Can Meditators Really Fly?

In order to discuss meditation and the aim of meditation in Buddhism we must first look at its conception of reality. The universe is made up out of dharmas (phenomena) which fall into five groups: 1) Form (or the objective content of the perceptual situation) 2) Feelings, 3) Perceptions, 4) Volition, 5) Consciousness. These dharmas maybe huge (space, planets) medium (table, building) or tiny (atoms etc). They are infinetely divisible, have no separate selfhood or own-being, are illusory, impermanent and unsatisfactory. All, except for space and Nirvana, are conditioned dharmas i.e. they arise in dependence on other conditions or dharmas and themselves give rise to other dharmas. There can be no permanent phenomena and any concept leading to permanence or to notions of separate selfhood (ego-feeding) will lead to suffering whether it be the notion of a creator God, a soul, or what have you. The object of meditation therefore, is to bring about happiness, by decreasing the ego and eventually leading to full insight into the truth of conditioned co-production.

Meditations fall into three types a) Concentration in which the mind is focussed, b) Meditation in which the focussed mind is expanded and lifted to a higher level' and c) Contemplation (of the nature of reality). Each stage can arise only in dependence on the full development of the previous stage. 'Powers' subjective and objective may occur at three stages, during 'a' when slight contact with (he subconscious causes hallucinations and dream-like states, during b) when the body may become so suffused with bliss and happiness that the hairs stand on end and the body lifts off the ground and c) when 'miracles' of many sorts may be accomplished. All of these 'powers' must be regarded with horror and loathing lest they should give rise to intense feelings of alientation or egotism that overpower the mind. The only desirable one, and it may occur only to a stable, integrated mind, is insight into reality. Also, these things take many years and a very drastic alteration of lifestyle. (Unless the person is very young and thus, less conditioned.)

Alright. Now let us look specifically at a certain meditation group, T.M. This uses a mantra meditiation which is of type a), and can lead to type b) meditation. Mantra are not so much spells or salutes to 'gods' as sound-symbols which attract the mind or various components of the mind. Choosing a mantra for a person is very difficult and can be accomplished only through insight, not by any 'method', though certain mantras may be generally applied. This sort of meditation can not in itself lead to mental control. T.M. requires that those wishing to learn make an offering of flowers, etc, first to the teacher. This is highly laudable. Without this slight diminuation of ego one cannot begin; though in Buddhism one generally bows to the Buddha, otherwise the teacher might grow egotistical.

T.M. also requires very large sums of money. Why? Other groups have been able to spread and teach on the basis of donations only. In Wellington and every other major N.Z. city there are many good groups which teach without demanding a fee. Be careful of organisations offering to teach by mail, however. It can't be done.

What about 'powers'? As I have said, cultivation of these and chasing them can only mean trouble, for chasing something means that you wish to attach it to your ego-identity and thus the ego and suffering will grow. Furthermore, without extensive training development of these abilities is impossible.

no-one. TM or Buddhist has ever demonstrated them empirically and, in Buddhism, to state that one has attained them or to show them off, is forbidden-even the Dalai Lama claims never to have seen these practices. Lastly, the photos distributed by T.M. of flying meditators look highly ambigous. Learn meditation by all means, but don't throw away your money.

Major Von Prunemuncher