Powers Passage
Concentration, Meditation, Absorption
Holding the mind on an object is concentration. There, cognition in one uninterrupted flow is meditation. That same object alone shining, as though empty of its own form, is absorption. The three together is contemplation. That mastered, the light of knowledge is illuminated. That is practiced in phases. These three are more interior rungs than the preceding. Yet they are exterior to seedless absorption.
Transformations
When mastery arises, impressions subside; the mind staying connected with the instant mastery appears is the mastery transformation. Its flow is steadied with habit. Many pointedness subsiding and one-pointedness arising is the absorption transformation of the mind. Then, the sequence of past and present being similar, there is the one-pointedness transformation of the mind. Changes in form, time, and condition of elements and senses are explained by these. Past, arising, and unmanifest characteristics cause a specific object. The succession of various transformations is the reason there are differences.
Acquisition of Powers
On transformations, the three components of contemplation bring past and future knowledge. Name, object, and idea together converge in confusion; contemplation on the differences between those brings understanding of the sounds associated with all elements. On impressions that are directly perceived, it brings knowledge of previous births. On the cognition of others, knowledge of minds. Not, however, what supports that, the support being unperceived. Contemplation on bodily form causes the perceptibility of that form to be suspended, because ocular light gets disconnected, and the bodily form disappears. (By this the suspension of sounds and others is explained.) Actions are fast or slow to manifest; contemplation on that, or on portents, brings knowledge of death. On friendliness and the like, strength. On the strength of elephants, like strength. On the Light, with illumination projected, subtle, hidden, and remote knowledge. Knowledge of realms comes from contemplation of the sun. Of the moon, star system knowledge. On the North Star, understanding of their movements. On the navel energy center, body system knowledge. On the pit of the throat, hunger and thirst cease. On the tortoise channel energy center, steadiness. On the light at the crown of the head, vision of the masters. Or on the light from high purity, all knowledge. On the heart, knowledge of the mind. The lightful element and Consciousness are very different, but conceptual non-differentiation bring experience for the sake of another; on the one Self, contemplation brings knowledge of Consciousness. From there with the light of high purity, divine hearing, touch, vision, taste, and smell arise.
Warning
These obstruct absorption, but to the worldly they are powers.
Effects of Powers
With the cause of attachment relaxed and knowledge of the channels of the mind, there is entering into another body. With the mastery of the upward flow of energy, water, mud, swamp, and others are not contacted but transcended. Mastery of the energy at the navel brings radiance. Contemplation on the relationship between hearing and the ether brings higher hearing. Also, contemplation on the relationship between the body and the ether brings the attainment of lightness, like a cotton fiber. Contemplation on external formless fluctuations, the great disembodiment, removes the veil covering the Light. Contemplation on coarse form, nature, subtle form, connectedness, and purpose brings mastery of the elements. That brings the power of atomic size and others, the manifestation of bodily perfection, and the indestructibility of its characteristics. Graceful form, strength, and adamantine hardness are bodily perfection. Contemplation on the senses' processes, nature, sense of separate self, connectedness, and purpose brings mastery of the senses. That gives mind-quick perception to the bodily senses and mastery of their nature. Discernment between the light of intelligence and Consciousness brings mastery merely of all states and all knowing. With renunciation to that also, the seed of defect is eliminated for liberation. Celestial beings inviting to associate, there is no reason for pride, because again, ignorance is possible. Celestial beings inviting to associate, there is no reason for pride, because again, ignorance is possible. From that, the categorical, temporal, and spatial differences of two indistinguishable object are distinguishable. Covering all objects in all variations of objects, without being sequential, also this is discernment-born knowledge.
End of Powers
When the purity of the luminous element is equal with that of Consciousness, there is liberation.