About Moggallāna Moggallānasutta

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

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. …” “Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe…

“The mendicant Moggallāna has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power. “catunnaṁ kho, bhikkhave, iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā moggallāno bhikkhu evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo.

What four? Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Moggallāna develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. Idha, bhikkhave, moggallāno bhikkhu 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 atippaggahitā bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhittā bhavissati …pe… 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 mendicant Moggallāna has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā moggallāno bhikkhu evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo.

And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the mendicant Moggallāna 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 moggallāno bhikkhu evaṁ anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti.

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