Dear Yong Peng and friends,

>"Ong Yong Peng" <yongpeng.ong@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Thomas, Dmytro, Ole, Rett and friends,
>
> Thomas: I see that for some reason you have this interest in
> meditation of heat. In fact, I already feel some heat in this
> discussion. I notice that you have another message for Ole in the
> queue. I will look at it next week before releasing it to the

group.>

Thank you. I hope you could release it for discussion.

> Generally, I tend to agree with Ole that in this case the subject

of the sutta is not on meditation at all. Don't get me wrong, it is
not about any "magic in the air" either.>

I would like to hear from your opinion about the "tejodhaatu.m
samaapajjitvaa" shown in the sutta in this discussion.

>In Buddhism, the purpose of meditation is not about acquiring

skills for some magical stunts. The main objective is to calm the
mind, to bring about a state of tranquility which is conducive for
contemplation.>

I fully agree with you in this regard. But I think this is not the
main subject of the sutta that we discuss.

> Furthermore, the Buddha's disciples do not perform any "miracle

acts" without first seeking Buddha's permission. Just as in this
sutta, Dabba Mallaputta has been given "go ahead" by the Buddha.>

Here, you seem to agree that Dabba Mallaputta in the sutta is
performing "miracle acts", do you?

>Remember that Buddhism is not a religion which depends on miracles

to work. It is a religion which depends on wisdom. When you
understanding cause and effect, nothing is miraculous or wired
anymore.>

I have no objection at all.
Nevertheless, the Buddha in the early Buddhist texts also
teaches "iddhipaadaa". Do you agree?

Regards,

Thomas Law