# meaning of levitation in eastern mysticism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824 "2013-07-06T23:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/1 "2013-07-06T23:48:08Z")
In various Eastern religions/philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism that mention levitation, what do these belief systems claim is happening when levitation occurs? I don’t know if eastern religions traditionally had the concept of “laws of nature” in the western materialistic sense, so I don’t know if they interpreted the tendency of heavy things to fall to the ground as “gravity” in the sense of a force acting on material bodies ala’ Newton. As far as levitation goes, a westerner would take either the scientific position that some hitherto unknown and rare physical effect was at work, or the religious position that a “miracle”- a flat suspension or violation of the laws of physics- was taking place. What do Hindu and Buddhist texts say on the subject? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/2 "2013-07-07T01:19:03Z")
Well, it’s called _laghiman_ (lightness) or _dardura-siddhi_ (the frog power) in Sanskrit. The first implies that meditation and spirituality make one lighter, whereas the second implies that one exerts a force. TM adherents learning “levitation” never progress past “yogic hopping,” which appears to outsiders to be ordinary non-yogic hopping, but in the lotus position. Yogis and the like who levitate in public are very plainly using trick platforms that are so obvious that I’m not sure that being convincing is even the point. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/3 "2013-07-07T05:03:28Z")
Cecil: [Will Transcendental Meditation enable you to levitate?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1014/will-transcendental-meditation-enable-you-to-levitate) ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/4 "2013-07-08T00:34:47Z")
[Levitation trick explained.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAa21Q8n5O4) ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/5 "2013-07-08T18:01:03Z")
Could there have been a translation gap, and the original concept meant astral projection? Whereby, the “soul” levitates out of the body? About 10 years ago I had studied some Hindu meditation techniques, which involved saying OM, and following the vibrations from the gut to the third eye, and out. I have to say, I experienced some pretty powerful sensations, although out of fear I didn’t follow through. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/6 "2013-07-08T18:04:42Z")
I’m no scholar of the beliefs, but my impression is that levitation is either a western misinterpretation, or a case of giving a minor but spectacular effect/possibility/notion disproportionate attention. That is, most aspects of eastern religions are/were too subtle for round-eyes, so they seized on the circus tricks instead. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/7 "2013-07-08T18:04:45Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > Could there have been a translation gap, and the original concept meant astral projection? Whereby, the “soul” levitates out of the body? > > About 10 years ago I had studied some Hindu meditation techniques, which involved saying OM, and following the vibrations from the gut to the third eye, and out. I have to say, I experienced some pretty powerful sensations, although out of fear I didn’t follow through. How could the “yogis” themselves have mistranslated their own language? No, It’s just a cheap trick meant to mystify the marks. ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/8 "2013-07-08T18:10:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How could the “yogis” themselves have mistranslated their own language? No, It’s just a cheap trick meant to mystify the marks. I think mistranslations begin with misinterpretations. Many religious divides, like with Islam, have occurred due to misinterpretations. Those misinterpretations reinforce erroneous translations. I imagine some yogi understood levitation to be in a material/literal form. Many things that are seemingly foolish often start from something valid. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/9 "2013-07-08T18:14:06Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > I think mistranslations begin with misinterpretations. Many religious divides, like with Islam, have occurred due to misinterpretations. Those misinterpretations reinforce erroneous translations. I imagine some yogi understood levitation to be in a material/literal form. > > Many things that are seemingly foolish often start from something valid. And some things(and the people that believe in them) are just foolish. Do you have any evidence supporting your theory? ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/10 "2013-07-08T18:19:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And some things(and the people that believe in them) are just foolish. Do you have any evidence supporting your theory? Not for levitation in Hindu tradition, but I could point to some texts from the Bible or Quran that demonstrate how interpretation, and the translation of the variations can cause major sectarian differences. This is no different. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/11 "2013-07-08T18:26:03Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > Not for levitation in Hindu tradition, but I could point to some texts from the Bible or Quran that demonstrate how interpretation, and the translation of the variations can cause major sectarian differences. This is no different. All you’ve got is blind supposition. Showing us that some other group made a translation mistake has nothing to do with showing us that a translation mistake was made in this case. ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/12 "2013-07-08T18:30:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > All you’ve got is blind supposition. Showing us that some other group made a translation mistake has nothing to do with showing us that a translation mistake was made in this case. I think you took my input too seriously. I just wanted to present another possibility, not take responsibility for proving it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/13 "2013-07-08T19:05:38Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > I think you took my input too seriously. I just wanted to present another possibility, not take responsibility for proving it. All I know is, _all_ evidence points to it just being a fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/14 "2013-07-08T20:05:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > All I know is, _all_ evidence points to it just being a fraud. I didn’t specify otherwise; I just wanted to know what, within those belief systems, is _claimed_ regarding (supposed) levitation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/15 "2013-07-08T20:12:05Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I didn’t specify otherwise; I just wanted to know what, within those belief systems, is _claimed_ regarding (supposed) levitation. Have you checked out [Wiki page on paranormal levitation?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitation_(paranormal)) It covers most of the religious aspects. ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/16 "2013-07-08T20:18:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > All I know is, _all_ evidence points to it just being a fraud. A good example of where evidence doesn’t provide any clarity. ---
**Author:** ![themysticalthread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@themysticalthread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themysticalthread)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/17 "2013-07-08T20:21:48Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I didn’t specify otherwise; I just wanted to know what, within those belief systems, is _claimed_ regarding (supposed) levitation. In that case, it is \*claimed \* that _atma_ (soul) can detach from the physical body by the means of meditation. It could be deduced that “floating” could be the soul floating above the body. If you look at the many ascetic values of the Hindu faith, there’s a lot of emphasis around detaching oneself of desires - with the ultimate goal to detach from the body. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/18 "2013-07-08T20:35:23Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > In that case, it is \*claimed \* that _atma_ (soul) can detach from the physical body by the means of meditation. It could be deduced that “floating” could be the soul floating above the body. > > If you look at the many ascetic values of the Hindu faith, there’s a lot of emphasis around detaching oneself of desires - with the ultimate goal to detach from the body. From the Wiki on levitation: > [@](#): > > In Hinduism, it is believed that some Hindu gurus who have become siddhas (those who have achieved spiritual powers) have the siddhi (power) of being able to levitate. The power of levitation is called in Sanskrit laghiman (lightness) or dardura-siddhi (the frog power). It is said that Hindu Sadhus have a history of paranormal levitation and that when one progresses on the path of spiritualism levitation comes naturally. This is totally different from the belief that you can train your soul to leave your body. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/19 "2013-07-08T20:39:57Z")
> [@themysticalthread](#): > > A good example of where evidence doesn’t provide any clarity. Showing that all so-called levitation investigated so far has turned out to be at best highly exaggerated and, at worst, totally fraudulent clears up _something_ wouldn’t you say? All your attempts at trying to turn this into so sort of misunderstanding or mistranslation are worthless without showing us at least _some_ evidence that it might be true. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824/20 "2013-07-08T20:41:55Z")
I must admit, this is pretty damned funny. 😃 > [@](#): > > The Transcendental Meditation movement claim that practitioners of the TM-Sidhi program of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi achieve what they call “Yogic Flying”. They say that there are three stages on Yogic Flying – hopping, floating, and flying – and that they have so far achieved just the first stage. Transcendental meditation groups have held annual “Yogic Flying Contests” to see who could hop the farthest or the fastest. As a general rule, it is pretty easy to weed out the fakes who are using mysticism as a means of fleecing marks - anyone who claims that mysticism gives the mystic supernatural powers, and that they are able to do this, is, in my opinion, a fake. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-levitation-in-eastern-mysticism/662824.md?page=2)