(partially pasted from the same url)
Mahayana and Theravadan (Hinayana) Buddhism differ in their
classification of enlightened beings. There are four levels in
Theravada, ten or sometimes eleven in Mahayana. Someone who is at
the the first level, "stream-entry," according to the Therevadan
classification, can truly hold to the precept of not killing. We
might take this precept, but it is more than likely that we will
inadvertantly step on an insect or somehow crush a bug during the
course of the day. But the psychic power of a "stream-enterer" is
such that when he walks, creatures move out of his way.
The last level in Theravada before Buddhahood is that of Arahat.
You may have read that someone can attain this level without
acquiring psychic powers. But Arahats can accomplish almost
anything they wish to do. However, they may be unaware of their
power. There is a story of a group of monks who arrived late one
night at a vihara, an Indian temple. Their lamp had run out of oil
and the night was pitch black. One of the monks said, "We can have
light if there is an Arahat here." Sure enough, a monk stepped
forward and said that he was an Arahat. The first monk suggested
that he point his finger and illuminate the area. The Arahat did
just that and the area was bathed in light. He was simply unaware
of some of the powers he had attained.
In the literature of many cultures there are references to heavenly
beings who answer the prayers of mortals with silver gold, or
precious jewels that have been transformed from ordinary objects or
substances. Buddhist sutras acknowledge this power, but caution
that a transformed substance can revert to its original form. It
may take eight, eighty, even five hundred years, but it will
eventually change back. However, if an Arahat transforms something
into gold, it will remain for a great kalpa.
Many people are curious about past and future lives. Devas and gods
can know the past and future, but their power is limited to perhaps
ten lives in either direction. The most powerful deva may be able
to see one hundred lives in either direction, but no further.
Arahats have even greater power. They can remember lives for ten
thousand kalpas, but not even they can go back to their origins.
They can, however, tell exactly what will happen in the
future.
Now I will compare the power of an Arahat with that of a Buddha. Of
all Arahats, the strongest in psychic power was Maha Maudgalyana.
Once the Buddha said to him, "There is a world that lies to the
west. If we go there together, you will not be able to keep up with
me, so you start the journey before me." It took Maha Maudgalyana
three months to reach his destination. When he arrived, the Buddha
was already there. Maha Maudgalyana asked him when he had departed.
The Buddha replied that he had just left a moment ago. For the
Buddha there is no distance. This world or that world is close by,
no matter how far it may seem to us. There is no time for the
Buddha -- he sees limitless lives in the past, limitless lives in
the future, all seen in the same instant.
A god can have jurisdiction over a particular region, or country. A
deva who had power over this planet would be powerful indeed. But
this is a small planet among myriads. An Arahat's power extends
over thousands of world systems. He has the ability to know what
transpires anywhere in his domain.
But the Buddha is everywhere at every time. The Bodhisattva
Manjusri is very close to Buddhahood, so his power is comparable.
He, too, is everywhere at all times. The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara
can respond effortlessly to a thousand different beings at a
thousand different places at the same time.
There was a Ch'an master who decided to urinate in front of a
statue of the Buddha. Another monk rushed over and asked him what
he was doing. The master said, "If you can show me where there is
no Buddha, I'll go there."
The power of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas exists at all places and at
all times, and far surpasses the power of other beings: Arahats,
deities, and common people.
