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Linked Discourses · SN 51.32

  • Linked Discourses 51.32Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.32
  • 3. The Iron Ball3. Ayoguḷavagga

The Realized OneTathāgatasutta

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “What do you think, mendicants?“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, What things has the Realized One developed and cultivated so as to have such power and might?”katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgato evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …”“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

“The Realized One has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.“catunnaṁ kho, bhikkhave, iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgato evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo.

What four?Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort.Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti— He thinks: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’iti me chando na ca atilīno bhavissati, na ca atippaggahito bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhitto bhavissati. And he meditates perceiving before and behind:Pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati— as before, so behind; as behind, so before;yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; as below, so above; as above, so below;yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance.Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

He develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy …Vīriyasamādhi …pe… mental development …cittasamādhi … inquiry, and active effort.vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti— He thinks: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’iti me vīmaṁsā na ca atilīnā bhavissati, na ca atipaggahitā bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhittā bhavissati. And he meditates perceiving before and behind:Pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati— as before, so behind; as behind, so before;yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; as below, so above; as above, so below;yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance.Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

The Realized One has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgato evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo.

And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the Realized One wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.Imesañca pana, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgato anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti.

And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the Realized One realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And he lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”Imesañca pana, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā tathāgato āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

(The six direct knowledges should be told in full.)(Chapi abhiññāyo vitthāretabbā.)

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. SN 51.21 The Path 0.69near 0.1Linked Discourses 51.21 3. The Iron Ball The Path At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought: ‘What’s the path and practice for developing the bases of psy…
  2. SN 51.14 With Moggallāna 0.69near 3.15as 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, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance. The mendicant Moggallāna has become so power…
  3. SN 51.31 About Moggallāna 0.67near 0.1Linked Discourses 51.31 3. The Iron Ball About Moggallāna There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? What things has the mendicant Moggallāna developed and cultivated so as to have such po…
  4. SN 51.11 Before 0.65near 3.15When 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. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very…
  5. SN 51.30 Several Mendicants (2nd) 0.63near 0.1Linked Discourses 51.30 3. The Iron Ball Several Mendicants (2nd) Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … The Buddha said to them: “Mendicants, what is psychic power? What is the basis of psychic power? What is t…
  6. SN 51.29 Several Mendicants (1st) 0.63near 0.1Linked Discourses 51.29 3. The Iron Ball Several Mendicants (1st) Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, what is psychic power? What is the basis of psychic pow…
  7. SN 51.23 A Mendicant 0.62near 0.1Linked Discourses 51.23 3. The Iron Ball A Mendicant “Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … e…
  8. SN 51.12 Very Fruitful 0.59near 3.15When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant w…