Upp Pj 4Laying False Claim to Superhuman Attainments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Uttarimanussadhamma
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Exposition of the Uttarimanussadhamma Discourse (Claiming Superhuman States)
Background
The Uttarimanussadhamma discourse is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Pātimokkha section of the Bhikkhu Pātimokkha, especially among the Pārājika rules, those acts leading to complete exclusion from the Sangha. This discourse was recorded to protect the integrity of the Sangha and prevent deception of the public.
The historical background of the discourse concerns false monks or monastics pretending to have attained superhuman states (uttarimanussadhamma), that is, extraordinary powers such as psychic abilities, meditative power, or levels of meditation, in order to gain advantage, profit, honor, and respect. This is a serious unethical act, because it deceives Buddhists and harms faith in the true Teaching.
Main Content
The discourse states that if a member of the Sangha claims to have attained superhuman states that he does not in fact possess, especially in order to gain fame and profit, he has committed a Pārājika, the gravest prohibitory rule. These attainments include levels of meditation (jhāna), concentration (samādhi), wisdom beyond the ordinary person (lokuttara paññā), and superknowledges (abhiññā).
The important principle is this: if a member of the Sangha truly has these abilities but remains silent, or speaks of them only when directly and truthfully asked, there is no violation. However, actively and repeatedly displaying what one does not have in order to gain advantage is a grave offense.
This rule reflects the carefulness of Theravāda Buddhism: it does not deny that superhuman capacities may exist, but it gives an extremely strong warning against falsehood. One reason is that demands to "prove" superhuman attainments are impracticable and easily become contentious; second, pretending in this way betrays the spirit of genuine practice and is arrogance and greed for gain, things entirely opposed to the Path.
Practical Meaning
In the context of modern practice, the Uttarimanussadhamma discourse reminds us of integrity on the Buddhist path.
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