Date: 07/26/2025 07/27/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Maudgalyāyana, Foremost in Supernatural Powers
Venerable Maudgalyāyana was a great disciple of the Blessed One. When the Buddha expounded the Dharma, Maudgalyāyana stood at his left side. During the first two years following the Buddha’s enlightenment, Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana took refuge in the Buddha. From the time they entered the Saṅgha, Maudgalyāyana was ever positioned to the left of the Buddha, and Śāriputra to the right. Unless they departed to teach in distant regions, they never left the Buddha’s side.
The name “Maudgalyāyana” means “One who is greatly praised and extolled.” He had formerly followed another religious path and was a close spiritual brother of Śāriputra. They once made a vow: whosoever among them first attained liberation would guide and support the other. When Śāriputra entered the Buddha’s path, Maudgalyāyana, keeping to their promise, also led more than a hundred disciples to take refuge in the Triple Gem.
Their joining gave tremendous momentum to the Saṅgha, and among the Blessed One’s disciples, they were held in highest esteem.
Śāriputra attained the exhaustion of the outflows and eradicated defilements fifteen days after ordination; Maudgalyāyana, however, realized the destruction of the outflows and attained the perfection of supernatural knowledge (abhijñā-pāramitā) within just seven days.
In the Āgama Sutras, it is said:
“With swift and subtle spiritual feet, he soared to the ten directions”
Thus, he was called Foremost in Supernatural Powers.
Venerable Maudgalyāyana not only traveled among many countries, he would often descend into the hell realms through his supernatural power, observing the karmic retributions of beings undergoing their rewards and punishments.
Among the Buddha’s bhikkhu disciples, many possessed spiritual powers, but Maudgalyāyana was foremost because he frequently used his powers in teaching and transformation. His divine hearing could perceive all sounds, near and far; his divine vision could penetrate all obstructions; no distance hindered his travel—he could arrive in a single instant. He often employed supernatural transformations to assist the Buddha in expounding the Dharma. Although the Buddha generally discouraged the use of miracles to mislead the masses, he often praised Maudgalyāyana’s powers.
Why did Maudgalyāyana possess such wondrous abilities? It arose from subtle causes in a past life.
In a former existence, Maudgalyāyana was a fisherman who made his living by catching and selling fish and shrimp along the sea. Day after day, he engaged in this livelihood until one day his conscience awakened. Realizing that such a life was one of grave karmic burden, he resolved to abandon it in pursuit of virtue.
Soon after, he encountered a pratyekabuddha in the city—one whose deportment was calm and majestic. Upon seeing the noble presence of this sage, Maudgalyāyana was filled with reverence and invited him to his home for a meal. Although this pratyekabuddha did not teach with words, he demonstrated Dharma through supernatural means. After the meal, he rose into the air, moving freely in all directions—left and right, up and down. Witnessing this, Maudgalyāyana rejoiced and made a great vow:
“May I in a future life also attain such supernatural power.”
It was due to this karmic aspiration that Maudgalyāyana, in this present life, took refuge in the Buddha and came to be known among the Buddha’s disciples as Foremost in Supernatural Powers.
There is a famous account concerning Maudgalyāyana—the origin of the Ullambana Assembly.
Possessing the heavenly eye (divya-cakṣus), Venerable Maudgalyāyana could observe the karmic conditions and retributions of beings in the ghost realms. One day, he suddenly recalled his departed mother. Using his divine sight, he beheld her reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering bitter torment. Her throat was as narrow as a needle’s eye, and her body was gaunt and skeletal. Seeing her in such agony, Maudgalyāyana was overwhelmed with sorrow and filial grief.
He quickly filled his bowl with food and, by his supernatural power, offered it to his mother. Yet before she could place the food in her mouth, it turned into burning coals and could not be consumed. Witnessing this, Maudgalyāyana wailed in helpless lamentation.
Though he could observe the karmic conditions of many ghosts, he could not fathom the cause of his own mother’s suffering. With a heavy heart, he hastened to the Buddha and reported:
“Bhagavān! Today I beheld my mother, reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering greatly. The food I offered turned to burning charcoal. I do not understand what karmic cause led to such a fate. Though I can perceive the karma of countless spirits, I cannot comprehend my own mother’s. I beseech the Buddha to compassionately reveal the cause.”
The Buddha, radiating the light of mercy, replied:
“Maudgalyāyana, your mother, while still alive, slandered the Buddha and the Saṅgha, rejected the law of karma, and indulged in greed, hatred, and false views. She mocked sentient beings and thus reaps such suffering. Your deep filial affection clouds your divine vision; thus, you could not discern her karma.”
Maudgalyāyana implored:
“Bhagavān! Is there any wondrous method by which my mother may be delivered from the suffering of the hungry ghost realm?”
The Buddha answered:
“Maudgalyāyana, your mother’s karmic offenses are deeply rooted. Your own power is not sufficient to rescue her. Though your filial piety moves even the heavens, the gods themselves cannot save one who has defamed the Triple Gem. Only by relying on the collective virtue and spiritual might of the saṅgha in all ten directions can she be freed.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month—when the Saṅgha completes its summer retreat—it is the day of pravarana, also known as the Buddha’s Joyful Day. On this day, sons and daughters should offer an abundance of fine foods and delicacies to the Saṅgha on behalf of their parents—both living and deceased, including those in distress.
On this sacred day, all noble Saṅgha members dwell in pure discipline. Their merit is vast and inconceivable, like an ocean. If one offers to such a Saṅgha, then one’s parents and relatives shall surely be liberated from the three evil realms. If one’s parents are still alive, they shall enjoy health and happiness for a hundred years. This, Maudgalyāyana, is the supreme method of deliverance and transcendence.”
Maudgalyāyana rejoiced in the Buddha’s instruction and offered food to the noble Saṅgha on pravarana day. As a result, his mother was immediately liberated from her suffering in the ghost realm.
Grateful to the Buddha, Maudgalyāyana extolled the merit of the Triple Gem and exhorted the world to perform the Ullambana Offering, honoring the Buddha and the Saṅgha, and repaying the boundless kindness of parents.
Though Maudgalyāyana was renowned as foremost in supernatural powers, he met his end at the hands of heretics.
Because he used his powers to aid in the propagation of the Dharma, he incurred the jealousy of rival sects. Unable to harm the Buddha, the heretics schemed to assassinate Maudgalyāyana. While he was traveling to teach the Dharma near Mount Isigili, they ambushed him from above, hurling stones like a rainstorm. Though grievously injured, he struggled back to Śāriputra’s residence.
Śāriputra asked:
“Why did you not escape with your powers?”
Maudgalyāyana replied:
“This is the retribution of heavy karma from past lives. I must now endure it. Before I pass, I came to bid you farewell.”
Śāriputra said:
“No, let us fulfill our vow and depart together.”
The two of them returned to the Buddha to take leave, then journeyed to their native lands to teach their kin and friends the Dharma. Thereafter, they entered parinirvāṇa together.
When news of Maudgalyāyana’s martyrdom reached King Ajātaśatru, he was enraged and ordered the arrest of the murderers. Thousands of naked ascetics were cast into the fire pits under the king’s decree.
Yet the death of the heretics could not dispel the sorrow that filled the Saṅgha. The monks mourned deeply. They lamented the injustice:
“How could Maudgalyāyana, with such great spiritual power, be unable to avoid this fate?”
The Buddha comforted them, saying:
“O bhikkhus! Maudgalyāyana did not perish for lack of power. He possessed great supernatural might and could have preserved his life. But this is not the ultimate path. A true cultivator does not violate the law of karma. In a former life, Maudgalyāyana took life as a fisherman. That karma has now ripened.
Moreover, Maudgalyāyana vowed to offer his life for the sake of the truth. His vow is now fulfilled, and he joyfully entered parinirvāṇa. If all my disciples could emulate Maudgalyāyana’s spirit of selfless sacrifice, the Dharma would shine ever more brightly.
Bhikkhus, you should follow the example of Venerable Maudgalyāyana!”The Buddha’s words moved the Saṅgha to tears. Though Maudgalyāyana’s physical body perished, countless others, inspired by his vow, would willingly and joyfully walk the path of the martyr—dedicated to the propagation of the Blessed One’s truth, and the flourishing of the holy Dharma.
