1Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One … .
The Blessed One then said to them:
"Bhikkhus, what now is spiritual power?
What is the basis for spiritual power?
What is the development of the bases for spiritual power?
What is the way leading to the development of the bases for spiritual power?"

"Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, take recourse in the Blessed One. It would be good if the Blessed One would clear up the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from him, the bhikkhus will remember it."

2"And what, bhikkhus, is spiritual power? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu wields the various kinds of spiritual power, such that: having been one, he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; he appears and vanishes; he goes unhindered through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as though through space; he dives in and out of the earth as though it were water; he walks on water without sinking as though it were earth; seated cross-legged, he travels in space like a bird; with his hand he touches and strokes the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; he exercises mastery with the body as far as the brahma world.

This is called spiritual power.

3"And what, bhikkhus, is the basis for spiritual power? It is the path and practice that leads to gaining spiritual power, to obtaining spiritual power.[n.270] Spk: The fourth jhāna used as a basis for abhiññā. This is called the basis for spiritual power.

4"And what, bhikkhus, is the development of the bases for spiritual power?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to desire and volitional formations of striving.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to mind and volitional formations of striving.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving.

This is called the development of the bases for spiritual power.

5"And what, bhikkhus, is the way leading to the development of the bases for spiritual power? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

This is called the way leading to the development of the bases for spiritual power."

1Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū bhagavā etadavoca: "katamā nu kho, bhikkhave, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā"ti?

"Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā … pe … .

2"Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti – ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti … pe … yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhi.

3Katamo ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādo? Yo, bhikkhave, maggo, yā paṭipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaṭilābhāya saṁvattati – ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādo.

4Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pādaṁ bhāveti,

vīriyasamādhi … pe …

cittasamādhi …

vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhi pādaṁ bhāveti –

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā.

5Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ – sammādiṭṭhi … pe … sammāsamādhi –

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā"ti.

Dasamaṁ.