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Ṛddhi

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Ṛddhi

In Buddhism, rddhi powers (Sanskrit; Pali iddhi) are "psychic powers", one of the five or six supernormal powers (abhijñā) of the mundane plane attained by performing the four dhyānas. The normal Sanskrit meaning of ṛddhi is "increase, growth, prosperity, success, good fortune, wealth, abundance".

List of rddhi powers

According to Bowker, there are eight ṛddhi powers:

  1. Replicate and project bodily-images of oneself,
  2. Make oneself invisible,
  3. Pass through solid objects,
  4. Sink into solid ground,
  5. Walk on water,
  6. Fly,
  7. Touch the sun and moon with one's hand,
  8. Ascend to the world of the god Brahmā in the highest heavens

According to the Iddhipada-vibhanga Sutta (SN 51.20)

  1. Having been one he becomes many; having been many he becomes one.
  2. He appears. He vanishes.
  3. He goes unimpeded through walls, ramparts, & mountains as if through space.
  4. He dives in & out of the earth as if it were water.
  5. He walks on water without sinking as if it were dry land.
  6. Sitting crosslegged he flies through the air like a winged bird.
  7. With his hand he touches & strokes even the sun & moon, so mighty & powerful.
  8. He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds.

Saletore and Pio mention ten ṛddhi powers:

  1. Addhitana iddhi, willpower
  2. Vikubbana iddhi, the power of transformation
  3. Manomaya iddhi, the power of the mind
  4. Eliminiation of unwholesome states by developing insight knowledge
  5. Samadhi-vippara iddhi, concentration to overcome the hindrances in the jhanic state
  6. Arya-iddhi, the ability of the noble ones
  7. The power of traversing the skies like birds
  8. Special gifts
  9. The power of magicians
  10. The power of overcoming unwholesome states

Guiley mentions eight iddhi powers:

  1. Mastery over the body and nature
  2. Invincibility
  3. Invisibility
  4. Fleetness in running
  5. Ability to see the gods
  6. Control over spirits and demons
  7. The ability to fly
  8. Preservation of youth
  9. The ability to make certain pills

In the book Great Disciples of the Buddha by Nyanaponika Thera and Hellmuth Hecker, there are several additional powers described:

  1. The Divine Eye (Clairvoyance)- this power allows one to see beings in other realms as well as see the future
  2. The Divine Ear (Clairaudience)
  3. Travel by Mind-Made Body(Astral Travel)
  4. Travel with the Physical Body (to other realms)
  5. Telekinesis (Supernormal Locomotion)
  6. Flying
  7. The power of Transformation
  8. The ability to replicate one's body
  9. Penetration of others' minds (Thought Reading)
  10. Passing through solid objects
  11. Diving in and out of the Earth as if through water
  12. Walking on water
  13. Touching the sun and the moon with one's fingers
  14. Becoming invisible
  15. Recollection of past lives (some would call this a power, some would call it true knowledge)

References

Ṛddhi Wikipedia