Categories: Cosmic Messengers
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. In our ongoing spiritual discussions, we have previously touched upon a unique group of individuals we might call ‘Cosmic Representatives’ or universal agents. For those engaged in this type of spiritual seeking, today’s reflection aims to bring further clarity to this path. If you are new to this topic, we have a series of teachings available that explore this concept from the beginning, which you can find in our article archives. It is a path that, for many, has become intertwined with certain dangers.
These individuals, sincere in their spiritual seeking, often find themselves drawn towards the pursuit of occult sciences, which in the Buddhist tradition are known as gupta shāstra. We have observed that this path is often fueled by a deep-seated craving for power, a thirst for special abilities and status that can lead one astray. This isn’t just a minor distraction; it is a significant obstacle on the path to liberation.
The Alluring Trap of Prophecy and Past Identities
This craving for power often manifests in a peculiar way. Some on this path begin to identify with powerful figures from history and myth, believing themselves to be reincarnations of ancient characters. For instance, some men see themselves as a prophesied future king like ‘Diyasena’ or the legendary King ‘Ravana’. Women might identify as ‘Mandodari’ or ‘Sita’, believing they are destined to become future queens. This belief that they are destined for worldly royalty in a future age is a powerful delusion.
We are now in the year 2024, and many of the prophecies made by those who promoted these ideas have already proven to be false. This itself should be a sign. We have spoken before about the need to remain neutral and objective when encountering such claims. These identities are not your own. They are projections, often planted by unseen forces or by Māra, the embodiment of temptation and delusion in Buddhism, to mislead you. This is a crucial point to understand in your spiritual seeking.
Sacred Places, Flawed Intentions: The Quest for Power
Today, many of these spiritual seekers form groups, both in person and online through platforms like WhatsApp. A word of caution: our ‘Adhyathmika Bhikshun’ (Spiritual Monks) platform does not currently operate any such groups. If you encounter one, it is not authentic and we are not involved in its management. Please do not be deceived. Should we create such a community, we will announce it officially through our main channel.
Within these groups, a common practice has emerged: traveling to sacred places to ‘absorb’ spiritual energy and increase one’s power. They might advise each other, ‘Go to the great Ruwanwelisaya stupa and make this specific offering, and you will gain the power you need.’ While visiting a sacred site like Ruwanwelisaya or any of the sixteen sacred places (Solosmasthana) is wonderful for generating merit, the intention is everything.
If you go with a heart full of craving, a thirst, known as tanhā, to become a ‘somebody’ with special powers like healing, you gain very little true merit. Even if you were to make an offering to the living Buddha himself, doing so with a mind full of craving would yield little benefit.
This is why, when making an offering, we are taught to do so with a mind that has subdued greed (lobha), hatred (dvesha), and delusion (moha). According to the deeper teachings of Abhidhamma, this purity of intention helps create the conditions for a ‘three-rooted rebirth’ (trihetuka patisandhi), a future life with the innate wisdom to attain enlightenment. This is the foundation of genuine spiritual seeking.
The Emptiness of Chasing Power vs. the Wisdom of Inner Work
The messages guiding you on this flawed path can come from anyone, a teacher, a friend, or even a stranger from an online group you’ve never met. You might have known them for years, yet the advice remains the same: ‘Let’s go to the Kataragama temple,’ or some other location, based on group consensus. To put it simply, this is a fruitless activity. It yields no lasting results.
There is a profound difference between traveling to a quiet place, like a forest monastery or a secluded grove, to practice meditation for genuine mental development, and traveling with the hope of gaining power. The first is wise; the second is a form of foolishness and ignorance (avijjā). Developing your mind through calmness and insight meditation (Samatha-Vipassanā) is always skillful. But pursuing these narrow, selfish goals is not.
Often, the leaders of these groups will say, ‘You go and perform the ritual, you go and gather the energy, and that power will come to me as well. We can all become stronger.’ This is how they feed their followers’ desires while consolidating their own influence. Please be aware of this dynamic and do not fall for it.
A Sobering Reminder: You Are Not Immune to Deception
It is vital to remember that none of us are perfect. None of us are fully enlightened beings, or Arahats, who have completely eradicated all mental defilements (kilesa). Because we are imperfect, we are all vulnerable. The armies of Māra, the tempter, and other unseen, misguided forces, even deities with wrong views (micchāditthika devas), can give you false messages. We have discussed this in detail in previous teachings, and listening to them will provide many answers.
Therefore, do not engage in these power-seeking journeys, no matter who suggests them. It is perfectly fine to visit a monastery to offer a meal (dāna) or to go to any sacred place with a pure heart. It is wonderful to find a quiet place, be it a forest hermitage or your own home, to develop your mind through meditation, to cultivate deep states of concentration (jhāna), or to develop higher knowledges (abhiññā) with the sole intention of purifying your heart.
You can go to Kataragama, Ruwanwelisaya, Kiri Vehera, or Somawathiya, the place is not the problem. The problem is going with narrow, selfish aims. You will gain nothing. You will only waste your time and money. Any feeling of ‘power’ you get will be fleeting and ultimately meaningless.
Dabbling in the Dark: The Dangers of Occult Experiments
These groups, comprised of people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, often engage in experiments with the unseen world. They explore occultism, sometimes through individuals who have opened their ‘third eye’, but more often through what I consider third-rate methods: divination, scrying (anjana balīma), or horoscopes. These abilities are not cultivated through pure meditation, but through other means.
Their experiments venture into strange territories, exploring theories about extraterrestrial life and even so-called ‘reptilian beings’. The more you discuss these topics, the more you open a connection to unseen worlds. As this connection grows, especially if you are not grounded in virtue (sīla) or protected by practices like chanting protective verses (pirith), you become vulnerable. The more you engage in these questionable pursuits while neglecting the foundational practices we have taught, the closer these negative forces get.
When the Unseen World Invades: The Real-World Consequences
If you have some psychic sight, you may begin to notice your surroundings literally growing darker over time. You will see strange, shapeless entities you have never seen before, and they will send harmful energies or ‘rays’ toward you. This is not just a psychic phenomenon; it will bleed into your daily life.
- Problems will arise in your family.
- If you have a job, you may be working honestly, but conflicts will increase.
- If you have a business, it will begin to fail.
- Your children’s education will be disrupted.
Eventually, these forces may try to take control of you. They can cause you to lose consciousness and use your physical body to do whatever they please, potentially leading to shameful acts or terrible accidents. They can manipulate you and isolate you. It is not just one or two entities; a whole host of them can begin to follow you. This is the inevitable result of constantly probing these useless topics without the protection of virtue and meditation.
Your True Shield: The Power of Loving-Kindness and Mindfulness
So, how do you protect yourself? While the Buddha taught about many kinds of unseen beings, the solution is universal and powerful. Do not fear Māra. Do not fear any unseen beings, reptilian or otherwise. We have taught the method to escape their influence before, and it is beautifully simple: the cultivation of Mettā Bhāvanā (Loving-Kindness Meditation) and the constant practice of Sati (Mindfulness).
This is your shield. Loving-kindness and mindfulness can protect you from any external influence. This is not to say you should never discuss these topics, but to obsess over them is pointless and harmful. It brings more danger than benefit. True spiritual seeking is not about exploring the strange corners of the cosmos; it is about purifying your own heart.
Choosing Your Path: The Wisdom of Letting Go
For those to whom this message resonates, the path forward is clear. Stop chasing after things that do not belong to you. It is a meaningless pursuit that wastes your time and resources, yielding only frustration. Turn your attention inward. Give your number one priority to meditation, to developing states of deep calm, and especially to loving-kindness. It is essential for any true spiritual seeker to cultivate Mettā.
Practice in one of two ways: either by radiating loving-kindness outwards to all ten directions, encompassing all beings, or by focusing it more specifically on your family, your neighbors, and those around you. Train yourself in one of these methods. If you do not, you will inevitably face these kinds of problems.
Please reflect on this guidance. For those who have followed this misguided path, look back and ask yourself: what have you truly gained? What have you lost? Be discerning about the characters in these groups. Many are driven by greed, power, and other hidden, selfish motives. See them for what they are and do not be deceived by their claims of power. They have very little. Do not fear them, and do not be fooled by them.
May the power and blessings of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha give you the strength and clarity to understand these truths and to practice accordingly.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!.
