superstition in Theravada: power of metta to protect from fire, sacci kiriyaya power of truth

Re: How did uttara stop the hot water from burning her?

Post by frank k » Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:55 am

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote: ↑Fri Aug 05, 2022 11:35 amAccording to the Commentary on the Aṅguttaranikāya it was boiling oil, not hot water. Uttarā was unscathed due to the protective power of loving-kindness or compassion.

The eleven benefits of loving-kindness are enumerated in the Mettānisaṃsā Suttaṃ.

The benefits of meditation on compassion (karuṇā) would be similar.

Does Vism. or the commentaries describe how powers of metta or sacchi kiryiya actually work, in protecting the reciter from fatal harm?

Sounds like total BS.
The power of metta could indirectly work as protection if one has powerful deva friends who intervene to stop fire from burning the reciter.
But the actual protection is coming from supernormal powers of the deva, not the reciter.
If Uttara herself had supernormal powers, then that could be a reason, but then, it's the supernormal powers then that is the protection, and not the metta.

Sacci Kiryiya powers also sounds like total BS.
If it actually worked that way, wouldn't you think arahants during the Buddha's time would have invoked that power to do things like, "If the Dhamma is genuine and efficacious, may true Dhamma never die and become infected with corrupted forms of Buddhism with superstitions, wrong views and corruption for the entire world aeon?"

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