If the enlightened could miraculously enlighten all instantly,
they would done so already.
In the mean time, the miracle of enlightenment arises
from realising the Dharma through diligent study and practice.
Once, a
layman named Kevaddha told the Buddha that the city of Nalanda was nearby, full
of people, many of whom admired him, and that if any of his disciples could
perform a miracle, they would have greater admiration for him. He then asked if
the Buddha could request a disciple to do so. Despite being asked thrice, the
Buddha rejected his appeal. After all, the Buddha doesn’t encourage the
performing of ‘street magic’ just to boast or please the populace. What more
essential was to develop one’s mind and to guide others to do the same. On
another occasion by a river, an emaciated ascetic with long thick hair glanced
at the Buddha sarcastically, before crossing it on its surface. Seeing this, a
disciple of the Buddha asked if he could see him do the same. The Buddha
replied that he would show him the worth of the feat instead. When a ferryman
came towards the Buddha, he asked him how much one paid him to cross the river.
The answer was ‘half a masaka’, a coin of very low value. The Buddha remarked
that the ascetic’s miracle was worth only that doable with half a masaka, while
he had mortified his body over a long time just to master that. It would had
been worthier to use the time for the well-being of others.
However, this does not mean that the Buddha and his disciples
were incapable of, or never performed any miracles at all, though he did forbid
insensible miracles which served no useful purpose. As recorded in the
Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the Buddha once came to the swelling River Ganges. Some
were looking for a raft, and others binding reeds to form one. The Buddha, as
swiftly as a strong man stretches or flexes his arm, vanished from where he was
with his retinue of monks and remanifested on the other shore. Commenting on
those who have yet to cross, he said, ‘When they want to cross the sea, the
lake or the pond, people make a bridge or raft, the wise have crossed already.’
In short, the Buddha had mass-teleported himself and the monks across the river
in the blink of an eye! This is surely more efficient than walking on water!
This was done for practical reasons of not being able to find transport, and it
was an opportunity to teach. The late fashioning of a bridge or raft
represented the belated creation or search of a means to cross the water, which
represented the sea of suffering, to reach the other shore, which represented
liberation. The Buddha was emphasising that wisdom is the true and speedy
vehicle needed to cross over suffering.
In a related story, a ferryman refused to take the Buddha across
a river because he did not have the fare to pay. To his amazement, the Buddha
simply disappeared from the bank and reappeared on the opposite. When King
Bimbisara heard of this incident, he issued an edict to allow all ascetics in
his country to be ferried for free. Once again, the Buddha displayed his
supernormal powers only as a last resort. Miracles by themselves might amaze,
while not necessarily leading the amazed to realise the Dharma. They might
distract their witnesses from the Dharma instead, who might be attracted only
to learn how to perform such miracles. One of the most famous of miracles that
only the Buddha could do, was the Twin Miracle. He would levitate into the air
and sprout the opposing elements of fire and water from his upper and lower
body simultaneously (followed by from his left and right), and in reversed
directions. This he did on two occasions – once, to humble his proud clansmen,
so as to open their minds to listen to the Dharma with reverence, and once,
when some other teachers sought to promote their ‘superiority’ by showing off
their miracles. As many other incidents would attest, the Twin Miracle is
really just the tip of the iceberg of the extraordinary feats the Buddha was
capable of!
Source : The Daily Enlightenment.com
