Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
51. Kindred Sayings on the Bases of Psychic Power
3. [Untitled]
Sutta 28
Dutiya Ānanda Suttaṃ
Ānanda (b)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Now the venerable Ānanda went to visit the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
As he thus sat the Exalted One said this to the venerable Ānanda:
"What, Ānanda is psychic power?
What is the basis of psychic power?
What is the practice
that leads to the cultivation of psychic power?"
"For us, lord,
things have the Exalted one as their root,
their guide,
their resort.
It were well for us
if the Exalted One would reveal the meaning
of what he has just uttered.
Hearing it from him
the brethren will remember it."
[256] "Herein, Ānanda, a monk enjoys
in divers ways
manifold forms of psychic power such as:
From being one he becomes many,
from being many he becomes one.
Manifest or invisible
he goes unhindered through a wall,
through a rampart,
through a mountain,
as if it were through air.
He plunges into the earth
and shoots up again
as if in water.
He walks upon the water
without parting it,
as if on solid ground.
He travels sitting cross-legged through the air,
like a bird upon the wing.
Even this moon and sun,
though they be of such mighty power and majesty,
he handles and strokes them with his hand.
Even as far as the Brahma World
he has power with his body.
This, Ānanda, is called
'psychic power.'
■
And what, Ānanda, is the basis of psychic power?
That path, that practice which conduces to the laying hold of,
to the winning of
psychic power, -
that, monks, is called
'the basis of psychic power.'
■
And of what sort, Ānanda,
is the cultivation of psychic power?
"Herein Ānanda a monk cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
desire,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.
He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
energy,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.
He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
thought,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.
He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
investigation,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.
This, Ānanda, is called
'the cultivation of the bases of psychic power.'
■
And of what sort, Ānanda,
is the practice
that leads to the cultivation of psychic power?
It is just this Ariyan eightfold way, to wit:
Right view
right aim,
right speech,
right action,
right living,
right effort,
right mindfulness,
right concentration.
This, Ānanda, is called:
'the practice
that leads to the cultivation
of the bases of psychic power'."
