Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

214 Vimuttimaggahe can rise up in space. It is comparable to cottonwool blown by the wind. 1Here the new yogin should not go far quickly, because he might, in the courseof his application, arouse fear. If he stirs up fear, his meditation, jhana, willfall away. Therefore the new yogin should not go far quickly. He should gogradually. At first one shakuf then he gradually rises and applies himself.And again, he attempts one fathom according to his size. Thus one shouldreach gradually the point he desires to reach.Q. Is it possible that the yogin will fall down from the sky, if he loseshis meditation, jhana, there? A. No. This begins from one's meditation-seat.If, having gone far, the meditation, jhana, is lost, one reaches the sitting place.One sees the body in the first posture (and thinks): "This is the possessorof supernormal power. This is his serenity-practice".SUPERNORMAL POWER OF RESOLVEThat yogin applies himself gradually, and becomes capable of easy attainment."He is able to enjoy supernormal power in the various modes. Beingone, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one. Or he becomes visible(or invisible) or he goes across a wall; he goes across a barrier; he goes across ahill; he goes unimpeded as if he were in space. He can sink into the earth orcome out of it, as if in water. He can walk on water as on dry land. He canmove in space as a bird on the wing. In the greatness of supernormal powerand might, he can handle the sun and the moon. He raises up his body andreaches the world of Brahma."Being one, he becomes many": He, being one, makes himself many. Hemakes himself appear a hundred or a thousand, or a ten thousand and so onthrough supernormal power. He enters the fourth meditation, jhana, andrising therefrom peacefully resolves through knowledge: "May I be many!",like Cullapanthaka, the Consummate One (arahant).1. Cp. S. V, 283-85: Yasmirh Ananda samaye Tathagato kdyam pi citte samddahati cittam pica kdye samddahati sukhasanhanca lahusannanca kdye okkamitva viharati, tasmim Anandasamaye Tathagatassa kayo lahutaro ceva hoti mudutaro ca kammaniyataro ca pabhassarataroca.Seyyathapi Ananda ayogulo divasam santatto lahutaro ceva hoti mudutaro ca kammaniyataroca pabhassarataro ca, evam eva kho Ananda yasmirh samaye Tathagato kdyampi citte samddahati, cittam pi kdye samddahati, sukhasanhanca lahusannanca kdye okkamitvaviharati, tasmim Ananda samaye Tathagatassa kayo lahutaro ceva hoti mudutaro ca kammaniyataroca pabhassarataro ca.Yasmirh Ananda samaye Tathagato kdyam pi citte samddahati, cittam pi kdye samddahati,sukkhasahhahca lahusannanca kdye okkamitva viharati, tasmim Ananda samayeTathagatassa kayo appakasireneva pathaviya vehdsam abbhuggacchati, so anekavihitamiddhividham paccanubhoti, eko pi hutvd bahudha hoti,... pe ... Ydva Brahmalokd pikdyena vasam vatteti.Seyyathapi Ananda tulapicu vd kappdsapicu vd lahuko vdtupaddno appakasirenevapathaviya vehdsam abbhuggacchati, evam eva kho Ananda yasmirh samaye Tathagatokdyam pi citte samddahati, cittam pi kdye samddahati, sukhasanhanca lahusanMacakdye okkamitva viharati, tasmim Ananda samaye Tathagatassa kayo appakasirenevapathaviya vehdsam abbhuggacchati, so anekavihitam iddhividham pacchanubhoti, eko pihutvd bahudha hoti,... pe ... ydva Brahmalokd pi kdyena vasam vattetiti,2, Nearly a foot.