Supernatural powers without enlightenment will disappear.

When non-Buddhists cultivate to the four formless absorptions and develop the supernormal power of psychic transformation, why do they still give rise to desire upon seeing forms and lose their psychic powers? The eradication of lust requires the attainment of the first dhyāna combined with the realization of the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa); only when the two are combined can one become an anāgāmin and be able to eliminate the desire mind. Having only the first dhyāna or the four dhyānas and eight absorptions, or having only eradicated the view of self, cannot eradicate lust. Therefore, although non-Buddhists possess meditative concentration and supernormal powers, they still give rise to desire upon seeing forms, and afterward their meditative concentration and supernormal powers all vanish. It is evident that without the wisdom of eradicating the view of self, meditative concentration alone cannot eradicate lust.

It was previously recorded in the sūtras that a person with meditative concentration and supernormal powers, because he gave rise to desire upon seeing forms, lost his supernormal powers and meditative concentration the moment the thought arose — he flew there, but walked back on the return journey. That was because he lacked the merit of realizing the first fruit (srotāpanna) and had only meditative concentration. To eradicate lust, one must eradicate the view of self, realize the first fruit, and attain the first dhyāna; meditative concentration alone is not enough. Therefore, the merit and benefit of the partial realization of liberation at the first fruit is still very considerable.

Devadatta likewise, without having eradicated the view of self, cultivated supernormal powers and ascended to heaven; but because the thought of stealing heavenly flowers arose, his supernormal powers vanished instantly and he fell from heaven. If one has realized the first fruit, possesses the first dhyāna, and also has supernormal powers, one is an anāgāmin, will no longer give rise to wrong thoughts, will no longer violate precepts, and thus will not lose one's supernormal powers.