**Hello,** I understand that the six realms can be interpreted as states of the mind. But at the same time I believe in Yidam yoga, not only as symbolic but as a real emanation too - I have devotion. If the six realms are only symbolic then Buddhas / Siddhas cannot surpass the three times and cannot preform any miracles also; as I think they are both superstitions, so may be rebirth. At the same time nirvana may not be reachable by mantras as only a 8th level Bodhisattva can compose a mantra; and a lower level Bodhisattva in the 1st step is able see 100 lives before and after. I do believe in miracles, karma, nirvana, rebirth and "spirits" because of my experiences in life. I might be wrong, but shouldn't this make sense ? I mean Buddhism is very logical... What is considered a superstition from a Buddhist point of view ? **Thank you !**

> Following his enlightenment, the Buddha was said to have possessed and > discussed several supranormal powers attainable through meditation. > Such abilities include walking on water, walking through walls, > becoming invisible, levitation, and making copies of himself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Gautama_Buddha Just a doubt how could the abilities above is possible? Any details or proof on it especially walking through walls or becoming invisible. Sound like a magic?

Is there a sutra which provides more info on the subject above? As per wikipedia, some monks should have such abilities as those found in Wikipedia page "Miracles of Gautama Buddha ": > Superparanormal powers the historic Buddha was said to have possessed > and exercised include the six higher knowledges (*abhiññā*): psychic > abilities (*iddhi-vidhā)*, clairaudience (*dibba-sota*), telepathy > (*ceto-pariya*), recollection of one's own past lives > (*pubbe-nivāsanussati*), seeing the past lives and rebirths of others > (*dibba-cakkhu*), and the extinction of mental intoxicants > (*āsavakkhaya*). Miracles found in Mahayana sutras generally play a more > direct role in illustrating certain doctrines than miracles found in > non-Mahayana Buddhist texts.

Dogen, Shobogenzo #26 > Guishan is the thirty-seventh ancestor, a direct descendant of > Shakyamuni Buddha. He was a dharma heir of Bhaizhang, Zen Master > Dazhi, Today buddha ancestors in the ten directions, even those who do > not call themselves descendants of Guishan, are all in fact his remote > descendant. > > One day, while Guishan was lying down, Yangshan Huiji came to see him. > Guishan turned to face the wall. > > Yangshan said, “I am your student. Please don’t be formal.” > > Guishan started to get up. > > Yangshan rose to leave. > > Guishan said, “Huiji.” > > Yangshan returned. > > Guishan said, “Let me tell you about my dream.” > > Yangshan leaned forward to listen. > > Guishan said simply, “Would you interpret my dream for me? I want to > see how you do it.” > > In response Yangshan brought a basin of water and a towel. Guishan > washed his face and sat up. > > Then Xiangyan came in. > > Guishan said, “Huiji and I have been sharing miracles. This is no > small matter.” > > Xiangyan said, “I was next door I heard you.” > > Guishan said to him, “Why don’t you try now?” > > Xiangyan made a bowl of tea and brought it to him. > > Guishan praised them, saying, “You two students surpass even > Shariputra and Maudgalyayana with your marvelous activity!” I don't think Dogen believed in miracles. Am I right?

Do all Buddhists believe that miracles happen in the real world? Are the miracles described in scripture such as the Buddha being able to walk after birth literal or symbolic?

I live in Sri Lanka and many good Buddhist ceremonies take place all year long. And more often than not in almost all of these major functions something extraordinary happens that leave the whole country speechless. These events take place not once or twice but annually as these big functions happen every year. None of these events happen in broad daylight and no one has been able to explain how they occur and that includes all the well renowned Professors and other science related organizations and universities. These events have broken the once accepted idea that they are some kind of weather or other anomaly as they have happened annually in perfectly equal circumstances that includes a major Buddhist event,a whopping number of pilgrims,a very pleasant environment & etc.The Somawathi Stupa is a fine example.... The best part is none of these events took place when this place is vacant, all of this happened when it was full of Buddhists and everyone there (at least few thousand people every time) witness the events. --- Here is one event on video in broad daylight... **Rays of lights on Somawathi Stupa** Images of the event taken in few different days and angles... --- A 3D Hologram like image of Lord Buddha appeared in front of this stupa recently... --- According to this description on the banner this is supposedly a image of a group of Devas visiting the Stupa... --- As there has been no proper explanation to these events what so ever people have came to the conclusion that this is the power of Lord Buddha, There is another idea. Some think it's the Devas trying to encourage the people to do good more. --- **Is there any explanation that you can find?** **Has such events happened in recent history in any other Buddhist countries,monasteries or events?**

I know one teacher who is an ok teacher, as far as he gets people to relax and make a good effort, but he really poo poo's any mention of Miracles in reference to the Buddha. I think that Full and complete awakening leads to mastery of the material world. Please give me your real belief in Miracles or not. Also. This same teacher explains some of the Miraculous activities of Arhants are just an activity of a different body, i.e. astral body, or a subtle body , and not really miracles.

Are Therevada's cosmology and the Mahanaya's sutras physically, rather than only psychologically, plasusible? I read about the former in the abhidharmakosabhasyam, about all the hells and heavens that await us. And the Mahayana sutras often include reference to e.g. celestial bodhisattvas. I'm skeptical that these things have physical, rather than psychological, truth, empirical (we've this heaven) or otherwise (we have evidence that these heavens exist). As with with classical georgraphy, and history. My specific question is: - do we have good reason to believe that physics will end up allowing a Buddhist timeline of events?

I was struck, when reading on the history of Buddhism in China, by the stories of brave monks escaping certain death, often many times in one life. I was curious is this was something Indian Buddhists also wrote about, or if it was something peculiar to China. Do these stories also appear in earlier reports, in the Buddha's life, etc.?