Dear Ole Pind,

> The Udana story is about Dabba Mallaputta. He was known for his

magical control over the fire element. >

"Magical control" seems to indicate that it is associated
with "meditation" (meditative concentration) in general, such as
iddhi or iddhipaada.

>The fact that he is sitting crosslegged in the air does not imply

meditation at all, nor that he is practicing the tejokasi.na, and it
is certainly not the fire within himself he controls, but the fire
element that is baahira.>

I do not see this word, baahira, in the text. How do you know that
the fire element is baahira?

>The term tejodhaatu.m samaapajjitvaa only refers to the fact that

he enters and becomes one with the fire element.>

It does not mean that the fire element shown in the text
is "baahira".

>The story, as I have mentioned before, illustrates some paradoxes
>concerning nibbaana.

Not clear what you mean. Please explain.

>You might want to have a look into the amusing legends about Dabba

and his magical powers in Vin III 160: he could, for instance,

> conjure up light when needed, and used a blazing finger as a

lantern, and so on.>

This confirms that he is said to have such powers associated with
his magical practice of concentration: he has the psychic power to
control the heat.

Regards,

Thomas Law