Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga
Sutta 31
Moggallāna Suttaṃ
Moggallāna
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava,
Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then The Lucky Man addressed the beggars:
"What is it, do you think, beggars,
that was developed,
made a big thing of
by bhikkhu Moggallano,
that he is such an advanced being
of such great power?"
"For us Bhante,
things are best restsorted 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."
"Listen up then beggars!
Four then, beggars,
are the power-paths
that were developed,
made a big thing of
by bhikkhu Moggallano,
that he is such an advanced being
of such great power.
Which four?
Here beggars, the bhikkhu Moggallano
develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
'Let my energy not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad.'
He lives after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
his heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
'Let my energy not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad.'
He lives after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
his heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
'Let my energy not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad.'
He lives after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
his heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
'Let my energy not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad.'
He lives after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
his heart becomes radiant.
These then, beggars,
are the four power-paths
that were developed,
made a big thing of
by bhikkhu Moggallano,
that he is such an advanced being
of such great power.
§
It is because he has thus developed, beggars,
thus made a big thing of,
the four power-paths,
that the beggar Moggallāna
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.
And further, beggars,
it is because he has thus developed,
thus made a big thing of
the four power-paths,
that through his own higher knowledge
bhikkhu Moggallāna experienced
the destruction of the corrupting influences,
and without corrupting influences,
in this seen thing,
enters into and lives
in freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom."
