From the I Ching to Buddhism: Exploring the Relationship Between Supernatural Powers and Human Wisdom

Since ancient times, humans have been curious about the unknown world and eager to know the future. In traditional Chinese culture, divination and fortune-telling were seen as important ways to connect with heaven and earth and predict the future. However, with the passage of time, these ancient wisdoms have been forgotten or misunderstood by modern people.

This article aims to explore the essence of "supernatural powers" and "divination" by sorting out relevant concepts in Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture, revealing the potential wisdom abilities of humans. We will start with the five classifications of supernatural powers, analyze their causes and manifestations, and then discuss the method of "dependent powers" that rely on material tools for prediction. It is hoped that through this article, readers will gain a renewed understanding of traditional wisdom and consider how to draw its essence in modern life.

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I. Divination and Fortune-Telling: Two Different Methods of Prediction

In daily life, people often use the term "divination" to refer to all activities that predict the future. However, in ancient times, "divination" (占) and "fortune-telling" (卜) were two different methods. "Fortune-telling" (卜) involved observing cracks on turtle shells or animal bones to predict good or bad fortune, called "bu gua" (卜卦); "divination" (占) involved observing natural phenomena or other methods to predict the future, called "zhan bu" (占卜). The characters found on oracle bones by archaeologists are "卜" (bu), one of the early ways humans explored the mysteries of the universe. This desire to explore the future has run through all civilizations from ancient times to the present.

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II. Supernatural Powers: The Instinct and Obscuration of Human Wisdom

In Buddhism, supernatural powers refer to abilities beyond those of ordinary people, obtained through cultivation or other means. According to Buddhist scriptures, there are six main types of supernatural powers:

1. Rddhi-vidhā-jñāna (Supernatural Foot Power): Also known as the power of bodily transformation, it refers to the ability to freely change one's physical form, pass through obstacles, fly, etc.

2. Divya-cakṣus (Divine Eye): The ability to see extremely distant things, even past and future scenes.

3. Divya-śrotra (Divine Ear): The ability to hear extremely distant sounds, including the thoughts of others.

4. Paracitta-jñāna (Knowledge of Others' Minds): The ability to understand the inner thoughts of others.

5. Pūrva-nivāsānusmṛti-jñāna (Knowledge of Past Lives): The ability to know one's own and others' past lives.

6. Āsravakṣaya-jñāna (Knowledge of the Extinction of Outflows): Refers to the complete elimination of all afflictions and attainment of nirvana.

Additionally, Buddhism mentions five sources of supernatural powers:

• Resultant Powers (报通): Supernatural powers naturally possessed in this life due to the fruition of past cultivation.

• Cultivated Powers (修通): Supernatural powers obtained through cultivation in this life, such as through meditation.

• Ghost Powers (鬼通): Supernatural phenomena arising from possession or influence by ghosts.

• Demon Powers (妖通): Supernatural phenomena arising from possession or influence by demons or spirits.

• Dependent Powers (依通): Supernatural powers obtained by relying on external tools or methods, such as divination or fortune-telling.

It should be noted that Buddhism does not encourage the pursuit of supernatural powers, believing that true cultivation should aim at eliminating afflictions and liberating from birth and death. Excessive pursuit of supernatural powers may lead to deviation from the right path and even falling into demonic ways.

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III. Resultant Powers: Inborn Talents

Resultant powers refer to supernatural abilities that some people are born with, brought about by the fruition of past lives. These individuals mostly had high wisdom and good cultivation in past lives, thus exhibiting special instincts in this life.

IV. Cultivated Powers: Abilities Obtained Through Practice

Cultivated powers refer to supernatural abilities obtained through cultivation in this life. When a person cultivates to the extreme and reaches a state of deep concentration, the innate wisdom of life erupts, thereby obtaining some supernatural power.

V. Demon Powers and Ghost Powers: Phenomena of External Possession

Demon powers and ghost powers refer to functions produced by being possessed by external forces due to poor health. In Buddhism, such beings are called "non-humans," not belonging to the human category. Some even have form and the ability to act. Among them, good ones are called heavenly beings, evil ones are called demons, and worse ones are called ghosts. These phenomena are mentally abnormal and fall under the categories of demon powers and ghost powers.

VI. Dependent Powers: Achieving Foreknowledge Through Tools

In traditional Chinese culture, "dependent powers" refer to the ability to predict the future through external tools or methods, such as divination or fortune-telling. These methods rely on specific tools or techniques, aiming to reveal areas beyond human rationality. For example, the divination method in the I Ching involves observing cracks on turtle shells or animal bones to predict good or bad fortune. The characters found on oracle bones by archaeologists are "卜" (bu), one of the early ways humans explored the mysteries of the universe. This desire to explore the future has run through all civilizations from ancient times to the present.

However, Buddhism does not encourage excessive pursuit of supernatural powers, believing that true cultivation should aim at eliminating afflictions and liberating from birth and death. Over-reliance on "dependent powers" may lead to deviation from the right path and even fall into superstition. As the I Ching says, "Those skilled in the I Ching do not divine." Those who truly understand the I Ching do not need to use divination to predict the future. Therefore, we should view "dependent powers" rationally, using them as auxiliary tools rather than the guide of life.

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VII. The Mysteries of the Universe and Human Limitations

There are indeed mysteries in the universe, but these are not true mysteries; they are areas yet to be discovered by humans. Every life has its remarkable functions, but not all. Among humans, functions are relatively complete, but there are still many abilities that cannot be achieved. For example, human eyes cannot see through walls, but those with true supernatural powers can. In fact, humans originally could do these things, but due to acquired thoughts and emotional obstacles, the original functions have been lost, hence the need for dependent powers to compensate for these deficiencies.

VIII. The Difference Between Supernatural Powers and Wisdom

Supernatural powers are inherent functions of the life spirit, achievements of intelligence, but not necessarily the wisdom of enlightenment. The wisdom of enlightenment has nothing to do with supernatural powers and does not even need them. Therefore, studying the I Ching should not aim at foreknowledge. Those who truly understand the I Ching do not rely on divination, fortune-telling, or geomancy. The ancients said, "Those skilled in the I Ching do not divine." Those who truly understand the I Ching do not need to use divination to predict the future.

IX. Foreknowledge Is Not Necessarily a Blessing

People with foreknowledge may find life boring. If a person knows what will happen tomorrow, or even next year, they may lose the motivation and joy of living. For example, if they know there will be an accident on the street tomorrow, they may be afraid to go out. Therefore, foreknowledge is not necessarily a good thing. The ancients also said, "Seeing the fish in the deep water is unlucky," meaning that being too shrewd to see through everything is actually inauspicious. Excessive cleverness can bring negative effects, so maintaining a moderate level of ignorance is better.

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X. Conclusion: Understanding the True Meaning of Supernatural Powers

People with foreknowledge are not necessarily auspicious. Those who claim to be able to summon wind and rain and know the past and future often have not achieved true success. Although they can predict the fate of others, their own fate is merely to tell fortunes for others. Therefore, we should understand these principles and not be deceived by appearances.

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References:

• Nan Huaijin, "Lectures on the Appended Judgments of the I Ching"
• Buddhist Navigation, "Five Types of Supernatural Powers and the Six Supernatural Powers of Arhats"
• "Sutra of the Divination of the Good and Evil Karma"

Prompt

Below are Midjourney image generation prompts tailored for three sections of your Zhihu article, with the recommended 16:9 aspect ratio, suitable for use as article headers or section illustrations:

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I. 📜 Divination and Fortune-Telling: Distinction of Methods and Cultural Heritage

🎨 Prompt:

An ancient Chinese divination scene featuring a wise sage interpreting cracks on a tortoise shell, surrounded by traditional artifacts like oracle bones, bamboo slips, and ancient scrolls. The setting is a candle-lit study with ink-brush calligraphy and wooden table. Traditional Chinese ink wash painting style, soft lighting, detailed historical atmosphere. --ar 16:9 --style raw --v 5

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II. 🔮 Dependent Powers: Achieving Foreknowledge Through Tools

🎨 Prompt:

A mystical tabletop arrangement of global divination tools: I Ching hexagrams, tarot cards, crystal spheres, astrological charts, and a Chinese compass. Candlelight flickers over aged parchment and wooden surfaces. Cosmic symbols faintly glow in the background, representing intuitive knowledge. Fantasy realism style, soft shadows, high detail. --ar 16:9 --style raw --v 5

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III. 🌌 The Mysteries of the Universe and Human Limitations

🎨 Prompt:

A surreal cosmic landscape showing a human figure meditating at the center of a luminous energy grid, surrounded by flowing constellations, cosmic currents, and symbols of limited human senses (eye, ear, brain in abstraction). Ethereal colors, soft glow, dreamlike atmosphere, universe expansion in background. Surreal visionary art style. --ar 16:9 --style raw --v 5

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