• Linked Discourses 51.30 Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.30

3. The Iron Ball 3. Ayoguįø·avagga

Several Mendicants (2nd) Dutiyabhikkhusutta

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhÅ« yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kamiṁsu …pe… The Buddha said to them: ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhÅ« bhagavā etadavoca:

ā€œMendicants, 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, bhikkhave, 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€ ā€œBhagavaṁmÅ«lakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe….

ā€œAnd what is psychic power? ā€œKatamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhi? It’s 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. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti—This is called psychic power. ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhi.

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

And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … Idha, bhikkhave, 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 vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā.

And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā ca, bhikkhave, 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 vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminÄ« paį¹­ipadÄā€ti.