One of the disciples came to the Blessed One with a trembling
heart and his mind full of doubt. And he asked the Blessed One:
"O Buddha, our Lord and Master, why do we give up the pleasures
of the world, if thou forbiddest us to work miracles and to
attain the supernatural? Is not Amitābha, the infinite light of
revelation, the source of innumerable miracles?" 1
And the Blessed One, seeing the anxiety of a truth-seeking mind,
said: "O sāvaka, thou art a novice among the novices, and thou
art swimming on the surface of samsāra. How long will it take
thee to grasp the truth? Thou hast not understood the words of
the Tathāgata. The law of karma is irrefragable, and
supplications have no effect, for they are empty words." 2
Said the disciple: "So sayest thou there are no miraculous and
wonderful things?" 3