Mind-made body - a question
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:38 pm
Following retrofuturist's open invitation on another board, I have taken the liberty of joining.
I have a request for information which I hope someone will be able to help me with.
I am interested in uncovering as much as I can about teachings concerning the mind-made body. I have read almost identical formulaic passages in several suttas, all of which are similar to the following:
The only other instruction I have encountered is in the last paragraph of chapter twelve of the Visuddhimagga where Buddhaghosa explains that one should first visualize the body as hollow, then visualize another complete body within the hollow space which should be then drawn out. This is rather sparse to say the least.
I would be interested to know where Buddhaghosa drew this information from and whether there are more comprehensive teachings on this topic elsewhere within the Theravadan school. Does the tradition of these teachings still survive and has anyone ever met, or heard of, individuals who have attained this?
Namaste
I have a request for information which I hope someone will be able to help me with.
I am interested in uncovering as much as I can about teachings concerning the mind-made body. I have read almost identical formulaic passages in several suttas, all of which are similar to the following:
"DN 11
Kevatta (Kevaddha) Sutta To Kevatta
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
The Mind-made Body
"With his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs and inclines it to creating a mind-made body. From this body he creates another body, endowed with form, made of the mind, complete in all its parts, not inferior in its faculties. Just as if a man were to draw a reed from its sheath. The thought would occur to him: 'This is the sheath, this is the reed. The sheath is one thing, the reed another, but the reed has been drawn out from the sheath.' Or as if a man were to draw a sword from its scabbard. The thought would occur to him: 'This is the sword, this is the scabbard. The sword is one thing, the scabbard another, but the sword has been drawn out from the scabbard.' Or as if a man were to pull a snake out from its slough. The thought would occur to him: 'This is the snake, this is the slough. The snake is one thing, the slough another, but the snake has been pulled out from the slough.' In the same way — with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, the monk directs and inclines it to creating a mind-made body. From this body he creates another body, endowed with form, made of the mind, complete in all its parts, not inferior in its faculties.
The only other instruction I have encountered is in the last paragraph of chapter twelve of the Visuddhimagga where Buddhaghosa explains that one should first visualize the body as hollow, then visualize another complete body within the hollow space which should be then drawn out. This is rather sparse to say the least.
I would be interested to know where Buddhaghosa drew this information from and whether there are more comprehensive teachings on this topic elsewhere within the Theravadan school. Does the tradition of these teachings still survive and has anyone ever met, or heard of, individuals who have attained this?
Namaste