Linked below are places in the Pali Cannon mentioning supranormal abilities or so-called “psychic powers.”
But first, a few questions (even though it is not worth wasting much energy defending the significance of seemingly fantastical things in comparison to where the masses still reference (their) reality: the TeeVee news media which is currently still being dumbed down to around a 5th grade level, and also whatever is on social media in alignment with it.)
Why would supranormal abilities even be mentioned by, or in association with a historical figure so psychologically developed and adept by today’s scientific standards that neuroscience and psychology is finally catching up with some of the Buddha’s teachings?
If these abilities are only mere mythology or metaphor how did they originate? Where did the ideas come from? If from the imagination, how does that work?
Why spend so much time detailing and mentioning “psychic powers”?
Why were “psychic powers” so important to Devadatta the Buddha’s cousin and brother to his wife, and whom some say was his arch nemesis?
What is the significance, if any, of the (establishing of the) monastic rule prohibiting public displays of psychic power for anyone except the Buddha?
Selections via SuttaCentral.net mentioning supranormal/”psychic” powers:
- AN10.90
- AN10.97
- AN11.10
- AN1.188-197
- AN1.235-247
- AN1.394-574
- AN3.101
- AN3.102
- AN3.144
- AN3.156-162
- AN3.40
- AN3.60
- AN4.191
- AN4.276
- AN4.45
- AN5.100
- AN5.23
- AN5.28
- AN5.67
- AN5.68
- AN6.2
- AN6.41
- AN6.54
- AN6.70
- AN7.71
- AN8.19
- AN8.28
- AN8.30
- AN8.70
- AN9.35
- AN9.83
- AN9.84-91
- AN9.92
- DN10
- DN11
- DN14
- DN16
- DN17
- DN18
- DN24
- DN26
- DN28
- DN29
- DN2
- DN30
- DN33
- DN34
- DN3
- MN103
- MN104
- MN108
- MN118
- MN119
- MN129
- MN12
- MN149
- MN151
- MN16
- MN25
- MN37
- MN49
- MN50
- MN56
- MN6
- MN73
- MN77
- MN86
- MN91
- MN92
- MN99
- SN12.70
- SN14.15
- SN16.9
- SN21.1
- SN21.3
- SN22.101
- SN2.26
- SN22.80
- SN22.81
- SN40.1
- SN40.2
- SN40.3
- SN40.4
- SN40.5
- SN40.6
- SN40.7
- SN40.8
- SN40.9
- SN41.4
- SN4.20
- SN43.12
- SN43.7
- SN45.155
- SN51.10
- SN51.11
- SN51.12
- SN51.13
- SN51.14
- SN51.15
- SN51.16
- SN51.17
- SN51.18
- SN51.19
- SN51.1
- SN51.20
- SN51.21
- SN51.22
- SN51.23
- SN51.24
- SN51.25
- SN51.26
- SN51.27
- SN51.28
- SN51.29
- SN51.2
- SN51.30
- SN51.31
- SN51.32
- SN51.33-44
- SN51.3
- SN51.4
- SN51.5
- SN51.6
- SN51.77-86
- SN51.7
- SN51.8
- SN51.9
- SN52.12
- SN5.5
- SN6.14
- SN6.5
- SN6.6
- SN8.10
- SN8.12
- Thag10.7
- Thag1.38
- Thag16.9
- Thag17.2
- Thag18.1
- Thag19.1
- Thag20.1
- Thag21.1
- Thag6.10
- Thag6.1
- Thig11.1
- Thig13.5
- Thig5.1