Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
5. Appamāda Vagga
Chapter V
Suttas 45-54
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Sutta 45
Tathāgata
Once upon a time, The Lucky Man, Sāvatthī-town, residing,
Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
"Whatsoever beings, beggars
— footless, two-footed, four-footed, many-footed, visible or invisible,
with perception or without perception or neither-perceiving-nor-not-perceiving —
of these, the Tathāgata, arahant, Number-one-self-awakened-one,
is declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing
of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop,
make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 46
The Foot
"Just as, beggars,
of all the characteristics of feet
of those that walk on feet
are found in the elephant's foot,
and of footprints
the elephant's is declared the topmost,
that is, in terms of size,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars,
does a not careless beggar develop,
make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 47
The Roof-peak
"Just as, beggars,
in peaked-roof buildings
all roof-beams converge at the peak,
incline towards the peak,
are found together at the peak
and the peak is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 48
Root
"Just as, beggars,
of root-scents,
black sandalwood is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 49
Heartwood
"Just as, beggars,
of heartwood scents,
the scent of the red sandalwood is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 50
Jasmine
"Just as, beggars,
of flower scents,
the scent of the jasmine flower is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
§
Sutta 51
Kings
"Just as, beggars,
all paper-kings are subject to a Wheel-turning king,
and of kings,
the Wheel-turning king is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 52
Moon
"Just as, beggars,
the light of whatever starry bodies there are
is not a sixteenth part of the light of the moon,
and the light of the moon is declared the topmost,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 53
Sun
"Just as, beggars,
in the clear, cloudless days of autumn
the sun rising up in the darkness of space
shines forth, blazes up, and lights the sky,
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
Sutta 54
Cloth
"Just as, beggars,
of whatever woven cloths there are,
the cloth of Kasi-town is declared the topmost
in the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
In the same way, beggars,
all skillful things are rooted in not being careless,
converge in not being careless,
and not being careless is the thing declared the topmost.
Of the beggar who is not careless, beggars,
the resulting expectation is that he will develop,
will make a big thing of the four power-paths.
And how, beggars, does a not careless beggar develop, make a big thing of the four power paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This is how, beggars, a not careless beggar develops the four power-paths,
makes a big thing of the four power-paths."
