Transcendental
powers cannot override karma
When the Buddha was staying in Bamboo Forest Vihara in Maghada, there were four brothers in a Brahman family who had all attained the five transcendental powers. Although they knew they had only seven more days to live, they believed they could escape their deaths by their mighty powers which could move mountains and the sea.
The first one said:" I will dive into the sea and stay neither at the bottom of it nor afloat so that the ghost of impermanence cannot find me to take my life away."
The second one said:" I will dig and hide in Mount Sumeru so that he could not find me."
The third one said:" I will disappear in space so he would not know where I am."
The last one said:" I have to mingle in the crowds of the city so he can take someone else's life instead of mine."
Having finished their discussion, the four of them bade farewell to their king:" Our king! The four of us have only seven more days to live. We are now trying to escape the arrest of the ghost of impermanence by looking for a safe hiding place.We will be back soon, and hope you will care for your people in the meantime to accumulate further merits."
Having said this, they followed their respective plans to evade death. But all of them died after seven days. This was just like the fruits which have to fall to the ground when they are fully ripened.
When the mayor reported to the king that one of the brothers was found dead on the street, the king thought:" The four had made their escape together. Now that one is found dead, I think the others must have met the same fate. So, he came to the Buddha to confirm this:" Buddha! There were four brothers in my country who had great transcendental powers. They could predict their own deaths and they intended to avoid this calamity. May I ask if they had all managed to do so?"
The Buddha said:" There are four things in life which are inescapable. 1. After death, everyone has to be reborn. 2. After birth, everyone will grow old. 3. In old age, the torment of illnesses will come at any time. 4. When illnesses are contracted, death will inevitably follow."
On hearing this discourse, the king exalted:" You have taught well, one of the brothers who had planned to escape is already dead. Fame, fortune and longevity of this world are determined by causes and conditions, I am sure the other three brothers must have met their deaths too!"
[ There is a saying:' Those who die in fighting usually know how to fight; those who are drowned usually know how to swim."Do not think that transcendental power is almighty, and that you can manipulate with it. In the face of karma, it is useless. Relying too much on it may be dangerous or even fatal.]
