Psychic Phenomena

Psychic Phenomena

H.W.L. Poonja, who died in 1997, was a teacher of nonduality in India, known as Poonjaji or “Papaji.” When he was still a spiritual seeker, he went to see Ramana Maharshi. Poonja said that he was adept at psychic experiences, and sought to find out from Ramana if that had relevance to the condition of enlightenment. Ramana asked: Is your supernormal experience present right now?

No, Poonja said. Ramana told him: What I experience does not come and go.

Understanding this, Poonja ceased to cultivate psychic abilities. He focused his attention instead on the teachings of nonduality, and became somewhat of a successor to Ramana (who died in 1950).

Study what the spiritual masters have advised concerning this matter. Ramana said psychic experiences, or even powers, are “mere phenomena…only transient…not worth striving for…apt to prove a hindrance to enlightenment…(subjects) will likely lose their way.”

Specifically, he is quoted as saying “there is no wisdom in the one (cultivating) them. (Psychic powers) are not worthy of any thought. Self-realization alone is to be aimed at and gained.”

The wisest person takes this view: the foremost priority is Selfrealization. If psychic experiences then manifest, that would be a by-product. There is a possibility that such an occurrence can happen—but not the other way around. Again, research what the enlightened masters have said about this.