Teachers That Talk About Siddhis

[Toby]

Just as part of an exploration and how to be in relationship with so called paranormal phenomena I thought it would be a good idea to post videos and other resources on this subject:
- Shinzen Young https://youtu.be/i288Lnb7NOk?t=3m25s
- Adyashanti / Francis Bennett https://youtu.be/hw47wwOUjuY?t=29m05s
- OWK Edgar Hofer (german) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJVCda05S5I
- Jörg Wedereit (german; lives without food or water most of the time and also works as a spiritual teacher) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ohUBTALxIg

Comments and other resources welcome.

 

[Prabhaker]

Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Chapter 3 Vibhuti Pada

https://www.ashtangayoga.info/philosophy/yoga-sutra/chapter-3/

 Sadhguru

Nithyananda

Osho

Yoga_The_Alpha_and_the_Omega_Volume_9 (Page 13)

http://www.oshorajneesh.com/download/osho-books/Yoga_Books/Yoga_The_Alpha_and_the_Omega_Volume_9.pdf

Bhagavata Purana (Krishna)

Five siddhis of yoga and meditation

In the Bhagavata Purana, the five siddhis of yoga and meditation are:

trikālajñatvam: knowing the past, present and future

advandvam: tolerance of heat, cold and other dualities

para citta ādi abhijñatā: knowing the minds of others and so on

agni arka ambu viṣa ādīnām pratiṣṭambhaḥ: checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on

aparājayah: remaining unconquered by others

Ten secondary siddhis

In the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna describes the ten secondary siddhis:

anūrmimattvam: Being undisturbed by hunger, thirst, and other bodily appetites

dūraśravaṇa: Hearing things far away

dūradarśanam: Seeing things far away

manojavah: Moving the body wherever thought goes (teleportation/astral projection)

kāmarūpam: Assuming any form desired

parakāya praveśanam: Entering the bodies of others

svachanda mṛtyuh: Dying when one desires

devānām saha krīḍā anudarśanam: Witnessing and participating in the pastimes of the gods

yathā sańkalpa saḿsiddhiḥ: Perfect accomplishment of one's determination

ājñāpratihatā gatiḥ: Orders or commands being unimpeded

[Prabhaker]

@Toby

Adi Shankaracharya, founder of  Advaita Vedanta philosophy, travelled all around India engaging scholars in religious debate. During one such debate, Bharati, wife of scholar Madana Mishra, attempted to defeat Adi Shankara in the topic of Kamashastra – sex. To win this debate Adi Shankaracharya performed 'parakaya pravesha' – enter the body of another person.

In the debate between Madana Mishra and Adi Shankara, Bharati was appointed the judge as she was a scholar by herself. Madana Mishra was easily defeated in the debate by Adi Shankara.

Bharati contented that Adi Shankara had only defeated one half of Madana Mishra. To completely defeat him, Adi Shankara had to defeat his wife too.

Bharati soon realized that she could not defeat Adi Shankara in philosophy, so turned the debate towards Kamashastra. As Adi Shankara was a Brahmachari he had no knowledge of sex.

Adi Shankara asked Bharati to give him a month’s time to debate this topic with her.

Adi Shankaracharya then used his yogic powers to enter the body of Raja Amaruka (King of Varanasi) who had just died. Before entering the body of the king, he hid his physical body in a cave and asked his disciples go guard it.

For next one month, in the body of the king, Adi Shankara indulged in sexual activities and learned Kama Shastra.

A month later he returned and defeated Bharati in the debate.

[Toby]

Ramana Maharshi on Siddhis;