English
That mind which was previously for the attainment of arahantship, upon attaining arahantship, that associated mind is tranquilized. That investigation which was previously for the attainment of arahantship, upon attaining arahantship, that associated investigation is tranquilized. What do you think, brahmin, thus being so, is it something that exists or not something that exists? "Indeed, venerable Ānanda, thus being so, it is something that exists, not something that does not exist. Excellent, venerable Ānanda! Excellent, venerable Ānanda! Just as, venerable Ānanda, one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the darkness – so that those with eyes might see forms; even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by venerable Ānanda. I, venerable Ānanda, go for refuge to that venerable Gotama, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May venerable Ānanda remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth, for as long as life lasts." The Fifth. 6. The First Discourse on Ascetics and Brahmins Whatever, bhikkhus, in the past, ascetics or brahmins were mighty and powerful, all of them did so by developing and cultivating the four bases of spiritual power. Whatever, bhikkhus, in the future, ascetics or brahmins will be mighty and powerful, all of them will do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of spiritual power. Whatever, bhikkhus, at present, ascetics or brahmins are mighty and powerful, all of them do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of spiritual power. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations. He develops concentration due to energy... concentration due to mind... He develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations. Whatever, bhikkhus, in the past, ascetics or brahmins were mighty Those who were of great power, all of them, by developing and repeatedly practicing these four bases of power. And whoever, monks, in the future, ascetics or brahmins, will be mighty, of great power, all of them, by developing and repeatedly practicing these four bases of power. And whoever, monks, at present, ascetics or brahmins, are mighty, of great power, all of them, by developing and repeatedly practicing these four bases of power. The Sixth. 7. The Second Discourse on Ascetics and Brahmins 829. "Whoever, monks, in the past, ascetics or brahmins, experienced various kinds of psychic power – being one, they became many; being many, they became one; they appeared, they vanished; they went unhindered through walls, through ramparts, through mountains, as if through space; they dived in and out of the earth, as if in water; they walked on water without sinking, as if on land; they traveled through the air cross-legged, as if a winged bird; they touched and stroked these moon and sun, so mighty, so powerful, with their hand; they exercised mastery with their body even as far as the Brahma-world, all of them, by developing and repeatedly practicing the four bases of power. "Whoever, monks, in the future, ascetics or brahmins, will experience various kinds of psychic power – being one, they will become many; being many, they will become one; they will appear, they will vanish; they will go unhindered through walls, through ramparts, through mountains, as if through space; they will dive in and out of the earth, as if in water; they will walk on water without sinking, as if on land; they will travel through the air cross-legged, as if a winged bird; these moon and sun, so mighty, so powerful... with their hand they will touch, they will stroke; even up to the Brahma-world with their body they will exercise control, all of them because of having developed, having practiced repeatedly the four bases of power. Monks, whoever ascetics or brahmins now experience various kinds of psychic power – being one, they become many, being many, they become one; appearing, disappearing; through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain they go unhindered, just as in space; even in the earth they dive in and emerge, just as in water; even on water they walk without sinking, just as on earth; even in the sky they travel cross-legged, just as a winged bird; even these moon and sun, so mighty in power, so mighty in splendor, with their hand they touch, they stroke; even up to the Brahma-world with their body they exercise control, all of them because of having developed, having practiced repeatedly the four bases of power. Which four? Here, monks, a monk develops the base of power with concentration born of desire, and formations of exertion; concentration born of effort... concentration born of mind... develops the base of power with concentration born of investigation, and formations of exertion. Monks, whoever ascetics or brahmins in the past experienced various kinds of psychic power – being one, they became many... even up to the Brahma-world with their body they exercised control, all of them because of having developed, having practiced repeatedly these very four bases of power. Monks, whoever ascetics or brahmins in the future will experience various kinds of psychic power – being one, they will become many... even up to the Brahma-world with their body they will exercise control, all of them because of having developed, having practiced repeatedly these very four bases of power. Monks, whoever ascetics or brahmins now experience various kinds of psychic power – being one, they become many... …even up to the Brahma-world, they wield power with their bodies. All of them, because these four bases of power have been developed and made much of.’’ The Seventh. 8. The Discourse on the Monk 830. ‘‘Monks, by developing and making much of the four bases of power, a monk, through the destruction of the taints, enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life. ‘‘Which four? Here, monks, a monk develops the base of power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations. ...concentration due to energy... ...concentration due to mind... ...concentration due to investigation and volitional formations. Indeed, monks, by developing and making much of these four bases of power, a monk, through the destruction of the taints, enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life.’’ The Eighth. 9. The Discourse on the Teaching of Psychic Power, etc. 831. ‘‘Monks, I will teach you psychic power, and the base of psychic power, and the development of the base of psychic power, and the path leading to the development of the base of psychic power. Listen to that. ‘‘And what, monks, is psychic power? Here, monks, a monk experiences various kinds of psychic power: being one, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one; ... even up to the Brahma-world, he wields power with his body. This, monks, is called psychic power. ‘‘And what, monks, is the base of psychic power? That path, monks, that practice which leads to the acquisition of psychic power, to the attainment of psychic power— this, monks, is called the base of psychic power. ‘‘And what, monks, is the development of the base of psychic power? Here, monks, a monk develops the base of power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations. ...concentration due to energy... ...concentration due to mind... ...concentration due to investigation and volitional formations. This, monks, is called the development of the base of psychic power. ‘‘And what, monks, is the path leading to the development of the base of psychic power? This is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration – this, monks, is called the path leading to the development of the bases of psychic power. The Ninth. 10. The Discourse on Analysis 832. ‘‘These four, monks, are the bases of psychic power, when developed and frequently practiced, they are of great fruit, of great benefit.’’ ‘‘How, monks, are these four bases of psychic power developed, how are they frequently practiced, so as to be of great fruit, of great benefit? Here, monks, a monk develops the base of psychic power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of exertion – ‘Thus my desire will not be too slack, nor too tense, nor contracted internally, nor scattered externally.’ And he dwells perceiving before and behind: ‘As before, so behind; as behind, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, with an open mind, unconfined, he develops a mind full of light. Concentration due to energy... Concentration due to mind... He develops the base of psychic power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of exertion – ‘Thus my investigation will not be too slack, nor too tense, nor contracted internally, nor scattered externally.’ And he dwells perceiving before and behind: ‘As before, so behind; as behind, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, with an open mind, unconfined, he develops a mind full of light. ‘‘And what, monks, is slack desire? Whatever desire, monks, is accompanied by laziness, connected with laziness – this, monks, is called slack desire. ‘‘And what, monks, is tense desire? W And what, monks, is over-exerted desire? That, monks, which is desire accompanied by restlessness, associated with restlessness – this, monks, is called over-exerted desire. And what, monks, is inwardly contracted desire?