THE MIRACULOUS AND
SUPERNATURAL
Marie B. Byles
TELEVISION ONCE SHOWED a picture of a man lyingon his back on a bed of nails with two planks across him
and a tractor or some-such thing being driven over him on the
two planks; at one time a wheel slipped off the plank and went
over his body. As he stood up the interviewer asked him how he
did it and how he felt. He said that he put his faith in Almighty
God and that he felt okay. Another film showed a man chewing
up wine-glasses and saying he enjoyed eating them.
I cannot vouch personally for these two happenings. But
it does seem that such strange and seemingly impossible things
do occur with certain unusually gifted people, and that science
is beginning to take notice of them and sometimestoivescientific
explanations.
There are also the strange workings of astrology and psycho-
kinesis -- as when a tensed hand is held over a compass and
swings the needle in the opposite direction, and extra-sensory
perceptions -- as when the details of the sinking of S.S. Titanic
were perceived thousands of miles away at the same time that it
happened. And most envied of all are the miracles of healing
both physical and mental. There have always been many such
Page 209
healers, One of the best known is Agnes Sanford who wrote the
well known Healing Light. And a less known mental healer was
the American Buddhist monk, Sumangalo, who unexpectedly
found he had suddenly acquired the ability to cure mental
disorders. Among these apparent miracle-workers we must place
those gifted preachers who have the power to convert people
from delinquency and drug addiction.
Let us then admit that these supernormal happenings are
factual, and also that science is becoming increasingly interested,
so that we may well expect a widening of our knowledge.
The question we need to consider is whether it will make
any difference to our social well-being if there are people trained
to eat glass or even to cure people of drug addiction and
delinquency. No supernormal talent in itself implies simple
goodness and compassion which alone can bring about more
harmonious relations between man and nature. True, some
religious books assume the goodness of the healer and other
miracle-workers, and assume that no one can be a saint unless he
performs miracles. But are miracles any different from other
supernormal happenings? Does what you call it make any
difference? Those who now walk on fire for the edification of
tourists, admit that it does not mean the same for them as it did
when they performed the same act for the glory of God. But the
fact remains that they outwardly achieve the same result as when
they did do it for the glory of God. Those who examine these
supernormal happenings from the scientific angle assume that
the moral goodness of the doer has nothing to do with the matter.
And indeed -- why should we think that goodness or
badness in the doer is important? After all the world is composed
of and founded upon pairs of opposites. Therefore we cannot
have white magic without black magic too, any more than we
Page 210
can have a positive without a negative. It is therefore obvious
that a person who performs, say, a miracle of healing is not
necessarily a good man or woman. For this reason it may or
may not be inspiring to read about miracles or other abnormal
happenings, which appear to be supernatural.
The supernormal happening depends upon the natural
talent of the individual who performs it. It is not of any
importance. The only thing that matters is whether it springs
from love and compassion which alone can draw us above the
pairs of opposites. To read of those who performed no miracles,
but who did achieve this love and compassion is far more likely
to be helpful and inspiring to ordinary people like ourselves.
Foremost among such ordinary people of whose thoughts
we have a written record is the saintly Stoic emperor of Rome
in the second century, Marcus Aurelius, who kept a record of
his meditations. And that simple record has been the inspiration
of millions all over the world. And yet he had no outstanding
talents: He had only simple goodness and kindness, springing
from compassionate love and understanding of the oneness of
all creation.
And another such was the simple Carmelite monk, Brother
Lawrence of the 17th century, who performed no miracles except
what the Buddha would call the only real miracle, that of a
transformed life. He accomplished this merely by turning his
mind to God and doing nothing but for the love of God. His
whole being radiated serenity and' love, and without any
intellectual explanations his example transformed the lives' of
many.
Of course we must all use the talents we have been given
and do the work that falls to our lot -- being the emperor of a
mighty empire, a cook in a monastery-kitchen, performer of
Page 211
miracles or healer of the sick. None is superior or inferior, and
talents do not count The way to compassion and enlightenment
is the same for all. We cannot and should not want to acquire
supernatural talents we do not already possess, nor scientific
knowledge beyond our normal capacity, nor even an inclination
to harness these supernatural happenings or miracles. There
are always specialists dealing with their particular fields. But we
each have a built-in computer, as it were, which collects what is
necessary for each of us according to our talents, if only we will
let it work freely unimpeded by our predilections. One of the
best ways of letting it work freely is to repeat in thought' or if
possible in a whisper, what the Hindus would call a mantra,
suited to one's individuality. Brother Lawrence's practice of the
presence of God is a perfect example, for he would do nothing
except for the love of God. By this means our whole being
tends to get tuned-in with Cosmic laws and the harmony of the
universe, whether we know them clearly or not.
Thus our individual talents get utilized by the internal
computer get and directed as migratory birds and fishes are.
Then whatever our talent, whether to perform operations
without anaesthetics like the Philippine healers, or merely to
wash dishes, our work will be well done.
Therefore let us read and learn whatever is helpful, but let
us not be bewildered by or crave for supernormal powers. Let
us be content with the Inner Light that has been given to us,
remembering that the greatest of Masters like Buddha,
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana have decried the
craving for and display of supernormal powers as utterly
detrimental to one's spiritual enlightenment.
Page 212