362. Q. What says the Vasettha Sutta about the causation in Nature?

A. It says: "The world exists by cause; all things exist by cause; all beings are bound by cause."

363. Q. Does Buddhism teach the unchangeableness of the visible universe; our earth, the sun, the moon,

the stars, the mineral, vegetable, animal and, human kingdoms?

A. No. It teaches that all are constantly changing, and all must disappear in course of time.

364. Q. Never to reappear?

A. Not so: the principle of evolution, guided by Karma, individual and collective, will evolve another universe with its contents, as our universe was evolved out of the Akasha.

365. Q. Does Buddhism admit that man has in his nature any latent powers for the production of phenomena commonly called 'miracles'?

A. Yes; but they are natural, not supernatural. They may be developed by a certain system which is laid down in our sacred books; the Visuddhi Marga for instance.

866. Q. What is this branch of science called?

A. The Pali name is Iddhi-vidhanana.

367. Q. How many kinds are there?

A. Two: "Bahira," i.e., one in which the phenomena-working power may be temporarily obtained by ascetic practices and also by resort to drugs, the recitation of mantras (charms), or other

extraneous aids; and "Sasaniks," that in which the power in question is acquired by interior self-development, and covers all and more than the phenomena of Laukika Iddhi.

368. Q. What class of men enjoy these powers?

A. They gradually develop in one who pursues a certain course of ascetic practice called Dhyana.

369. Q. Can this Iddhi power be lost? [**]

A. The Bahira can be lost, but the Sasanika never, when once acquired. Lokottara knowledge once obtained is never lost, and it is by this knowledge only that the absolute condition of Nirvana is known by the Arhat. And this knowledge can be got by following the noble life of the Eightfold Path.

370. Q. Had Buddha the Lokottara Iddhi?

A. Yes, in perfection.

371. Q. And his disciples also had it?

A. Yes, some, but not all equally; the capacity for acquiring these occult powers varies with the individual.

372. Q. Give examples.

A. Of all the disciples of the Buddha, Mogallana was possessed of the most extraordinary powers for-making phenomena, while Ananda could develop none during the twenty-five years in which he was the personal and intimate disciple of the Buddha himself. later he did, as the Buddha had foretold he would.

373. Q. Does a man acquire these powers suddenly or gradually?

A. Normally, they gradually develop themselves. as the disciple progressively gains control over his lower nature in a series of girths. [**]

374. Q. Does Buddhism pretend that the miracle of raising those who are dead is possible?