Levitation in Buddhism
Levitation in Buddhism
This is a strange topic, since we talk about levitation.
First, from what I know (and thats nothing), Buddha didnt talk about levitation.
Second, nevertheless levitation could be a "side-effect" from years of practice, but even so it would be a "distraction".
Now, when I was searching for videos about Pure Land (not related with this topic of course) I found this video:
Do you think that is a real thing???
At first when looking to strange stuff (ufo videos, pictures of ghosts, etc) I will see them as fake unless there are strong evidence that they may be real (like the ufo case "Phoenix lights" with lots of testemonials, and other similar cases). But in this particular video there is a man who looks like a real buddhist master...It would be very bad if he was just lying and making tricks to pretend he his levitating. What do you think?
First, from what I know (and thats nothing), Buddha didnt talk about levitation.
Second, nevertheless levitation could be a "side-effect" from years of practice, but even so it would be a "distraction".
Now, when I was searching for videos about Pure Land (not related with this topic of course) I found this video:
Do you think that is a real thing???
At first when looking to strange stuff (ufo videos, pictures of ghosts, etc) I will see them as fake unless there are strong evidence that they may be real (like the ufo case "Phoenix lights" with lots of testemonials, and other similar cases). But in this particular video there is a man who looks like a real buddhist master...It would be very bad if he was just lying and making tricks to pretend he his levitating. What do you think?
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
I think the flags behind him are very suspect and could easily hide a mechanism. Whether he is a "real" Lama or not is up for debate.
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
C'mon - this is a magic show. The Western guy is a stage magician. The "Lama" has prayer flags INDOORS for heaven's sake - it's a stage set. It's hokey BS.Nosta wrote: Do you think that is a real thing???
What would the point of learning to levitate be anyhow???
Last edited by Knotty Veneer on Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This is not the wrong life.
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
The host is a magician who makes a living out of fooling people's minds. It's his job to make you believe this is real.
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
There is not only nothingness because there is always, and always can manifest. - Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
The entire scenery in that yt video looks far too artificial for my taste. All these prayer flags indoors and how they're hung, and all of these candles (!) on the floor (!) - sorry I don't believe any of it. I agree with Seishin that the flags behind the "monk" probably hide some mechanism.
"I struggled with some demons, They were middle class and tame..." L. Cohen
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
Exactly, I dont believe it too and it looks like suspicious, but that means that the "buddhist" is just a black sheep in the Sangha. In fact, he is not part of Sangha. Lying in such a way is a severe thing I suppose. Its mocking and making fun of Dhamma.
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
I've had a triply broken ankle after a bicycle accident a couple of months ago. I surely would have loved to levitate then.Knotty Veneer wrote:What would the point of learning to levitate be anyhow???
"I struggled with some demons, They were middle class and tame..." L. Cohen
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
To inspire faith in others that the methods produce results? Tibetan masters definitely speak about lamas flying in the old days. I think it'd provide authenticity to these claims if someone actually did it....Knotty Veneer wrote:What would the point of learning to levitate be anyhow???
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
Inspire the faithful to do what? Waste their time chasing mundane siddhis? Levitation is a fairy tale.tomamundsen wrote:To inspire faith in others that the methods produce results? Tibetan masters definitely speak about lamas flying in the old days. I think it'd provide authenticity to these claims if someone actually did it....Knotty Veneer wrote:What would the point of learning to levitate be anyhow???
Show me the miracle of true compassion for all beings any day. That's what is truly inspiring.
This is not the wrong life.
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
I strongly doubt that levitation is actually possible for human beings. Would be happy to be proved otherwise if any credible evidence is unearthed, but otherwise...
It seems to me to be a distraction from more important things.
It seems to me to be a distraction from more important things.
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
Seems he briefly mentions it in the Akankheyya-Sutta of the Majjhima-Nikaya: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/bits/bits065.htmNosta wrote:
First, from what I know (and thats nothing), Buddha didnt talk about levitation.
But it does not seem to me that he describes an actual physical body flying thru the air, walking thru walls, etc. but rather just "astral body" traveling. And if you're traveling astrally and you're not using your physical body, it would be quite easy to walk thru walls and fly, etc."If a priest, O priests, should frame a wish, as follows: 'Let me exercise the various magical powers,--let me being one become multiform, let me being multiform become one, let me become visible, become invisible, go without hindrance through walls, ramparts, or mountains, as if through air, let me rise and sink in the ground as if in the water, let me walk on the water as if on unyielding ground, let me travel cross-legged through the air like a winged bird, let me touch and feel with my hand the moon and the sun, mighty and powerful though they are, and let me go with my body even up to the Brahma-world,'--then must he be perfect in the precepts, bring his thoughts to a state of quiescence, practise diligently the trances (Jhana), attain to insight, and be a frequenter of lonely places.
One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
There is an ancient tradition not only in Buddhism, but in all the yogic teachings, that advanced practitioners of meditative trance exhibit powers or 'siddhi'. Those who exhibit them are sometimes called 'siddha'. The list given in the above passage is the Buddhist version of the idea, which is also found in various Yoga sutras and other sources. (If anyone is familiar with Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, which has sold millions of copies, it contains numerous descriptions of magical powers of yogis including an account of a renunciate whose arm was almost severed in an axe attack by a bandit, but who appeared to have completely recovered by the next day. Readers might also remember that the Transcendental Meditation movement generated a lot of news stories in the 1970's by alleging that some of its practitioners were able to levitate. This culminated with ridiculous movies of TM devotees bouncing up and down on sponge mats whilst in the lotus position. It was excruciatingly embarrasing.)
Of course all such things would be deemed impossible by science - that's the point! They are by their very nature 'miraculous' or inexplicable by science. If you spend any time in the East, you will know that it is universally believed that yogis and holy men have special powers. But the general attitude towards them in the Buddhist scriptures is not to seek them, exploit them, or become fascinated by them, as they are said to be diversions from the true spiritual aim.
Of course all such things would be deemed impossible by science - that's the point! They are by their very nature 'miraculous' or inexplicable by science. If you spend any time in the East, you will know that it is universally believed that yogis and holy men have special powers. But the general attitude towards them in the Buddhist scriptures is not to seek them, exploit them, or become fascinated by them, as they are said to be diversions from the true spiritual aim.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
i think i read somewhere that a master said hes more impressed with someone who can conquer one negative feeling than levitate something but anyway heres a african shaman doing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
That is some impressive stuff. Seen it some time ago.tyler2 wrote:i think i read somewhere that a master said hes more impressed with someone who can conquer one negative feeling than levitate something but anyway heres a african shaman doing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
yeah think this guy is practicing some dark arts though...Nighthawk wrote:That is some impressive stuff. Seen it some time ago.tyler2 wrote:i think i read somewhere that a master said hes more impressed with someone who can conquer one negative feeling than levitate something but anyway heres a african shaman doing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
Don't know.... but they do pray to worldly deities a lot.tyler2 wrote:yeah think this guy is practicing some dark arts though...Nighthawk wrote:That is some impressive stuff. Seen it some time ago.tyler2 wrote:i think i read somewhere that a master said hes more impressed with someone who can conquer one negative feeling than levitate something but anyway heres a african shaman doing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q
Re: Levitation in Buddhism
Interesting video, but maybe there is some hidden trick.
Or maybe its real, who knows!
Or maybe its real, who knows!
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
I'm almost done reading this:
http://www.amazon.com/Jataka-Tales-Budh ... B0056IEWRI
which, btw, I highly recommend, and there are many examples of people levitating and flying in there.
Of course these stories are basically fairy tales, but it is definitely a very common motif in Buddhist culture.
http://www.amazon.com/Jataka-Tales-Budh ... B0056IEWRI
which, btw, I highly recommend, and there are many examples of people levitating and flying in there.
Of course these stories are basically fairy tales, but it is definitely a very common motif in Buddhist culture.
There is not only nothingness because there is always, and always can manifest. - Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
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Re: Levitation in Buddhism
I think I would be more convinced if:Nosta wrote:Interesting video, but maybe there is some hidden trick.
Or maybe its real, who knows!
a. it was done in broad daylight
b. there wasn't a big tree behind him
c. he wasn't bobbing straight up and down like he was on a rope
Come on, really? How can you take this cheap parlour trick seriously?
This is not the wrong life.