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and the perception of lightness in the body; at that time, Ananda, the Tathāgata’s body becomes lighter, and softer, and more workable, and more radiant. “Ananda, at the time the Tathāgata composes the body in the mind, and the mind in the body, and dwells having entered the perception of ease and the perception of lightness in the body; at that time, Ananda, the Tathāgata’s body ascends into the air from the earth with little difficulty, and he experiences various kinds of psychic power – being one, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one… …even to the Brahma-world he wields power with his body. Just as, Ananda, a tuft of cotton or a wad of cotton, light and wind-borne, ascends into the air from the earth with little difficulty; even so, Ananda, at the time the Tathāgata composes the body in the mind, and the mind in the body, and dwells having entered the perception of ease and the perception of lightness in the body; at that time, Ananda, the Tathāgata’s body ascends into the air from the earth with little difficulty, and he experiences various kinds of psychic power – being one, he becomes many… …even to the Brahma-world he wields power with his body.” The Second. 3. The Discourse to Monks 835. “Monks, there are these four bases of psychic power. Which four? What are these four? Here, bhikkhus, a monk develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with volitional formations of concentration due to desire. He develops it with concentration due to energy. He develops it with concentration due to mind. He develops it with concentration due to investigation. These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. By developing and frequently practicing these four bases for spiritual power, a monk, through the destruction of the taints, enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life. The Third. 4. The Suddhika Sutta These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. What are these four? Here, bhikkhus, a monk develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with volitional formations of concentration due to desire. He develops it with concentration due to energy. He develops it with concentration due to mind. He develops it with concentration due to investigation. These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. The Fourth. 5. The First Result Sutta These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. What are these four? Here, bhikkhus, a monk develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with volitional formations of concentration due to desire. He develops it with concentration due to energy. He develops it with concentration due to mind. He develops it with concentration due to investigation. These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. By developing and frequently practicing these four bases for spiritual power, for a monk, one of two results is to be expected: either final knowledge in this very life, or, if there is a remainder of clinging, non-returning. The Fifth. 6. The Second Result Sutta These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. What are these four? Here, bhikkhus, a monk develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with volitional formations of concentration due to desire. He develops it with concentration due to energy. He develops it with concentration due to mind. He develops it with concentration due to investigation. These, bhikkhus, are the four bases for spiritual power. By developing and frequently practicing these four, bhikkhus, Due to the cultivation, due to the repeated practice of the bases of psychic power, seven fruits, seven benefits, are to be expected. “What are the seven fruits, the seven benefits? In this very life, one attains gnosis immediately. If not in this very life, one attains gnosis immediately, then at the time of death, one attains gnosis. If not in this very life, one attains gnosis immediately, and not at the time of death, one attains gnosis; then, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, one becomes an antarāparinibbāyī, one becomes an upahaccaparinibbāyī, one becomes an asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī, one becomes a sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī, one goes upstream to the Akaniṭṭha realm. Indeed, bhikkhus, due to the cultivation, due to the repeated practice of these four bases of psychic power, these seven fruits, seven benefits, are to be expected.” The Sixth. 7. The First Discourse to Ānanda 839. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “What, venerable sir, is psychic power? What is a base of psychic power? What is the development of a base of psychic power? What is the path leading to the development of a base of psychic power?” “Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu experiences various kinds of psychic power – being one, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one... (and so on)... he exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahma world – this, Ānanda, is called psychic power.” “And what, Ānanda, is a base of psychic power? That, Ānanda, path, that practice, which leads to the acquisition of psychic power, to the attainment of psychic power – this, Ānanda, is called a base of psychic power.” “And what, Ānanda, is the development of a base of psychic power? Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu develops the base of psychic power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of striving; concentration due to energy... (and so on)... concentration due to mind... (and so on)... concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving – this, Ānanda, is called the development of a base of psychic power.” “And what, Ānanda, is the base of psychic power... the path leading to the development? This very Noble Eightfold Path, namely – right view… (and so on)… right concentration – this, Ananda, is called the path leading to the development of the bases of power. The seventh. 8. The Second Discourse to Ananda 840. The Blessed One said this to the Venerable Ananda, who was sitting to one side – "What, Ananda, is power? What is a base of power? What is the development of a base of power? What is the path leading to the development of the bases of power?" "Our teachings, venerable sir, have the Blessed One as their root, the Blessed One as their guide… (and so on)…" "Here, Ananda, a monk experiences various kinds of power – being one, he becomes many… (and so on)… even to the Brahma-world he exercises mastery with his body – this, Ananda, is called power." "And what, Ananda, is a base of power? That, Ananda, path, that practice which leads to the acquisition of power, to the attainment of power – this, Ananda, is called a base of power." "And what, Ananda, is the development of a base of power? Here, Ananda, a monk develops the base of power endowed with concentration due to zeal and volitional formations of striving, concentration due to energy… (and so on)… concentration due to mind… (and so on)… develops the base of power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving – this, Ananda, is called the development of a base of power." "And what, Ananda, is the path leading to the development of the bases of power? This very Noble Eightfold Path, namely – right view… (and so on)… right concentration – this, Ananda, is called the path leading to the development of the bases of power." The eighth. 9. The First Discourse to the Monks 841. Then a number of monks approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One – "What, venerable sir, is power? What is a base of power? What is the development of a base of power? What is the path leading to the development of the bases of power?" "Here, monks, a monk experiences various kinds of power – being one, he becomes many… (and so on)… even to the Brahma-world even to the Brahma-world he wields power with his body— this, monks, is called psychic power. “And what, monks, is a basis for psychic power? That, monks, path, that practice which leads to the acquisition of psychic power, to the attainment of psychic power— this, monks, is called a basis for psychic power. “And what, monks, is the development of a basis for psychic power? Here, monks, a monk develops the basis for psychic power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of exertion; concentration due to energy… concentration due to mind… concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of exertion— this, monks, is called the development of a basis for psychic power. “And what, monks, is the practice leading to the development of a basis for psychic power? It is this Noble Eightfold Path, that is— right view… right concentration— this, monks, is called the practice leading to the development of a basis for psychic power.” The Ninth. 10. The Second Discourse to Monks 842. Then many monks approached the Blessed One… Having sat down to one side, the Blessed One said to those monks: “What, monks, is psychic power? What is a basis for psychic power? What is the development of a basis for psychic power? What is the practice leading to the development of a basis for psychic power?” “Our teachings, Venerable Sir, are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One…” “And what, monks, is psychic power? Here, monks, a monk experiences various kinds of psychic power: being one, he becomes many… even to the Brahma-world he wields power with his body— this, monks, is called psychic power. “And what, monks, is a basis for psychic power? That, monks, path, that practice which leads to the acquisition of psychic power, to the attainment of psychic power— this, monks, is called a basis for psychic power.