Magic in life

In the early morning of 12th January 2009 a great storm, similar in strength to a category one hurricane, brought sustained winds of one hundred and seventy kilometres an hour through our forest here in the south of France. People were killed by this storm, and the damage was enormous. Everywhere were fallen trees, damaged vehicles and demolished houses. 

However, for us in our little forest clearing, there was no damage to the house at all. Not even a single roof tile out of place. Trees fallen across the path to the road to be sure, but no damage whatsoever to our small property.
When one of my French students came to visit us to see how we were, she was immediately surprised by the situation and then outwardly delighted as she very seriously exclaimed, ‘It was the power of Michael’s meditation that kept the house safe !’
The spiritual life is the perfect platform for the cultivation of fantasies and further delusion. Special powers, healing rites and rituals and the promotion by certain teachers, of powerful mystical abilities. Without sustained wisdom and integrity it is so easy to fall into the trap of becoming a Dhamma celebrity and forgetting why we began this journey and why we have trained for so many years. To seek fame and popularity rather than following in the true path of Dhamma is to waste this precious opportunity to put down all the delusions of self identity, and be free.
The only function of the Master is to share Dhamma by their moment to moment example in their ordinary, everyday life. Manifesting love, compassion and wisdom in each simple action, and not becoming lost in the mind of ego, fame and special powers.
Without the desire to be ‘no-one’ we seek to be ‘someone’ and so take advantage and exploit the gullibility of those we should serve and help, to further that goal.
At one time in my room at the International Mediation Centre in Budh Gaya, a long time student of mine came to see me. She was crying because of tremendous pain in her back, that only became worse as the days went by. We talked and finally she left, however, as we both stood, in a moment of compassion I embraced her. This type of action is extremely rare for me, but it was spontaneous and without any intention on my part.
Half an hour later she exploded into my room again, this time smiling and excited.
'You healed me,’ she cried. ‘When you embraced me you put your hand exactly on the place where the pain was, and now it’s gone. You healed me !’
My only response was, ‘Please don’t mention this to anyone.’
'The biggest enemy to the meditator is imagination,’ so said my teacher, Sayadaw Rewata Dhamma, and the temptation to take credit for co-incidence, self healing and simply conditions changing, will not arise in the one who stays true to Dhamma. The special qualities demonstrated by the master are humility, integrity, love, compassion and wisdom. He (or she) does not seek recognition through magic or certain mystical powers and will never indulge the innocence or the imagination of their supporters.
I feel greatly relieved that the storm did not damage our house, but in truth, I can take no credit for it’s path !
I feel pleased that the pain of someone I know was relieved by our meeting, but again, I can take no credit for it’s passing.
Dhamma is to serve others, not exploit them. It is to give, not take and being no-one special is the greatest gift offered by the teacher.

May all beings be happy.