354. Q. Were the illusionary copies of the Arhat's person material? Were they composed of substance and could they have been felt and handled by the messenger?
A. No; they were pictures impressed by his thought and trained will-power upon the messenger's mind.
355. Q. To what would you compare them?
A. To a man's reflection in a mirror, being exactly like him yet without solidity.
356. Q. To make such an illusion on the messenger's mind, what was necessary?
A. That Chullapanthaka should clearly conceive in his own mind his exact appearance, and then impress that, with as many duplicates or repetitions as he chose, upon the sensitive brain of the messenger.
357. Q. What is this process now called?
A. Hypnotic suggestion.
358. Q. Could any third party have also seen these illusionary figures?
A. That would depend on the will of the Arhat or hypnotiser.