• Linked Discourses 51.28 Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.28

3. The Iron Ball 3. Ayoguįø·avagga

With Ānanda (2nd) Dutiyaānandasutta

The Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda: Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: ā€œÄ€nanda, what is psychic power? What is the basis of psychic power? What is the development of the bases of psychic power? And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power?ā€ ā€œkatamā nu kho, ānanda, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminÄ« paį¹­ipadÄā€ti?

ā€œOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. ā€¦ā€ BhagavaṁmÅ«lakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe….

ā€œÄ€nanda, take a mendicant who wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity. ā€œIdhānanda, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti—This is called psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhi.

And what is the basis of psychic power? Katamo cānanda, iddhipādo? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. Yo, ānanda, maggo yā paį¹­ipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaį¹­ilābhāya saṁvattati—This is called the basis of psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādo.

And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā cānanda, iddhipādabhāvanā? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … Idhānanda, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaį¹…khārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, energy … vÄ«riyasamādhi …pe… mental development … cittasamādhi … inquiry, and active effort. vÄ«maṁsāsamādhippadhānasaį¹…khārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—This is called the development of the bases of psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādabhāvanā.

And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā cānanda, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminÄ« paį¹­ipadā? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: Ayameva ariyo aį¹­į¹­haį¹…giko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. sammādiį¹­į¹­hi …pe… sammāsamādhi—This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.ā€ ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminÄ« paį¹­ipadÄā€ti.