Three Kinds of Wonders (First Discourse)

There are, Brāhmin, these three kinds of wonders.

What three?

(1) The mystic wonder,

(2) The wonder of mind-reading, and

(3) The wonder of instruction.

——-

(1) And what, Brāhmin, is the mystic wonder?

Here, a Monk wields the various kinds of mystic potency: having been one, he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; he appears and vanishes; he goes unhindered through a wall, through a protective barrier, through a mountain as though through space; he dives in and out of the earth as though it were water; he walks on water without sinking as though it were earth; seated cross-legged, he travels in space like a bird; with his hand he touches and strokes the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; he exercises mastery with the body as far as the Brahmā world.

This is called the mystic wonder.

(2) And what, Brāhmin, is the wonder of mind-reading?

There is one who, by means of some clue, declares: Your thought is thus, such is what you are thinking, your mind is in such and such a state. And even if he makes many declarations, they are exactly so and not otherwise.

Again, someone does not declare [the state of mind] on the basis of a clue, but he hears the sound of people, spirits, or deities [speaking] and then declares: Your thought is thus, such is what you are thinking, your mind is in such and such a state. And even if he makes many declarations, they are exactly so and not otherwise.

Again, someone does not declare [the state of mind] on the basis of a mark, or by hearing the sound of people, spirits, or deities [speaking], but he hears the sound of the diffusion of thought as one is thinking and examining some matter] and then declares: Your thought is thus, such is what you are thinking, your mind is in such and such a state. And even if he makes many declarations, they are exactly so and not otherwise.

Again, someone does not declare [the state of mind] on the basis of a mark, or by hearing the sound of people, spirits, or deities [speaking], or by hearing the sound of the diffusion of thought as one is thinking and examining [some matter], but with his own mind he encompasses the mind of one who has attained concentration without thought and examination and he understands: This person’s mental activities are so disposed that immediately afterward he will think this thought. And even if he makes many declarations, they are exactly so and not otherwise.

This is called the wonder of mind-reading.

(3) And what, Brāhmin, is the wonder of instruction?

Here, someone instructs [others] thus: Think in this way and not in that way! Attend to this and not to that! Abandon this and enter and reside in that!

This is called the wonder of instruction.

(Reference: AN 3.60)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the three kinds of wonders: the mystic wonder, the wonder of mind-reading, and the wonder of instruction.

(1) The Mystic Wonder is supernatural abilities.

(2) The Wonder of Mind-Reading is to be able to read someone’s mind knowing their feelings, thoughts, and emotions.

(3) The Wonder of Instruction is to share The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment as a Teacher. The Buddha was known to share Teachings that eliminate ignorance (unknowing of true reality) helping Students to awaken the mind to Enlightenment. It is the wonder of instruction that accomplishes this goal.