Back to the library

B01030209iddhipādavibhaṅgo (four powers analysis treatise)

English

acquisition, gain, reaching, achieving, touching, realization, entering upon of those phenomena. Basis of power. For one who is thus, the aggregate of feeling, the aggregate of perception, the aggregate of volitional formations, the aggregate of consciousness. Develops the basis of power. He practices, develops, makes much of those phenomena. Therefore, it is called "develops the basis of power." Section on the Suttanta explanation. 2. Section on the Abhidhamma explanation 444. Four bases of power – here a monk develops the basis of power endowed with desire, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion, develops the basis of power endowed with energy, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion, develops the basis of power endowed with mind, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion, develops the basis of power endowed with investigation, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion. 1. The Basis of Power of Desire 445. And how does a monk develop the basis of power endowed with desire, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion? Here, when a monk develops a supramundane jhana leading to liberation, leading to the cessation of accumulation, for the abandonment of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage, quite secluded from sensual pleasures... he enters and dwells in the first jhana, with painful practice and slow insight, at that time, he develops the basis of power endowed with desire, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion. 446. What is desire there? That desire, wishing, wanting to do, wholesome desire for phenomena – this is called "desire." There. What is concentration? That stability of mind, steadfastness... Right Concentration, the enlightenment factor of concentration, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "concentration". Therein, what is the volitional formation of exertion? That mental energy, the beginning of effort... Right Effort, the enlightenment factor of energy, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "the volitional formation of exertion". Thus, endowed with this desire, and with this concentration, and with this volitional formation of exertion... possessed of. Therefore, it is called "possessed of the desire, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion". 447. Power (Iddhi) means: That power, success, accomplishment, attainment, acquisition, obtaining, reaching, achieving, touching, realizing, entering upon of those states. Basis of power (Iddhipāda) means: The contact of one who is thus... exertion, non-distraction. "Develops the basis of power" means: He practices, develops, makes much of those states. Therefore, it is called "develops the basis of power". 2. The Basis of Power of Energy 448. And how, monk, does one develop the basis of power possessed of energy, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion? Here, monk, when one develops the supramundane jhana, leading to liberation, leading to the eradication of accumulations, for the abandonment of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage, quite secluded from sensual pleasures... having entered and remained in the first jhana, with painful practice and slow insight, at that time, one develops the basis of power possessed of energy, concentration, and volitional formation of exertion. 449. Therein, what is energy? That mental energy, the beginning of effort... Right Effort, the enlightenment factor of energy, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "energy". Therein, what is concentration? That stability of mind, steadfastness... Right Concentration, the enlightenment factor of concentration, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "concentration". Therein, what is the volitional formation of exertion? That mental energy, the beginning of effort... Right Effort, the enlightenment factor of energy, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "the volitional formation of exertion". Thus, with this energy... by energy, and by this concentration, and by this volitional formation of exertion, he is endowed, possessed of. Therefore he is called "possessed of the volitional formation of energy, concentration, and exertion." 450. Power means: That of those states which is power, success, accomplishment, full accomplishment, acquisition, attainment, obtaining, complete obtaining, touching, realization, achievement. Base of Power means: The contact of one so become... uplift, non-distraction. He develops the base of power means: Those states he practices, he develops, he makes much of. Therefore it is called "he develops the base of power." 3. The Base of Power of Consciousness 451. And how, monk, does he develop the base of power possessed of the volitional formation of consciousness, concentration, and exertion? Here, monk, at whatever time he develops the supramundane jhana, leading to liberation, leading to the cessation (of accumulation), for the abandoning of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage, quite secluded from sensual pleasures... he enters and dwells in the first jhana, with painful practice and slow direct knowledge, at that time he develops the base of power possessed of the volitional formation of consciousness, concentration, and exertion. 452. Therein, what is consciousness? That which is mind, thought, mentality... the mind-consciousness element pertaining thereto – this is called "consciousness." Therein, what is concentration? That which is the stability of mind, steadfastness... right concentration, the concentration enlightenment factor, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "concentration." Therein, what is the volitional formation of exertion? That which is mental energy, the initiation of energy... right effort, the energy enlightenment factor, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called "the volitional formation of exertion." Thus, by this consciousness, and by this concentration, and by this volitional formation of exertion, he is endowed, possessed of. Therefore he is called "possessed of the volitional formation of consciousness, concentration, and exertion." 453. Power means: That of those states which is power, success, accomplishment, full accomplishment, acquisition, attainment, obtaining, complete obtaining, touching, realization, achievement. Base of Power means: The contact of one so become... uplift, non-distraction. He develops the base of power means. He practices, develops, and makes much of these states. Therefore, it is called 'developing a basis for psychic power'. 4. The Basis for Psychic Power of Investigation 454. And how, monks, does one develop a basis for psychic power endowed with investigation-concentration-exertion-volition? Here, monks, when one develops a supramundane jhāna leading to liberation, tending to the fading away (of defilements), for the abandoning of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage (of awakening), quite secluded from sensual pleasures... (and so on)... entering and abiding in the first jhāna, with painful practice and slow direct knowledge, at that time, one develops a basis for psychic power endowed with investigation-concentration-exertion-volition. 455. Therein, what is investigation? That wisdom, understanding... (and so on)... non-delusion, discrimination of states, right view, the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called 'investigation'. Therein, what is concentration? That stability of mind, steadfastness... (and so on)... right concentration, the enlightenment factor of concentration, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called 'concentration'. Therein, what is exertion-volition? That mental exertion, effort... (and so on)... right effort, the enlightenment factor of effort, a factor of the path, included in the path – this is called 'exertion-volition'. Thus, endowed, fully endowed, approached, fully approached, furnished, accomplished, possessed with this investigation, with this concentration, and with this exertion-volition. Therefore, it is called 'endowed with investigation-concentration-exertion-volition'. 456. Psychic power (Iddhi) means: The power, success, accomplishment, full accomplishment, gain, acquisition, attainment, full attainment, touching, realization, entering of those states. Basis for psychic power (Iddhipāda) means: The contact of one who is thus... (and so on)... exertion, non-distraction. Developing a basis for psychic power means: He practices, develops, and makes much of these states. Therefore, it is called 'developing a basis for psychic power'. 457. There are four bases for psychic power: the basis for psychic power of desire, the basis for psychic power of effort, the basis for psychic power of mind, the basis for psychic power of investigation. 458. Therein, what is the basis for psychic power of desire? Here, monks, when one develops a supramundane jhāna Among these, what is the base of power of desire? Here, a monk, at such time as he cultivates a supramundane jhāna, leading to liberation, leading to the cessation (of accumulation), for the abandoning of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage (of awakening), secluded from sensual pleasures... he enters and dwells in the first jhāna, with painful practice and slow insight; whatever at that time is desire, inclination, wish to act, wholesome desire for the Dhamma – this is called "the base of power of desire." The remaining phenomena are associated with the base of power of desire. Among these, what is the base of power of effort? Here, a monk, at such time as he cultivates a supramundane jhāna, leading to liberation, leading to the cessation (of accumulation), for the abandoning of wrong views, for the attainment of the first stage (of awakening), secluded from sensual pleasures...