Enlightenment Superpowers: Difference between revisions

Some heroes train non-stop to develop [[Charles Atlas Superpower|Charles Atlas Superpowers]]s, often using [[Training Fromfrom Hell]] to attain herculean feats of skill. But... will defeating a dojo full of [[Ninja|ninjasninja]]s while [[Blindfolded Vision|blindfolded]] and [[Chained by Fashion|bound in chains]] reveal the meaning of suffering? How many miles have to be run over liquid magma without breaking the surface before the purpose of life unfolds?

The master of '''Enlightenment Superpowers''' knows.

Physically, since [[All Monks Know Kung Fu]], their mental [[Harmony Versus Discipline|harmony and discipline]] means they can likely control their [[Master of Your Domain|body's autonomic functions]]... possibly even unlocking [[Healing Factor|Healing Factors]]s, [[Super Toughness|iron durability]], [[Immortality|incredible]] [[Long Lived|longevity]], [[Super Strength]], and very probably [[Ki Attacks]].

Characters with Enlightenment Superpowers usually know some type of [[Functional Magic]] courtesy of their training, though it's entirely possible they can't cast any magic at all (or both sets of abilities are independent but related). To use a computer metaphor, their abilities don't come from using cosmic cheat codes, but thanks to discovering (or ''creating'') the help file and user manual. Basically, they have learned to harness '''''all''''' of their human potential.

* Virgo Shaka of ''[[Saint Seiya]]'' lives In a setting full of [[Charles Atlas Superpower|Charles Atlas Superpowers]]s but thanks to his Enlightenment Superpowers is one of the most feared, dangerous adversaries imaginable. He can create deadly illusions that will [[Mind Rape]] enemies from ''miles'' away, send them to [[Hell]] (or [[Heaven]]!), destroy their senses rendering them [[Convenient Coma|comatose]], and even [[Thanatos Gambit|be more dangerous dead than alive]]. It helps that he's the reincarnation of a Buddha.

* Zora in the comic ''[[Powers]]'' is an inversion. By rejecting all spirituality and realizing she is "her own god", she gained godlike powers.

* A good half of [[Kaliman]]'s powers came from his intense mental and spiritual training in the orient. The other half? Sheer [[Badass|Badassitude]]itude.

* Siddhartha, founder of Buddhism, of course. All kinds of miracles were attributed to him -- somehim—some even before he got enlightened, but many more afterward.

* In ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'', [[The Chosen One|Rand]] was always a scarily powerful [[Functional Magic|Channeler]], but it was plain that the rigors of his role and magic were taking a terrible toll on him, nearly driving him to insanity and nihilism {{spoiler|until he has an epiphany at the end of Book 12 which brings him close to what might be called enlightenment, making him [[The Messiah]] in truth as well as title and dramatically amping up his powers (though he's still weaker than the [[Big Bad]], who's an actual god).}} His [[Evil Counterpart]] Moridin has what could be classed as an evil version of this- a true nihilist, he's the closest of all mortals to the [[Big Bad]]'s goals and methods, and as such is the only one allowed to access his special magic system, the [[The Dark Side|True Power]]. The True Power, though not any stronger than the One Power (which fuels most magic-users), is exempt from some of its restrictions and can do things it can't.

* Adam McArthur of ''[[The Visitor]]'' has learned a lot during his time in alien custody. [[Once an Episode]], he teaches one of his [[Enlightenment Superpowers]] to someone.

* In ''[[Mage: The Ascension]]'' and ''[[Mage: The Awakening]]'', mages get their reality warping magic thanks to an out of the blue epiphany regarding the nature of reality. This epiphany is natural, but has little discernible rhyme or reason or [[Witch Species|blood connection.]] To a similar extent, the less powerful Thaumaturges potentially [[Multiple Choice Past|(it's complicated)]] derive the ability to use magic not from innate [[Witch Species|supernatural connections]], but from intense and prolonged spiritual and occult study. Of course, this being the World Of Darkness spiritual enlightenment doesn't necessarily require morality.

** In ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', even the damned can find Enlightenment Superpowers. Saulot, a founder of one of the (now defunct) thirteen vampire clans, traveled to the orient and studied under enlightened supernaturals, returning with mystic healing powers of mind and body... as well as a [[Third Eye]] he and all his children would inherit.

** The successor, ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'', has its own version. The Ordo Dracul is a covenant devoted to transcending the vampiric condition, just like [[Dracula|their founder]] did. By studying and meditating on their condition, they gain access to Coils of the Dragon, powers that lessen their reliance on blood, allow them to pass as human, or give them a greater resistance to [[Holy Burns Evil|the unpleasant stimuli]] that often harrow other vampires.

* This is how Prince Poo in ''[[EarthboundEarthBound]]'' gets two critical level ups. {{spoiler|Coupled with a [[Journey to the Center of the Mind]], it's also how Ness gets his biggest level up of the game going into the [[Grand Finale]].}}

* Great Tiger of the ''[[Punch -Out!!]]'' series, especially in the Wii version.

== WebcomicsWeb Comics ==

{{quote| '''Korra''': I haven't ''ignored'' [the spiritual side of bending], it just... doesn't come as easy to me.}}

* The monks of the Chán<ref>Better known as the Japanese term, "Zen", in the west</ref> Buddhist temple of Shaolin are most well known for their martial arts skills, although this is somewhat of a case of real life [[Memetic Badass]]. Even so, Shaolin monks are extremely skilled martial artists and can do feats of strength, dexterity, and focus that seem superhuman -- allsuperhuman—all due to spending tens of thousands of hours training in martial arts as a form of meditation.

* While we're on the subject, meditation in general -- Zazengeneral—Zazen, Yoga, etc. Zen Buddhism, for example, takes the position that if you can focus on something as boring as sitting in a room staring at nothing all day (Zazen), then you can focus on, say, the best path to get out of a moving car in a ''big'' hurry, or how to dodge a sucker punch at a bar. While it won't make a person superhuman, one should never underestimate the ability to ''focus'' when needed.

* Some sects of Buddhism believe that a person actually will gain supernatural powers as he approaches enlightenment. Of course, if you go into meditation for the sole purpose of gaining these powers, it won't work. The powers are sort of a "side effect" of enlightenment; anyone who is that close to enlightenment knows he has no need of such things. There are statements from Gautama Buddha ''himself'' indicating that supernatural powers distract from enlightenment if obtained first, which prevents beings like gods and demons from becoming enlightened.

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