Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Abhiññā: [f.] supernormal knowledge; direct knowledge; psychic power. Formed by prefix abhi (superior, higher, special) + ñā (to know). Meaning: a higher, transcendent form of knowing.
Orthodox Definition
Abhiññā refers to six specific supernormal cognitive powers. The first five are mundane (lokiya) and can be achieved by worldlings and non-Buddhists who master the fourth jhāna. The sixth is supramundane (lokuttara) and belongs exclusively to the fully awakened.
The Six Direct Knowledges (chaḷabhiññā) are:
- Iddhividha: Magical/psychic powers (multiplying the body, walking on water, etc.).
- Dibbasota: The Divine Ear (clairaudience).
- Cetopariyañāṇa: Penetration of others’ minds (telepathy).
- Pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇa: Recollection of past lives.
- Dibbacakkhu: The Divine Eye (clairvoyance / seeing beings passing away and rearising according to kamma).
- Āsavakkhayañāṇa: Knowledge of the destruction of the taints (leading to Arahatship).
The Visuddhimagga explicitly details that to acquire the five mundane powers, the meditator must achieve the absolute peak of concentration: the fourth jhāna based specifically on a physical kasiṇa (like the earth or fire disc), utilizing it as a foundation (pādaka-jhāna) to execute the cognitive shift.
Quote
Atthi, bhikkhave, aññeva dhammā gambhīrā duddasā duranubodhā santā paṇītā atakkāvacarā nipuṇā paṇḍitavedanīyā, ye tathāgato sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti, yehi tathāgatassa yathābhuccaṃ vaṇṇaṃ sammā vadamānā vadeyyuṃ.
There are, O bhikkhus, other teachings, profound, hard to see, hard to comprehend, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of mere logic, subtle, to be experienced by the wise, which the Tathāgata, having realized them for himself through direct knowledge, proclaims. It is by these that an ordinary person, when speaking in praise of the Tathāgata, might truly and correctly speak as they truly are.
Textual References
- Sutta: Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) – The comprehensive canonical listing of the six powers as the progressive fruits of the ascetic life.
- Sutta: Brahmajāla Sutta (DN 1) - The Buddha talks about knowledge obtained by direct, personal, transcendent realization. This is for the definition of Abhiññā as ‘supernormal knowledge; direct knowledge’.
- Canonical: Ākaṅkheyya Sutta (MN 6) – Where the Buddha states that if a monk wishes to wield these powers, he must fulfill the precepts, practice tranquility, and master jhāna.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapters XII & XIII) – The definitive, heavily guarded manual detailing the precise mental resolutions required to perform psychic feats.