Miracle

As a Buddhist monk, I was asked many times if I could do any miracles. I always tell the questioner that Buddhism is nothing to do with miracles, the aim of learning and practising is right understanding or wisdom. A miracle is something that people want to secure themselves about what (belief) they follow. Why do they need security? It is because of fear in their mind or life as it is said that most of religions happen from fear. Buddhism as well happened from fear, but it is totally different from the others, because fear in Buddhism leads to learning and practising to liberate themselves from fear in their mind or life.

Is there any real miracle? I would not say ‘yes or no’; it is neither interesting nor helpful. There is a story, a story of Rinzai which may give you some insight into realization.

Here is the story;

One of his disciples was talking with another religious master’s disciple who said, “Our master is a man of miracles. He can do anything he wants. I have seen many miracles he has done, I have witnessed them myself. What is the great thing about your master? What miracles can he do?”

And the disciple of Rinzai said, “The greatest miracle my master can do is not to do miracles”.

This is good story, especially the saying ‘not to do miracles’ because miracles cannot help mankind out off suffering. It cannot liberate mankind from human suffering. But, instead, it brings about attachment to those who believe. What is really able to liberate mankind from human suffering? It is again right understanding or wisdom which is able to do so. Let’s think about it, a lot of religious followers misunderstand that miracles are main teachings so they don’t want to learn and practise the core teachings which are far better than the miracles because right understanding or wisdom is able to help mankind know right from wrong. When right and wrong are clarified, we are on the right path leading to the cessation of suffering.

Where there is happiness, there is no suffering. Where there is suffering, there is no happiness.