Once, a yoga master visited Maitreya and displayed his prowess.
At the end of the beautiful and awe-inspiring display of poses, Maitreya cheered and applauded the master saying, "Very good! Very good! Well done!"
The yoga master, swelling with pride, challenged Maitreya arrogantly, "Can you do that?!"
Now, we all know (or rather perceive) Maitreya to be this huge, fat guy with an enormous belly to match.
Given Maitreya perceived physique, it's not hard to understand that Maitreya can't perform those acrobatic asanas.
So, naturally, Maitreya replied honestly and humbly, "Oh no no no ...... of course not ......"
The audience and the students of Maitreya were shocked, sad and disappointed at the inability of their teacher.
In the background, someone was heard whispering, "But Maitreya's a Buddha! Surely a Buddha can do anything?"
At this point, the yoga master was so pleased with his 'power', he proclaimed smugly and loudly, "I won! I won! Maitreya, the Great Buddha-to-be is below me!"
Some of Maitreya's students and the audience were seen getting up and moving towards the yoga master.
Smiling gently and kindly, Maitreya quietly continued,
"But I'm sure if I practise hard enough, one day I will. It's just that I don't want or wish to. Poses are very nice to look at, but they are all physical ...... In which way do they benefit the world ...... in which way do they help me to be enlighten?"
"He who perform miracles (or psychic/supernatural powers) to gain followers are like tradespeople who employ dancing girls to sell their wares."
- The Buddha
"There is only one real magic - The magic of the Dhamma,
The teachings that can liberate the mind and put an end to suffering.
Any other magic is like the illusion of a card trick - it distracts us from the real game - our relation to human life, to birth and death, and to Freedom."
- Ajahn Chah
