English
“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 is called is the development of the bases of power. “And what, monks, is the path leading to the development of the bases of power? It is this Noble Eightfold Path, that is to say—right view…right concentration. This, monks, is called the path leading to the development of the bases of power.” The tenth. 11. Moggallāna Sutta 843. There, the Blessed One addressed the monks, saying, “What do you think, monks, by the development and cultivation of which qualities is the monk Moggallāna of such great power, of such great might?” “Our teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, the Blessed One as their guide…” “It is, monks, by the development and cultivation of the four bases of power that the monk Moggallāna is of such great power, of such great might.” “Which four? Here, monks, the monk Moggallāna develops the base of power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of exertion, thinking: ‘Thus my desire will not be too slack, nor too strained; nor will it be constricted internally, nor scattered externally.’ And he dwells perceiving front and back: ‘As front, so back; as back, so front; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, with an open and unconfined mind, he develops a mind full of light. Concentration due to energy…concentration due to mind…concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of exertion, thinking: ‘Thus my investigation will not be too slack, nor too strained; nor will it be constricted internally, nor scattered externally’…Thus, with an open and unconfined mind, he develops a mind full of light. It is, monks, by the development and cultivation of these four bases of power that the monk Moggallāna is of such great power, of such great might. “And furthermore, monks, these four bases of power… due to the cultivation and development of the four bases of psychic power, the bhikkhu Moggallāna experiences various kinds of psychic power: being one, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one… …he exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahma-world. And, monks, due to the cultivation and development of these four bases of psychic power, the bhikkhu Moggallāna, by the destruction of the taints, having realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, the liberation by wisdom, enters upon and abides in it.” The Eleventh. 12. The Discourse on the Tathāgata 844. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “What do you think, monks, due to the cultivation and development of which phenomena is the Tathāgata so greatly powerful, so greatly mighty?” “Our teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir…” “…Monks, due to the cultivation and development of the four bases of psychic power, the Tathāgata is so greatly powerful, so greatly mighty.” “Which four? Here, monks, the Tathāgata cultivates the base of psychic power endowed with concentration due to zeal and volitional formations, thinking: ‘Thus my zeal will not be too slack, nor too overstrained; nor will it be inwardly constricted, nor outwardly scattered.’ And he dwells perceiving front and back: ‘As front, so back; as back, so front; as below, so above; as above, so below; as day, so night; as night, so day.’ Thus with an open and unconfined mind, he cultivates a mind full of radiance. Concentration due to energy… …concentration due to mind… …he cultivates the base of psychic power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations, thinking: ‘Thus my investigation will not be too slack, nor too overstrained; nor will it be inwardly constricted, nor outwardly scattered.’ And he dwells perceiving front and back: ‘As front, so back; as back, so front; as below, so t Then upwards, as upwards so downwards; as by day so by night, as by night so by day.' Thus, with an open mind, unbounded, he develops a luminous mind. Because of the development and cultivation of these four bases of spiritual power, bhikkhus, the Tathāgata is thus greatly mighty, thus greatly powerful. ‘‘And furthermore, bhikkhus, because of the development and cultivation of these four bases of spiritual power, the Tathāgata experiences various kinds of spiritual power—being one, he becomes many... and so on... he exercises mastery with his body even up to the Brahma-world. And furthermore, bhikkhus, because of the development and cultivation of these four bases of spiritual power, the Tathāgata, by the destruction of the taints, having realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, enters upon and abides in it.’’ The Twelfth. (The six higher knowledges should be elaborated). The Third Chapter on the Iron Ball. Its summary: The Path, the Iron Ball, the Bhikkhu, and also the two Pure Fruits; The two Ānandas, the two Bhikkhus, Moggallāna, and the Tathāgata. 4. The Chapter on the Ganges Repetition. 1-12. The twelve suttas beginning with the River Ganges. 845-856. ‘‘Just as, bhikkhus, the river Ganges slopes to the east, leans to the east, inclines to the east; even so, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu developing the four bases of spiritual power, cultivating the four bases of spiritual power, slopes to Nibbāna, leans to Nibbāna, inclines to Nibbāna. And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu developing the four bases of spiritual power, cultivating the four bases of spiritual power, slope to Nibbāna, lean to Nibbāna, incline to Nibbāna? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to desire and the volitional formations of exertion; he develops concentration due to energy... and so on... he develops concentration due to mind... and so on... he develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to investigation and the volitional formations of exertion. ‘‘It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu developing the four bases of spiritual power, cultivating the four bases of spiritual power, slopes to Nibbāna, leans to Nibbāna, incline to Nibbāna.’’ The Twelfth. The Gaṅgāpeyyāla Section, the fourth. Its summary – Six sloping to the east, Six sloping to the sea; These two sixes are twelve, Hence the section is called. The Section on Heedfulness is to be elaborated. Its summary – Tathāgata, path, peak, Root, essence, and rainy season; King, moon, sun, With cloth, the tenth word. The Section on Things to be Done with Strength is to be elaborated. Its summary – Strength, and seed, and elephant, Tree, with pot, and ear of grain; With sky, and two clouds, Boat, guest, and river. The Section on Seeking is to be elaborated. Its summary – Seeking, ways, influxes, Becoming, and three kinds of suffering; Fallow land, and defilement, and affliction, Feeling, craving, and thirst. 8. The Section on Floods 1-10. The Decad of Discourses beginning with Floods 889-898. “Monks, there are these five higher fetters. Which five? Lust for form, lust for the formless, conceit, restlessness, ignorance – These, monks, are the five higher fetters. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these five higher fetters, The four bases of psychic power are to be developed. Which four? Here, monks, a monk develops the basis of 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. For the direct knowledge, full understanding, complete destruction, and abandonment of these five higher fetters, These four bases of psychic power are to be developed.” (To be elaborated as in the Saṃyutta on the Path.) The Section on Floods, the eighth. Its summary – Flood, yoke, clinging, Knots, and latent tendencies; Sense pleasures, hindrances, Aggregates, and lower fetters. The Saṃyutta on the Bases of Psychic Power, the seventh.