Why Do Non-Buddhists Lose Their Supernatural Powers?

Question: When practitioners of non-Buddhist paths attain the Four Formless Concentrations and develop the supernatural power of manifestation (ṛddhi), why do they still give rise to lust upon seeing forms and consequently lose that supernatural power?

Answer: The eradication of sexual desire is achieved through the realization of the first dhyāna (meditative absorption) combined with the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi). Only when these two are united, resulting in the attainment of the third fruition (anāgāmi), can this be accomplished. Merely possessing the first dhyāna, or merely eradicating the view of self alone, cannot eliminate sexual desire. Therefore, although non-Buddhists may possess meditative concentration and supernatural powers, they still give rise to lust upon seeing forms. Subsequently, both their concentration and supernatural powers vanish entirely. This demonstrates that without the wisdom of eradicating the view of self, meditative concentration alone cannot eliminate sexual desire.

As recorded in past scriptures, there were individuals with meditative concentration and supernatural powers who, upon seeing forms and giving rise to lust, lost their powers and concentration as soon as this thought arose. They arrived flying but departed walking. This occurred because they lacked the merit of attaining the first fruition (sotāpanna) and possessed only meditative concentration. To eradicate sexual desire, one must eradicate the view of self (attaining the first fruition) and possess the first dhyāna; meditative concentration alone is insufficient. The partial realization and liberating merit of the first fruition are still profoundly beneficial.

For example, Devadatta, without having eradicated the view of self, cultivated supernatural powers and ascended to the heavens. However, because he conceived the thought to covet celestial flowers, his supernatural powers vanished, and he fell from the heavens. Had he attained the first fruition, possessed the first dhyāna, and subsequently developed supernatural powers, he would have reached the third fruition (anāgāmi). In that case, he would not have given rise to such thoughts, nor would he have lost his supernatural powers.