Can meditation be used to develop mystic powers?
The object of Buddhist Bhavana is not to develop mystic powers (known as supernormal powers in the texts), but to cleanse the mind of defilements and develop insight which enables one to see the true nature of things. When meditating, some may experience images of bright lights, unusual sounds etc, but these are not to be considered important. It is important not to get ‘hooked’ on such experiences. The Visuddhimagga, a text on meditation, describes the methods used to cultivate the states of mind in order to develop the jhanas (absorptions or trance). It is said that when one achieves highest of these states, one may also develop the five supernormal powers: divine eye (clairvoyance), divine ear (clairaudience), thought reading (telepathy), recollection of past lives, and various other powers such as levitation. These powers are difficult to achieve and may hinder the path to enlightenment. They should only be regarded as mere by-products of the meditative practice. Buddhist monks are
