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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

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51. Iddhipādasaṁyutta: On the Bases of Psychic Power

II. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse — SN51.20: Analysis

1“Mendicants, when the four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

2How so?

It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They think: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.


They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. They think: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.


3And what is enthusiasm that’s too lax? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with laziness. This is called lax enthusiasm.

4And what is enthusiasm that’s too tense? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with restlessness. This is called tense enthusiasm.

5And what is enthusiasm that’s constricted internally? It’s when enthusiasm is combined with dullness and drowsiness. This is called enthusiasm constricted internally.

6And what is enthusiasm that’s distracted externally? It’s when enthusiasm is frequently distracted and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called enthusiasm distracted externally.

7And how does a mendicant meditate perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before? It’s when the perception of continuity is properly grasped, attended, borne in mind, and comprehended with wisdom by a mendicant. That’s how a mendicant meditates perceiving continuity: as before, so after; as after, so before.

8And how does a mendicant meditate as below, so above; as above, so below? It’s when a mendicant examines their own body up from the soles of the feet and down from the tips of the hairs, wrapped in skin and full of many kinds of filth. ‘In this body there is head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.’ That’s how a mendicant meditates as below, so above; as above, so below.


9And how does a mendicant meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night. And they develop it with the same features, attributes, and signs by night as by day. That’s how a mendicant meditates as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

10And how, with an open and unenveloped heart, does a mendicant develop a mind that’s full of radiance? It’s when a mendicant has properly grasped the perception of light, and has properly grasped the perception of day. That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.


11-15And what is energy that’s too lax? …


16-19And what is mental development that’s too lax? …


20And what is inquiry that’s too lax? It’s when inquiry is combined with laziness. This is called lax inquiry.


21And what is inquiry that’s too tense? It’s when inquiry is combined with restlessness. This is called tense inquiry.

22And what is inquiry that’s constricted internally? It’s when inquiry is combined with dullness and drowsiness. This is called inquiry constricted internally.


23And what is inquiry that’s distracted externally? It’s when inquiry is frequently distracted and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called inquiry distracted externally. … That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

24When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the Brahmā realm. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.”


1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā".

2Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti – iti me chando na ca atilīno bhavissati, na ca atippaggahito bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhitto bhavissati. Pacchāpuresaññī ca vihārati – yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; yathā divā tathā rattiṁ yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.


Vīriyasamādhi … pe … cittasamādhi … vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti – iti me vīmaṁsā na ca atilīnā bhavissati, na ca atippaggahitā bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhittā bhavissati. Pacchāpuresaññī ca vihārati – yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.


3Katamo ca, bhikkhave, atilīno chando? Yo, bhikkhave, chando kosajjasahagato kosajjasampayutto – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīno chando.

4Katamo ca, bhikkhave, atippaggahito chando? Yo, bhikkhave, chando uddhaccasahagato uddhaccasampayutto – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahito chando.

5Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto chando? Yo, bhikkhave, chando thinamiddhasahagato thinamiddhasampayutto – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto chando.

6Katamo ca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhitto chando? Yo, bhikkhave, chando bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhitto anuvisaṭo – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhitto chando.

7Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pacchāpuresaññī ca vihārati – yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pacchāpuresaññā suggahitā hoti sumanasikatā sūpadhāritā suppaṭividdhā paññāya. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pacchāpuresaññī ca vihārati – yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure.

8Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho vihārati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ uddhaṁ pādatalā adho kesamatthakā tacapariyantaṁ pūraṁ nānappakārassa asucino paccavekkhati: ‘atthi imasmiṁ kāye kesā lomā nakhā dantā taco maṁsaṁ nhāru aṭṭhi aṭṭhimiñjaṁ vakkaṁ hadayaṁ yakanaṁ kilomakaṁ pihakaṁ papphāsaṁ antaṁ antaguṇaṁ udariyaṁ karīsaṁ pittaṁ semhaṁ pubbo lohitaṁ sedo medo assu vasā kheḷo siṅghāṇikā lasikā muttan’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho vihārati.


9Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā vihārati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yehi ākārehi yehi liṅgehi yehi nimittehi divā chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti, so tehi ākārehi tehi liṅgehi tehi nimittehi rattiṁ chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti; yehi vā pana ākārehi yehi liṅgehi yehi nimittehi rattiṁ chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti, so tehi ākārehi tehi liṅgehi tehi nimittehi divā chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pāda ṁ bhāveti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā vihārati.

10Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ālokasaññā suggahitā hoti divāsaññā svādhiṭṭhitā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.


11Katamañca, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ vīriyaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ kosajjasahagataṁ kosajjasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ vīriyaṁ.

12Katamañca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ vīriyaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ uddhaccasahagataṁ uddhaccasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ vīriyaṁ.

13Katamañca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ thinamiddhasahagataṁ thinamiddhasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ.

14Katamañca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittaṁ anuvisaṭaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ … pe … .

15Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ālokasaññā suggahitā hoti divāsaññā svādhiṭṭhitā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.


16Katamañca, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ cittaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ kosajjasahagataṁ kosajjasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ cittaṁ.

17Katamañca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ cittaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ uddhaccasahagataṁ uddhaccasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ cittaṁ.

18Katamañca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ thinamiddhasahagataṁ thinamiddhasampayuttaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittaṁ.

19Katamañca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ cittaṁ? Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittaṁ anuvisaṭaṁ – idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ cittaṁ … pe … evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.


20Katamā ca, bhikkhave, atilīnā vīmaṁsā? Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā kosajjasahagatā kosajjasampayuttā – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnā vīmaṁsā.


21Katamā ca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitā vīmaṁsā? Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā uddhaccasahagatā uddhaccasampayuttā – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitā vīmaṁsā.

22Katamā ca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā vīmaṁsā? Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā thinamiddhasahagatā thinamiddhasampayuttā – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā vīmaṁsā.


23Katamā ca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittā vīmaṁsā? Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittā anuvisaṭā – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittā vīmaṁsā … pe … evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā.

24Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catūsu iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu, anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti – ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti … pe … yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti. Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catūsu iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāratī"ti.


Dasamaṁ.
Pāsādakampanavaggo dutiyo.

25Pubbaṁ mahapphalaṁ chandaṁ,
Moggallānañca uṇṇābhaṁ;
Dve samaṇabrāhmaṇā bhikkhu,
Desanā vibhaṅgena cāti.