Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga
Sutta 28
Dutiya Ānanda Suttaṃ
Ānanda 2
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava,
Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then the Elder Ānanda approached The Lucky Man
and drew near.
Drawing near Bhagava
and giving salutation
he took a seat to one side.
Seated to one side then,
the Bhagava said this
to the elder Ānanda:
"What, then, Ānanda, is power?
What is the path to power?
What is the development of the power-paths?|| ||
What is the path going to the development of the power paths?"
"For us Bhante,
things are best resorted to
rooted in the Lucky Man,
channeled through Bhagava.
It would be good, Bhante,
if further explanation of this point
were given by the Lucky Man.
That which is said by the Lucky Man
will be held in memory by the beggars."
"In that case, Ānanda,
listen well,
give over your mind
to what I say.
"Even so, Bhante",
the elder Ānanda then said to The Lucky Man in response.
Then the Lucky Man said this:
"Here Ānanda,
a beggar experiences
not just one of the various sorts of power:
Being one
he also becomes many,
being many
he also becomes one.
Manifest here,
transported beyond notice,
transported through walls,
transported through fortifications unsticking,
he goes whithersoever
as if in space.
He jumps into
and out of the earth
as though in water;
goes on water
without parting it
as though on solid ground.
He goes through space cross-legged
like a bird on the wing.
He touches and feels with the hand
the Moon and Sun,
as great and powerful as they are.
He turns up in the body
even in the Brahmā world.
This, Ānanda, is what is called 'power'.
■
And what, Ānanda,
is the path to power?
Whatever way, Ānanda,
whatever path-tracking
results in gaining power,
gaining power acquisition —
This, Ānanda, is called
'the path to power'.
■
And what, Ānanda,
is the development of the power-paths?
Here, Ānanda, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This, Ānanda,
is what is called
'the development of the power-paths.'
■
And what, Ānanda,
is the path going to the development of the power-paths?
It is this very Aristocratic Eight-dimensional Way,
that is to say:
Consummate view,
consummate principles,
consummate talk,
consummate works,
consummate lifestyle,
consummate self-control,
consummate mind,
consummate serenity.
This, Ānanda,
is what is called
'the path going to the development of the power-paths'."
