Story About Monk With Psychic Powers | Ajahn Brahm

There was one of these monks

and

he was living in the Jungle

and

living in the jungle meditating

in those days, people would be able
to feed you no problem at all

and he had like perfect solitude,
meditating day and night

really good monk and of course
it just happens after time you get

these deep meditations and after
deep meditations,

sometimes you get these powers and

actually he could fly through the air.

He would just, every morning

Just have a flight, almost like exercise

but the trouble was, that somebody
saw him.

This is why, if any of you get psychic
powers,

please don't do them in public.

cos you can always get into big trouble.
Every time.

So, somebody saw him

and of course, the word
gets around

and when the word gets around,

For example, it not the case if you heard

that someone at Dhammasara nun's monastery
could fly through the air

You'd all go down there and have a look

and then you'd be hassling the nuns

"come on show us, come on, come on"

(laughter)

but anyway, this monk,

soon the word got to the king

and the king said, I always wanted to see

a real monk levitating.

Would you like to see a real monk
levitate?

Would you? Of course you would, yes

So the king would, but we're not going
to do it so forget about it

(laughter)

But this king,

You know, if you're the king

you got powers so he sent his army
up there

you know and said,
"the king summons you."

He said, I don't want to go to the palace,
I'm just a simple monk"

He said " this is not a request,
you're coming"

So you know, he brought him to the place.

and the king was a really good Buddhist.

He actually built a little 'kuti' ,
a hut for this monk

in the forest in the grounds.

He said " Monk, just you know,
you can just stay here"

not you can, you will stay here

and

I want to just feed you,
make merit

make good kamma

cos you're obviously a holy monk

and to ask questions you know,
about Dhamma

and also get some advice on running
my kingdom

cos you're obviously wise

you're not in it for the money like
all my ministers and politicians

you know, you're just wise

So, I'll feed you.
You live here

You can levitate and fly through the air
as much as you like

and I want you to be like my wise advisor.

which made a lot of sense.

So the monk consented

and the king would feed him really
nice food

he'd be in this little forest
in the palace grounds

Just like being in the jungle

and every morning he would go for his
exercise through the air

but one day,

as he was coming in to land

that morning the person who was bringing
him food was one of the princesses

cos the king couldn't come himself

and she was drop-dead gorgeous

a hot chick

(laughter)

and this monk was just coming in to land

and he just saw her, just one moment

that's all it took
just one moment of lust

and he lost his ability to fly

and had to do crash landing

(laughter)

and when he realised he couldn't fly after
that

So he walked back.
After lunch he walked right back

He didn't care about the king at all

It took him 2 or 3 years to get his flying
powers back again

That was how sensitive these
psychic powers are

So yes, there are psychic powers

but just one bit of anger,
one bit of lust

one bit of pride

they all vanish and disappear

that's how sensitive they are

So you guys,

you know, because you're, you know,
not the Bhikkhunis,

but you're not monks

you haven't overcome anger and lust

so please don't go flying through the air

you'll go high up there and
something will come up

somebody will make a noise

and "it's that person again"

and you'll come crashing down to
the ground again

and hurt yourself

that's why we don't do
these psychic powers

but that was the psychic power

a loooong time ago

Is that what you wanted to hear?

Okay

What is mind?