Theos-Talk Archives (February 2001 Message tt00037)

sanctius@mail.com wrote:
> John Stankiewicz:
> >You're deluded about this (no offense meant), as most people are.
> 
> I might be deluded, yes. By myself or by others. As long
> there are "myself" and "others", I might be deluded. O:-)
> 
> >Even two intitiates of the same degree will
> >most likely manifest different siddhis.
> 
> But what in reality ARE those so-called siddhis? Isn't my physical
> hearing and sight siddhis too? Isn't it a siddhi anymore when
> everybody has it? 

One reason why it is important to remember that exhibition of siddhis
is NOT a sign of spiritual development. I am by no means at a notably
higher level of spiritual development than most of humanity, but I have
freaked a lot of people out because I have what some consider to be a
siddhi; the ability to solve reasonably complex arithmetic problems in
my head (meaning that I can be replaced by a $1 calculator...). Their
problem is that I actually USE the ability; when they make a statement
which involves faulty arithmetic, I will spot it almost immediately, and
they think I'm using black magic (the talent DID come in handy when I
made a trip to France with my family about 30 years ago; there was only
one restaurant or hotel during the entire 3 week trip that did not
attempt to overcharge us).

Bart Lidofsky