How can we resolve doubt that arises from hearing about terms like jhanas and psychic powers, which I, as a beginner, cannot yet experience? I feel doubt in my training and, eventually, in the teachings
One of the things that spurred me onwards was recollecting just how much of the teaching is actually dedicated to basic decency and proper conduct. The entire Vinaya is a good example of it, moreover; the Buddhaâs actual compartment when heâs actually teaching something.
We often seem to focus on what heâs teaching, rather than how heâs teaching it; but that how, that is the courtesy, the benevolence, the patience can not be separated from the juicy âjhanas, magical powers*â and so on.
So that was a basis for me to investigate the matters more open mindedly. Such respectable people must have some reason to talk about such stuff.
The asterix being, I still think there are some hyperbolic stories, like monks levitating in the air, or spontaneously combusting. Unless we view those things as experiences during meditation, theyâre hard to make sense of.
That being the case, if you have faith in the ethics of the teaching, and have seen good results from them, there might be a good reason to investigate just what samÄdhi is, and the three/six powers that is often explained in the suttas. The results might be surprising! ![]()
How is your practice going and how much time have you given friend ? And any advice from your side as I tend to focus on my mistakes a lot like actions taken having subtle defiled conditions when I notice them later I get disappointed .
Iâm afraid I canât get into specifics of my practice, as we donât want to encourage discussing personal practice on these forums. But Iâll take it as a courteous question and say, itâs going well, thank you very much. ![]()
If in a future thread, you would rephrase your questions in general terms to inquire what the suttas say about certain problems, Iâll be happy to offer some suttas in response. ![]()
As for the time Iâve given, I suppose Iâve been reading Buddhist literature for some 16 years. So, all I can say is, these things take a while!
Interestingly, I had a similar question when discussing jhÄnas with a Dhamma practitioner. In the end, we seemed to disagree about several aspects of the jhÄnas. Mind you, neither of us has ever experienced them, yet we were talking about them as if we knew them so well!
Fortunately, I remembered a sutta: SuttaCentral
So, as a beginner, Iâll read suttas for information, but wonât expect total comprehension yet, since I should focus on my ethics for now. ![]()
The easiest way is to join Malika Queen Club:
Eventually this story reached the kingâs palace. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala told Queen MallikaĚ: âThis is what has been said by the recluse Gotama, MallikaĚ: âSorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.ââ
âIf that has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so.â
âNo matter what the recluse Gotama says, MallikaĚ applauds it thus: âIf that has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so.â Just as a pupil applauds whatever his teacher says to him, saying: âSo it is, teacher, so it is!â; so too, MallikaĚ, no matter what the recluse Gotama says, you applaud it thus: âIf that [108] has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so.â Be off, MallikaĚ, away with you!â
MN 87
After all, however clever you are, there are wiser sages than you. And who could be wiser than you if not Lord Buddha?![]()
Also, the main massage of the Lord Buddha, not merely informs you about things you havenât experienced. It does much more problematical thing: Dhamma contradicts your direct immediate experience, after all about this that you exist, you are certain.
But doctrine of anatta contradicts that certainity. Compare with this other things are much easier to accept.
Sportsman or musician, usually have no problems with faith, or at least they know that one who trains certain things, as Lord Buddha did, can acquire knowledge and skills which are simply unbelievable for non-professionals.
We have to learn to live with uncertainty and doubt. This is necessary because in the beginning, we all have a lot of ignorance on our side. We all suffer from cultural conditioning (schooling, education, family upbringing) and plain materialistic orientation about our identity (we base our judgment on our limited human bodily consciousness).
When we encounter an alien ontologyâsuch as the Teachings of Buddhaâwe tend to be skeptical at first. If something doesnât agree with our preconceived notions about the possibilities of existence in this world (in other words, our ontology), we tend to doubt the teachings or the word of the Buddha. This kind of thing can be crippling and hinder our studies. The solution to this situation is to not suppress our doubts but to give space to new information, to new possibility of existence, and investigate, do the research.
Gathering more information about doubtful stuff can reduce our doubts in the subject matter. There are other spiritual traditions, such as Yogic schools of thought, which talk about gaining mystical, superhuman, powers. Lord Jesus was known of displaying superhuman powers (healing, walking on water, etc.). In my opinion and limited knowledge, having these powers is a common thing to all spiritual paths.
All of this can give you confidence to pursue jhanas and psychic powers. However, until you gain a firsthand experience, you will never actually know in they exist. In my experience, the best way to build trust in the teachings is to associate with the faithful and do the practices. Do the practices that Buddha talks about. In this way you will gain experience, which destroys the doubts.