SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 51 Linked Discourses on the Bases of Psychic Power – Iddhipādasaṁyutta > SN 51.29 Several Bhikkhū (1st)

Linked Discourses 51.29 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.29

3. The Iron Ball – 3. Ayoguḷavagga

SN 51.29 Several Bhikkhū (1st) – Paṭhamabhikkhusutta

Then several bhikkhū went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Sir, 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?”

“katamā nu kho, bhante, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti?

“Bhikkhū, take a bhikkhu who wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the Brahmā realm.

“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 paṭipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaṭilābhāya 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 bhikkhu develops the basis of psychic power that has samādhi due to enthusiasm …

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,

energy …

vīriyasamādhi …pe…

mental development …

cittasamādhi …

inquiry, and active effort.

vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ 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, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā?

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—

right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi—

This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti.