1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as whatever strenuous deeds are done, are all done based upon the earth, established upon the earth,

so too, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the four bases for spiritual power.

i. based upon seclusion

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four 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
and which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving
and which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to mind and volitional formations of striving
and which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving
and which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four bases for spiritual power."

ii. removal of lust

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four 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
and which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving
and which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to mind and volitional formations of striving
and which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving
and which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four bases for spiritual power."

iii. the Deathless

… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four 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
and which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving
and which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to mind and volitional formations of striving
and which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving
and which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four bases for spiritual power."

iv. towards Nibbāna

"… And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develop and cultivate the four 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
and which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving
and which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to mind and volitional formations of striving
and which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

He develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving
and which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu, based upon virtue, established upon virtue, develops and cultivates the four bases for spiritual power."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete balakaraṇīyā kammantā karīyanti; …

Paṭhamaṁ.