Maddie

From reading the sutta passage it would seem to indicate that while the Buddha is potent he is not omnipotent. There is more than of one example in the canon of the Buddha being asked a question to which he did not immediately know the answer which rules out omniscience, but after using his Buddha eye to look at it then he would know which does indeed show he had great power, but not omniscience. To my knowledge the only beings that are supposed to be supposedly omnipotent and omniscient are a few of the monotheistic gods and Chuck Norris.

Does anyone notice chanting having an effect in ones outer world?

Then perhaps this is a difference between Pali cannon Buddhism and Mahayana.

That is the visual that came to mind.

That's a very remarkable accomplishment.

Then that is a good example, and perhaps a glimpse of perfect contentment. Why is the raft more important than the destination one is sailing to?

What do you mean by that?

It was a rough equation from two different systems. I suppose a non-returner would also qualify in regards to never coming back to earth to be reborn, but is also not omniscient. I don't know if there is a perfect analogy of the two systems.

Contentment

I thought I posted this yesterday but I don't know if it showed up.

If it ended then its not perfect.

If I had to summarize enlightenment in just two words it would be "perfect contentment"

Then based on that terminology I'd roughly equate Sage with stream enterer, Zhenren as a once returner, and an immortal as an Arahat.

I think most of us are skeptical about this claim as we should be. Now if the reason for the skepticism is due to the fact that many people that are not enlightened make this claim and one is not simply going to believe such a claim with out any evidence to do so then that seems quite legitimate. On the other hand if one didn't want someone to be enlightened then that would indeed be an issue to take a look at within ones self, but taking a look with much self kindness though to foster awareness.

This is also why I'm particular to which boat I get on

Is this the same as the "sage" in the DDJ?

The fact that people drown makes me appreciate boats all the more.

Considering the primary means to awaken is through wisdom an enlightened person is as opposite from a fool as one can get.

I think the reason the Buddha used the raft metaphor as opposed to swimming is because the raft can carry one safely to the other shore but if one swims across a dangerous river one risks drowning.

The Buddha compared the Dhamma to a raft when once the other shore had been reached it made no sense to carry the raft around any longer. The other shore is the goal, not the raft that takes one there.

When I was younger I was duped too many times because I was very gullible. I wound up in cult like groups because I was afraid to ask questions to determine if claims made were true or not. Since then I have highly valued healthy skepticism. The Buddha said no teacher or teaching is above examination or questioning. When people would approach the Buddha and ask him why what he taught was true or correct he was always perfectly fine with explaining it to them so they would understand for themselves. He never said "how dare you question me" in fact he encouraged self inquiry, and healthy skepticism.

What exactly is "enlightenment" in Daoist terms?

Yes the Buddha laid out ways to know if someone was awakened or not.

It's not the thing that is the problem, its wanting the thing that is.

It is pretty easy to tell if someone is not enlightened though.