Supernatural powers without enlightenment will vanish

When non-Buddhists cultivate to the four formless absorptions and attain the supernormal power of psychic transformation, why do they still give rise to desire upon seeing forms and lose their psychic powers? The elimination of lustful desire requires the meditative concentration of the first dhyāna combined with the realization of eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi); only when the two are combined can one become a non-returner (Anāgāmin) and be able to eliminate the desire for sense-pleasure. Having only the first dhyāna and the four dhyānas and eight absorptions, or merely eliminating self-view, cannot eliminate lustful desire. Therefore, even though non-Buddhists possess meditative concentration and supernormal powers, they still give rise to desire upon seeing forms, and afterward their meditative concentration and supernormal powers all vanish. It is evident that without the wisdom of eliminating self-view, meditative concentration alone cannot eliminate lustful desire.

It was previously recorded in the sūtras that a person with meditative concentration and supernormal powers, because of giving rise to desire upon seeing forms—as soon as the thought arose, the supernormal powers and meditative concentration regressed—flew there but walked back. That was because he lacked the merit of realizing the first fruit and had only meditative concentration. To eliminate lustful desire, one must eliminate self-view, realize the first fruit, and add the first dhyāna; meditative concentration alone is not enough. Thus it can be said that the merit and benefit of the partial realization of liberation at the first fruit is still very great.

Devadatta likewise, without having eliminated self-view, cultivated supernormal powers and ascended to heaven; but because the thought of stealing celestial flowers arose, his supernormal powers vanished instantly, and he fell from the sky. If one has realized the first fruit, possesses the first dhyāna, and also has supernormal powers, one is a non-returner (Anāgāmin), will no longer give rise to wrong thoughts, will no longer violate the precepts, and thus will not lose the supernormal powers.