Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

20
When the unwholesome mental factors such as lobha (greed),
dosa (anger), uddhacca (restlessness), kukkucca (remorse), vicikicchà
(doubt), thina-middha (sloth and torpor) can be calmed down not
to arise in the mind, then the mind is in unperturbed, peaceful
and lucid state. This is the state of upacàra-samàdhi (neighbourhood
concentration or access concentration), meaning it is close
to jhàna (absorption).
At the state of upacàra-samàdhi, since the defilements are absent
from the mind, one enjoys tranquility and peace unmatched by
sensual pleasure. A higher bliss is enjoyed when one can raise
the degree of concentration a litter higher to jhàna-samàdhi.
After developing four råpa-jhànas (meditative absorption of
fine-material sphere) and four aråpa-jhànas (absorption of
immaterial sphere), one can go a step further to develop abhi¤¤à
(supernormal knowledge). There are five mundane (lokiya) supernormal
powers: (1) divine powers (iddhi-vidha), (2) divine ear
(dibba sota), (3) divine eye (dibba-cakkhu), (4) penetration of the
minds of others (ceto-pariya-¤àõa) and (5) remembrance of former
existences (pubbe-nivasanussati).
These supernormal powers far surpass the powers of telepathy,
clairvoyance, psychokinesis, etc. With iddhi-vidha abhi¤¤à one can
pass through walls and mountains without being obstructed, dive
into the earth, walk over water and fly in the sky. With dibbacakkhu
abhi¤¤à one can see the apàya (lower) abodes as well as the
worlds of devas and brahmas and the beings being reborn in the
thirty-one planes of existence according to their kamma (karma or
action). With ceto-pariya-¤àõa, one can see the minds of others
and know their intentions.
The attainment of these supernormal powers is not, however,
the goal of Buddhism. The penetrating power of the mind