瑜伽論記 18.576

18.576

次明具神通者，景云：若遇其時便能示現者，是神境通，或復安住者天耳聞聲，他心通知他心行差別，但了所知自安而未能廣作引他事業。言或行他利，或於是中能善問記者即後三通，宿命知他過去曾所經生，天眼見諸眾生此死彼生，漏盡證彼無為，如是三通知他曾當等事稱機說法，故言能善問記。

Next, explaining those possessing supernormal powers: Jing says: 'If on meeting the proper time they are able to manifest' refers to the supernormal power of psychic abilities (ṛddhi-viṣaya-jñāna). 'Or abiding [therein]' refers to the divine ear hearing sounds, and the knowledge of others' minds knowing the differentiations of others' mental courses, merely perceiving what is known and resting peacefully in oneself without yet being able to widely perform actions that guide others. The words 'or performing benefit for others, or wherein they are able to skillfully question and declare' refer to the latter three supernormal powers: the knowledge of past lives knows others' past lives that were experienced; the divine eye sees sentient beings dying here and being born there; and the knowledge of the exhaustion of taints realizes that unconditioned [state]. Thus, these three supernormal powers know others' past, future, and other affairs, and preach the Dharma according to their capacities; hence it is said that they 'are able to skillfully question and declare.'