374. Q. Does Buddhism pretend that the miracle of raising those who are dead is possible?
A. No. The Buddha teaches the contrary, in that beautiful story of Kisā Gotami and the mustard-seed. But when a person only seems to be dead but is not actually so, resuscitation is possible.
375. Q. Give me an idea of these successive stages of the Lokottara development in Iddhī?
A. There are six degrees attainable by Arhats; what is higher than them is to be reached only by a Buddha.
376. Q. Describe the six stages or degrees?
A. We may divide them into two groups, of three each. The first to include (1) Progressive retrospection, viz., a gradually acquired power to look backward in time towards the origin of things; (2) Progressive foresight, or power of prophecy; (3) Gradual extinction of desires and attachments to material things.
377. Q. What would the second group include?
A. The same faculties, but inimitably developed. Thus, the full Arhat possesses perfect retrospection, perfect foresight, and has absolutely extinguished the last trace of desire and selfish attractions.
378. Q. What are the four means for obtaining Iddhī?
A. The will, its exertion, mental development, and discrimination between right and wrong.