The Power of Supernatural Powers Is Beyond Comparison with Worldly Pleasures

In the Sūtra of Perfect Enlightenment, the Buddha teaches us that in cultivation, the accomplishment of all meditative concentrations (samādhi) relies entirely on the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā, on the practice of dual operation of cessation and contemplation. There is no dry wisdom without meditative concentration, and no wrong concentration without wisdom. Only what is accomplished in this way is the samādhi of the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā, and by the power of this samādhi one can endlessly manifest all dharmas in the world. Buddhas have the samādhi power of a Buddha, and bodhisattvas have the various samādhi powers corresponding to bodhisattvas; all Buddhas and bodhisattvas rely on these various samādhi powers to manifest and accomplish all dharmas. For example, manifesting various Buddha-lands relies on samādhi power; accomplishing great thousand-worlds relies on samādhi power; displaying various supernatural powers and spiritual abilities relies on samādhi power—all the supernatural powers of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas rely on samādhi power.

Samādhi power cannot be separated from meditative concentration, nor from wisdom. For instance, an eighth-ground bodhisattva, through the display of supernatural power, can draw the waters of the four great oceans into his belly. The waters of the four great oceans are vast and boundless; our Earth, resting upon those waters, is like a tiny ball. Fish, shrimp, dragons, and crabs are all drawn into the bodhisattva's belly without any awareness. Another example: an eighth-ground bodhisattva holds sentient beings in one hand and lifts the Earth in the other, and the beings on Earth do not know they have left the Earth, thinking they are still on it; or he may send sentient beings to a distant celestial body, and the beings remain unaware. Bodhisattvas rely precisely on such profound and marvelous samādhi power, on wisdom and meditative concentration, to liberate and benefit sentient beings.

We pursue worldly pleasures—eating, drinking, entertainment, wealth, sex, fame, food, sleep, and rest. Pursuing these for a lifetime, whether or not we obtain them, is utterly meaningless; it is fundamentally boring beyond words. Look at how free and unimpeded the Buddhas and bodhisattvas are in their supernatural powers: they manifest as much food and drink as they wish—food of a hundred flavors, a thousand flavors, a hundred million flavors—and all that they manifest they offer to hungry sentient beings, while they themselves have no need of food or drink. Yet we spend all our minds and energy day after day on eating, drinking, and bodily functions—how utterly meaningless! Such a life is no different from that of ants, yet we are immersed in it, unable to extricate ourselves. How lacking in wisdom! If we devoted this time and energy instead to cultivating the Path and accomplished the various samādhis, how free and liberated we would be!

If you were to become an eighth-ground bodhisattva, your talent and attainment in almost any field would be nearly first in the world. Your treasures would be indescribably abundant—precisely because you no longer need treasures, they would grow ever more numerous, becoming limitless, all used to benefit and liberate sentient beings. By comparison, it is plainly evident how narrow our vision is: we can only see this little bit before our eyes, and anything farther away, anything vaster, we simply cannot perceive. Our vision must be long-term, ever longer-term; we must not fix our sights on a single lifetime, half a lifetime, or merely the next few years, unable to consider or provide for anything farther beyond.

This is a matter of merit. It is a severe lack of merit that causes such short-sightedness, with vision as narrow as a mung bean. The higher you stand, the farther you see; the farther you see, the greater your mind's capacity becomes; the faster and more directly you walk the path. With a clear goal, you will not be entangled by the scenery before your eyes. If you linger over the scenery at hand, the road ahead cannot be traveled. When journeying far, do not cling endlessly to the scenery along the roadside; bravely stride forward with great steps. If you crave enjoyment and linger admiring the scenery, the road cannot be passed. Because you indulge in and crave the scenery, the journey is delayed, and then the enjoyments you should have had in future human lives will not be there—you will not get to enjoy them; and if you ascend to heaven first and enjoy the celestial pleasures, then you will not get to enjoy those of other Buddha-lands. Therefore, no matter how wonderful the scenery before you may be, do not let it affect your steps; do not stop. Press on toward that highest goal with single-minded determination, and obstacles will be removed.