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The Limitations of Supernatural Powers
Mogallana always thought that nothing was impossible with his
supernatural power. However, little did he realise that
supernatural power could not help one escape the law of cause and
effect. Neither did he know that it could not defeat karma and free
one from the cycle of life and death.
Once, the Buddha's homeland Kapilavastu was invaded by King
Vidudabha of Kosala. Being a patriot, the Buddha had succeeded in
blocking the enemy for three times. But King Vidudabha did not want
to give up. Knowing that this was due to the karma of Sakya clan.
The Buddha had no choice but to let it be.
Mogallana was deeply agitated when heard that Kapilavastu was
surrounded by enemy troops. Though the Buddha told him this was the
karma of Sakya clan, he insisted on saving the clan people with his
miraculous power.
He flew into Kapilavastu which was already encircled by enemy
troops ring upon ring. He selected the five hundred outstanding
Sakyas and put them in a bowl. When he had safely flown out of the
country, he opened the bowl and found that the five hundred people
in it had already turned into a flood of blood!
Mogallana then realised one could not violate the law of cause and
effect taught by the Buddha. Even supernatural power could not
outmatch karmic effect.
Have you also heard of Mogallana's attempt to save his mother
using his supernatural powers? It too, never worked, because his
powers cannot supercede his mother's karmic forces.
Only by practising dharma, attaining enlightenment, will you have
ability to save your parents even from your previous lifetimes,
through your 'gong de'.
Saving His Mother
Mogallana was noted not only for his great supernatural powers but
also for his filial piety!
One day, while looking at the realm of hungry ghosts with his
divine vision, Mogallana saw his mother suffering there. He was
very sad. So, with the help of his supernatural power, the filial
Mogallana provided a bowl of rice for his mother. However, when the
rice reached his mother's hands, it turned into burning charcoal
and could not be eaten. Upon seeing that, Mogallana could not help
but cried sadly. Though he could tell what caused the ghosts to
receive their retribution, he could not explain his mother's
suffering. So he immediately went to ask the Buddha.
Buddha said compassionately, "Mogallana, your mother had in her
previous life, slandered the Buddha and the Sangha. Moreover, she
did not believe in retribution and had been greedy and
hot-tempered. That is why she is receiving such a retribution. The
reason why you do not know your mother's karma is that your
supernatural power has been hindered by the love between mother and
son!"
"Lord Buddha, is there any way to help my mother get out of the
realm of hungry ghosts?" Mogallana asked earnestly.
"Mogallana, you cannot save you mother on your own because her bad
karma is very serious. The only way is to depend on the
supernatural powers of the holy monks to help free her from the
suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts."
"The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month every year is the last
day of summer retreat for all monks and many of them will have
attained enlightenment by then. If one makes offerings to all holy
monks on this day, he can rely on their united efforts to release
his parents and relatives from the realms of suffering. If his
parents are alive, they will live a longer and happier life."
The delighted Mogallana carried out Buddha's instructions and made
offerings to all monks on the last day of the summer retreat. True
enough, his mother was immediately freed from the realm of hungry
ghosts. He was very grateful to Buddha and praised the beneficence
of the Triple Gem. He also urged people to make offerings to Buddha
and Sangha on the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month to repay the
kindness of their parents. This is the origin of the Ullambana
Festival.
