The Abhinnas are said to be supernatural powers that are exhibited at some point after a meditator reaches the fourth Jhana. Is this pure nonsense like most of the superstitions found in Buddhism? If someone had told me about them before my experiences, I’d have said exactly that. Buddhist mythology has become part of rational-minded Buddhists’ belief over the years.
Monks are telling ludicrous stories and insisting they are true because they read it somewhere. It’s like someone insisting the Bible or Koran are god’s unedited word.
Are the Abhinnas another Buddhist invention to keep the masses entertained, wide-eyed, fearful or respectful of what is beyond and what some people are capable of?
This article explores the reality of the Abhinnas (Abhiññās). Abhinnas Index here >
Do a Google search to see how many people are talking about the Abhinnas. Very few people have even heard of them or are interested in them. Why is that? In general, I think people don’t believe they are real.
In my experience, I can tell you 100% – some of the Abhinnas are absolutely real.
Some of the oddest experiences in my life happened as I meditated and began entering the deep jhanas. The Abhinnas popped up just like Jhana. I didn’t know they were a ‘thing.’ I didn’t know anyone had a name for what was happening.
After I learned about Jhana I saw some references to Abhinna. When I read the description of Abhinna I couldn’t believe it. The odd experiences I had after reaching the 4th Jhana were part of the Abhinnas.
What Are the Abhinnas?
Abhiññās are “higher knowledges” or special abilities said to arise from advanced meditation practice in Buddhism.
The Traditional Six Abhinnas
- Iddhi Vidha: Psychic/Magical Powers (walking on water, flying, transformation, creating duplicates, etc.)
- Dibba-sota: Divine Ear (clairaudience)
- Ceto-pariya-ñāṇa: Mind-Penetrating Knowledge (telepathy/mind-reading)
- Pubbe-nivāsānussati-ñāṇa: Remembering Past Lives
- Dibba-cakkhu: Divine Eye (clairvoyance, seeing beings’ rebirths according to karma)
- Āsavakkhaya-ñāṇa: Knowledge of the Destruction of Defilements/Taints (the supramundane knowledge of liberation/enlightenment).
Are these abilities, particularly the first five “mundane” powers, literal realities attainable through meditation, or are they symbolic, metaphorical, or psychological phenomena?
While I cannot say for certain whether all of the Abhinnas are literal realities, I can say that the Divine Eye, Mind-penetrating knowledge are real. I experienced them shortly after reaching the 4th Jhana. It should be noted that I had no idea I had even reached the 4th Jhana or what that was. I had reached the state without knowing that others called it 4th Jhana. Likewise, when the Abhinnas started, I had no idea what was happening in my mind. I only later found out these experiences had a name – Abhinnas.
- The Traditional Buddhist Viewpoint (Based on Texts)
- Scriptural Basis: Samaññaphala Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, where the Buddha describes these abilities as fruits of the contemplative life following the attainment of the Jhanas.
- Attainability: Traditional texts present these as genuinely attainable results of mastering concentration and purifying the mind. It was said that Buddha and many arahants (fully liberated disciples) were able to reach some of the Abhinnas.
- Purpose & Attitude: While described as possible, the mundane powers (first five) were often warned against as potential distractions or sources of ego-inflation. They are byproducts, not the ultimate goal. The sixth (liberation through destruction of the defilements) is the true aim of the Theravada Buddhist path.
- The Mechanism: How Abhiññās Are Said to Develop
- Foundation in Samādhi: It’s necessary to reach profound (perfect) mental concentration and stability through meditation.
- Role of the 4th Jhana: The 4th Jhana is a state of deep equanimity, mental purity, and stillness, free from pleasure and pain. This highly refined and stable state of mind is considered the essential launching pad to Abhinna. It should be noted that in the Deep 4th Jhana, no Abhinna is possible. The mind simply cannot work to perform Abhinnas. However, there is a state that is more like the Sutta or Light 4th Jhana where someone can experience Abhinna.
- Directing the Mind: The traditional view is that from the base of the 4th Jhana, the purified, concentrated mind becomes exceptionally pliable and can be directed towards specific “knowledges,” essentially accessing subtle realities or manipulating phenomena through sheer mental power. It should be noted that I never attempted to direct anything, the Abhinnas just came of their own accord.
- Modern Skepticism and Scientific Scrutiny
- Lack of Empirical Evidence: There doesn’t seem to be any verifiable, repeatable scientific evidence under controlled conditions to support the literal existence of these supernatural abilities. My abilities did not last a long time, possibly because I didn’t know what was happening and I never focused on them. I never knew they could be developed further.
- Challenges to Verification: Abhinna is hard to test scientifically (subjectivity, non-repeatability on demand, potential for fraud/self-deception).
- Alternative Explanations:
- Psychological: Hallucinations in altered states, heightened intuition misinterpreted as telepathy, cryptomnesia (forgotten memories surfacing) mistaken for past life recall, confirmation bias. In my case, I was not in an altered state, mine happened outside of Deep Jhana. Past life recall is said to be to the tune of tens of thousands of lives. That’s hardly going to be forgotten memories surfacing. Confirmation bias was impossible in my case, I had no idea Abhinna even existed.
- Metaphorical/Symbolic: Abilities representing stages of insight, mental mastery, or profound understanding rather than literal powers. (this makes no sense in relation to the Abhinnas)
- Cultural Context: Stories reflecting ancient worldviews where such powers were commonly believed in. Note – I never heard any stories like this.
- Anecdotes vs. Proof: Examining the Evidence
- Prevalence of Stories: Acknowledge the abundance of anecdotal accounts within Buddhist traditions (stories of past masters) and some contemporary claims by practitioners. There are many stories, much of it surely mythology, around the powers of monks. One thing that recurs is the power of recalling past lives. I’ve never felt that ability.
- Limitations of Anecdotes: Though my personal stories, however compelling, are true. They do not constitute scientific proof.
- The Question of Demonstration: Why aren’t these powers demonstrated openly if real? Possible traditional responses (discouraged, abilities are unstable, require specific conditions, not the point of practice). Skeptical response (they don’t exist as claimed). Note – my own idea is that so few people are reaching deep Jhana 4 that the Abhinnas have been forgotten by the human race.
- The Real Point: Liberation (Āsavakkhaya-ñāṇa)
- The Supramundane Goal: Within the Buddhist framework itself, the ultimate and most important Abhiññā is the sixth – the knowledge that ends suffering and leads to Nibbana/Nirvana. The destruction of the defilements.
- Mundane vs. Supramundane: The first five powers are “mundane” (lokiya), still operating within the realm of conditioned existence. Only the sixth is “supramundane” (lokuttara) and is truly transformative, leading to potential nibbana.
- Distraction Potential: Monks traditionally warn that fascination with or pursuit of mundane powers can be a significant hindrance to achieving genuine liberation. Note – this, like many Buddhist cautions, appears to be total nonsense. There are hundreds of things that are supposed to be a hindrance to liberation, and yet liberation comes anyway. The problem with Buddhism is that they are teaching not what the Buddha actually DID, but what they imagine must happen in order to reach nibbana. This is a massive stumbling block to someone who may be on a good path, but trying to navigate Buddhism’s complete nonsense about what can and should be done as one moves down the path leading to 100% concentration, Jhana, and Abhinna.
- Conclusion: Bridging Belief and Evidence
- An Open Question?: Acknowledge that for many, the literal reality remains a matter of faith or interpretation. Science cannot definitively disprove them, only note the lack of positive evidence.
I’m finishing up my new book, “DEEP JHANA – Total Ego Annihilation”
due to be released 10 May 2025. In that book I mention the Abhinnas.