the spirit world, to demean and negate its authenticity, to think
that if you concentrate on manifesting a White Light Shield, that
what you get will be beneficent. This is so naive as to be sheer
folly. You must have enough power to call upon enough White
Light to protect you." (source)
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