Materialism is commonly considered the dominant and correct worldview, but both in theory and practice, materialists are unable to substantiate their claim that "matter is the fundamental substance of the natural world, and spirit is the result of material interactions." This assertion remains merely a hypothesis, lacking any mathematical formula or physics equation that has concluded the world is composed of matter. Furthermore, this hypothesis cannot be proven through direct valid cognition.
The belief that the world is composed of matter is a rough conclusion that arises from our sensory experiences. When we see an object like a mug, we perceive it as a tangible material item without any doubt. Its existence seems obvious and taken for granted. However, we can question whether the mug we see in our dreams is also made of material substance. Many might argue that dreams are not real since they disappear once we awaken.
Yet, suppose I were to suggest that our current reality is a dream. In that case, the distinction between the material world and the dream world becomes blurred, and we may begin to question the fundamental nature of existence.
Cyclic existence can be compared to a massive, complicated dream, but the good news is that we all possess the potential to awaken from it. As previously explained, when Buddhist practitioners enter a state of cessation of their six senses, their mind becomes lucid and sharp, leading to the realization that their bodies and surroundings are not truly existent. While this realization is a significant achievement, it is only a half-awake, half-asleep state, and not the complete awakening. Nonetheless, this realization is far from insignificant. Upon reaching this stage, one can comprehend that the world is not composed of matter and develop a firm belief in the nature of the world as being the mind. For instance, a Taoist practitioner who reaches this stage can discover Wu Ji, and this is where hidden magical powers can manifest.
The reason why having magical powers seems like pure fantasy nowadays is that people no longer meditate regularly with the same intention as before. The root of meditation is being destroyed from childhood. Children start using computers and smartphones at a very young age, spending a lot of time watching TV shows and playing video games, which bombard them with an enormous amount of information every day. Their minds are constantly stirred up, leaving no room for peace. Without the ability to bring the six senses to a halt, it is impossible to observe the world accurately. As a result, cultivating magical powers is like trying to grow a tree without roots.
In ancient times, life was much simpler, and distractions were scarce compared to the overwhelming amount of distractions we encounter today. As a result, people had more time to meditate, leading them to develop magical powers. Some individuals even attained a high level of magical power. Even today, there are people in Tibet and India who possess such powers.
When a trained meditation practitioner sits still on their cushion, both their body and mind immediately come to rest, entering a state of calmness that is nothing like falling asleep. However, for those untrained in meditation, it's a different story. They may be able to hold their body still and straight, but their mind (mental consciousness) is constantly wandering, preventing them from experiencing true stillness. As soon as their consciousness ceases, they fall asleep without perceiving anything.
The difference for the trained practitioner is that their mind does not wander nor fall asleep while they sit in meditation. Instead, their mind is at rest to such an extent that it becomes very lucid and sharp. This state is referred to as "calm abiding" in Buddhist terms. In this state, the meditator may discover that certain phenomena are beyond what our six senses are capable of perceiving and comprehending. For instance, they may see certain deities in a certain realm such as Ishvara. With their magical powers, they may even see events that occurred a long time ago, or witness the destruction of the world many times over. These experiences would be incomprehensible to the untrained.
In our everyday experience, we perceive things as they appear in the present moment. Although we can remember events from the past and imagine what may happen in the future, we do not take them as truly existing in the present. However, for trained meditators who have achieved the state of cessation of the six senses, they are able to directly observe past events as they actually occurred. This is known as direct valid cognition, which is different from memory, fragmented and incomplete. In the state of calm abiding, the meditator's perception of the chair they saw yesterday is just as real and clear as it was when they saw it yesterday, although it is not actually the real chair from yesterday. This ability to perceive past events with such clarity and comprehensiveness is what is known as magic power.
Some people often go to see a fortuneteller and ask: “Tell me what stock I should buy Many people visit fortune-tellers and ask questions such as "Which stock should I buy tomorrow?" or "Will I get married next year?" The fortune-teller typically pretends to do some calculations with their fingers before giving an answer, such as "You will get married next year." However, the reality is that you may not get married for many years, if at all. Similarly, the recommended stock may seem like a good investment before you buy it, but once you've purchased it, its value may decrease.
Those who possess real magical abilities do not need to rely on calculations like fortune-tellers. There are different levels of magical power, with the highest being realized through Buddhahood, which allows one to perceive everything in all time and space. Although ordinary people with magical powers and Bodhisattvas cannot see as far as a Buddha can, they can still, to some extent, see into the future after their six senses are ceased. This is not a fairy tale or a myth; we will discuss related phenomena regarding time and space later on. It's essential to understand that what I have said is not mere superstition. Different worldviews can give rise to different phenomena.
During certain levels of meditation, those with magical powers may see deities that have persisted even after the earth has been destroyed numerous times. As a result, they may perceive these deities as the essence, leading to the notion of objective idealism. However, it's important to note that these approaches and their realizations are incomplete and merely observational methods.
Excerpted from: Buddhist Worldview and Modern Life
