Miracles
Miracles make us wonder, they trigger our curiosity,
they inspire us.
Collection of the thoughts and teachings of the
American Buddhist teacher,
Dr. Frederick Lenz (Rama)
on the topic of miracles
Being an enlightened teacher he frequently used miracles and the siddha powers in his teachings to inspire his students, to help them have faith in all the things he had to say about spirituality, self-discovery, and enlightenment.
Forms of Miracles
The subject of miracles is one of those truly fascinating things in our lives. They help us get a glimpse of what’s out there beyond our material world, they show us without words that this world we live in is a lot more mysterious than we ever thought possible. If treated with the right consideration, miracles will also prove to us that we are capable of being a whole lot more than we generally tend to believe.
Siddha Powers
Another term that’s often used synonymously with miracles is siddha powers. When siddha powers are demonstrated by someone who possesses these powers, for most people these effect will seem quite miraculous indeed, as they are impossible to explain with the common laws of physics. Essentially, as Rama explains it, a siddha power is an intelligent application of energy, and is only a big thing for people who don’t understand what’s happening.
Meditation
Enlightened teachers are able to elevate the attention of people to completely new levels of awareness.
“When I meditate, people see manifestations of light when I go into samadhi and through the samadhis. And sometimes when I meditate, if I’m doing a public meditation, the energy of enlightenment is very clear – it’s very high, it’s very beautiful, and it’s so clear that people don’t realize that their attention has been elevated. When you’re dealing with someone who is fully enlightened, the energy is so perfect, in a way of speaking, it’s so shiny that you really don’t know it’s there.” – Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz
Rama
“I like miracles. They inspire me. Miracles cause you to believe, to have faith in the unseen, to look further into things, deeper into things. Miracles are the fun of enlightenment. When a teacher does a miracle – an enlightened teacher – and someone sees it, they’re astonished. Suddenly they have faith in what the teacher has to say about self-discovery and spirituality and enlightenment.”
– Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz
Science
The real miracle is mind itself – your mind – and the way it can be transformed through the practice of meditation and mindfulness. Amazingly enough, science confirms that these practices have real, measurable effects on both the brain and the body.
Quotes
“Miracles are an intelligent application of energy.” To a remote tribe that had never seen technology, a cigarette lighter would be a small piece of miracle and its owner considered a God. To us, that lighter is no big deal. Advanced siddhas and yogis have understood and been able to apply energies for thousands of years, for them miracles may be less of a big deal. But until we reach that same understanding of reality, that same understanding of how things really work in this world, miracles are some of the best tools available to help us on our path.
Further Reading
This award-winning book by Liz Lewinson is an authorised biography of Rama – Dr. Frederick Lenz and is based on remembrances of over 100 of his students, colleagues and contemporaries, along with his own words from his talks. This highly acclaimed book immerses the reader in a journey of joyful self-discovery. Throughout the biography, many of the students’ most vivid recollections involve the siddhas, or “miracles” – Rama’s playful displays of enlightenment.
Links
The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism seeks to inspire the emergence of an enlightened American society that reflects the universal Buddhist values of wisdom, compassion, mindfulness, and meditation
Rama Meditation Society is an electronic tribe of seekers who live for spiritual experience and illumination. Within these pages, you will find the teachings of an enlightened American Buddhist teacher, Rama – Dr. Frederick Lenz
Reprinted or included here with permission from The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism