Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
5. Appamāda Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
51. Kindred Sayings on the Bases of Psychic Power
5. Earnestness

Suttas 45-54

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved

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[258]

Sutta 45

Tathāgata

[45.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all creatures,
whether footless or having two,
four,
or many feet;
whether having forms or formless;
whether conscious or unconscious,
or neither conscious nor unconscious, —
of these the Tathāgata,
the Arahant,
the fully Enlightened One,
is reckoned chief; —
even so, monks,
of all profitable conditions which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 46

The Foot

[46.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all the foot-characteristics
of such creatures as roam about
are joined together in the foot of the elephant,
and as the elephant's foot
in size
is reckoned chief,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 47

The Roof-peak

[47.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, in a peaked house
all the rafters whatsoever
go together to the roof-peak,
slope to the roof-peak,
are joined together in the roof-peak,
and of them
the peak is reckoned chief, —
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 48

Wood

[48.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all scented woods whatsoever
the dark sandal-wood is reckoned chief, —
even so of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

---

 

Sutta 49

Heart-wood

[49.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all scented heart-woods whatsoever
the red saldal-wood is reckoned chief, —
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

---

 

Sutta 50

Jasmine

[50.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all scented flowers whatsoever
the jasmine is reckoned chief,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 51

Prince

[51.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, all petty princes whatsoever
follow in the train of the universal monarch,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 52

Moon

[52.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all starry bodies whatsoever
the radiance does not equal one-sixteenth part
of the radiance of the moon;
just as the moon is reckoned chief of them,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 53

Sun

[53.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, in the autumn season,
when the sky is opened up
and cleared of clouds,
the sun,
leaping up into the firmament,
drives away all darkness,
and shines
and burns
and flashes forth,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."

 

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Sutta 54

Cloth

[54.1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, of all woven cloths whatsoever
the cloth of Benares is reckoned chief,
even so, monks, of all profitable conditions,
which are rooted in earnestness,
which join together in earnestness, —
of those conditions
earnestness is reckoned chief.

Of the earnest monk
it may be expected
that he will cultivate,
that he will make much of
the four bases of psychic power.

And how, monks,
does a monk who is earnest
cultivate
and make much of
the four bases of psychic power?

Herein 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.

Thus, monks, a monk who is earnest
cultivates
and makes much of
the four bases of psychic power."