Supernatural power in Buddhism

The fruit of Contemplative life: Nibbana

             It is hard to live a contemplative life as a Buddhist monk following strictly the monastic rules. It is harder to remain constantly engaged in meditation. It is the hardest thing to achieve the ultimate salvation Nibbana.

For the ordinary people like us, it is difficult to leave our home to become a monk. But to attain Nibbana in this very life, you must be a monk to practice meditation without any hindrance. Through meditation will come Nibbana. 

So what should we, the ordinary people do? Well, we must follow five precepts (To abstain from killing, stealing, adulterating, lying and drinking alcohol or drugs). This lifestyle will give fruit in attaining Nibbana in afterlife.

The fruit of Meditation: Supernatural Powers

              Supernatural power is a natural by-product of meditation. But to achieve it, you will have to be a controller of your own mind. Your ability to control your mind should be such that, your focus of concentration remains on a point as long as you wish, but you know, it's too hard for ordinary people to keep their mind on a single matter even for two seconds! So you need to meditate.

What are these super powers?

           In the Discourse of the Fruits of Contemplative life, the Buddha said, 

With his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs and inclines it to the modes of supernatural powers. He wields manifold supernatural powers.
Having been one he becomes many; having been many he becomes one.
He appears. He vanishes.
He goes unimpeded through walls, ramparts, and mountains as if through space.
He dives in and out of the earth as if it were water.
He walks on water without sinking as if it were dry land.
Sitting cross-legged he flies through the air like a winged bird.
With his hand he touches and strokes even the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful.
He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.


Just as a skilled potter or his assistant could craft from well-prepared clay whatever kind of pottery vessel he likes, or as a skilled ivory-carver or his assistant could craft from well-prepared ivory any kind of ivory-work he likes, or as a skilled goldsmith or his assistant could craft from well-prepared gold any kind of gold article he likes; in the same way — with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability — the monk directs and inclines it to the modes of supranormal powers... He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.
 "This, too, great king, is a fruit of the contemplative life, visible here and now, more excellent than the previous ones and more sublime."
The super powers described here are hard to achieve. For this you have to follow rigorous meditation practice as prescribed by Buddha.