Lzh Mu Bu Pm Pc 7Truthfully Announcing Superhuman Attainments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bhūtārocana
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The Sutta on Truthfully Declaring Superhuman Powers (Bhūtārocana)
Background
The Bhūtārocana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is part of the rules of virtuous training that the Buddha taught to his renunciant disciples. This discourse particularly addresses the matter of truthfully declaring superhuman powers (abhiññā), abilities beyond ordinary human perception that practitioners may attain.
The background of the discourse relates to matters of ethical humility in the community of monks and nuns. When a monastic has truly attained powers such as psychic ability, knowledge of others’ minds, or knowledge of the future, the question arises: how should these powers be declared truthfully without falling into arrogance or craving for praise?
Main Content
The discourse states the principle that a monastic has the right to truthfully declare superhuman powers he has attained, provided that the statement is entirely true and is made with a contemplative mind free from desire and conceit. The key point is the distinction between “truthful declaration” (bhūtarocana) and “lying about spiritual accomplishments” (musāvāda).
According to the Pāli Canon, there are six kinds of superhuman powers: (1) psychic power (iddhividhi), the ability to change form and move in extraordinary ways; (2) the divine eye (dibba-cakkhu), the eye of devas that sees far and wide; (3) the divine ear (dibba-sota), the ear of devas that hears from afar; (4) knowledge of others’ minds (cetopariya-ñāṇa), understanding the thoughts of others; (5) pubbe-nivāsānussati-ñāṇa, recollection of past lives; and (6) āsavakkhaya-ñāṇa, knowledge of the destruction of the taints.
The discourse emphasizes that monastics who have truly attained these powers may declare them publicly in order to strengthen the faith of the Buddhist community. However, such declarations are legitimate only when made with pure motivation, for the purpose of demonstrating the Dharma, not for gaining fame, material support, or personal reputation.
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