sn51.15:6 “Clearly, worthy Ānanda, this being the case, the path is finite, not endless. Excellent, worthy Ānanda! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the worthy Ānanda has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Ānanda remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

Ascetics and Brahmins (1st)

sn51.16:1 “Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past, future, or present who are mighty and powerful have become so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.

sn51.16:2 What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. All the ascetics and brahmins in the past, future, or present who are mighty and powerful have become so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.”

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd)

sn51.17:1 “Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past,

sn51.17:2 future,

sn51.17:3 or present who wield, by God’s leave, the various kinds of psychic power—multiplying themselves and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling the body as far as the highest heaven— do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.

sn51.17:4 What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past,

sn51.17:5 future,

sn51.17:6 or present who wield, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power—multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven— do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.”

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

A Mendicant

sn51.18:1 “Mendicants, by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power, a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.

sn51.18:2 What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. By developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

A Teaching on Psychic Power, Etc.

sn51.19:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you psychic power, the bases of psychic power, the development of the bases of psychic power, and the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power. Listen …

sn51.19:2 And what is psychic power? It’s when a mendicant wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. This is called psychic power.

sn51.19:3 And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

sn51.19:4 And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

sn51.19:5 And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

Analysis

sn51.20:1 “Mendicants, when the four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

sn51.20:2 How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They think: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. They think: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.

sn51.20:3 And what is enthusiasm that’s too lax? It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with laziness. This is called lax enthusiasm.

sn51.20:4 And what is enthusiasm that’s too tense? It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with restlessness. This is called tense enthusiasm.

sn51.20:5 And what is enthusiasm that’s constricted internally? It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with dullness and drowsiness. This is called enthusiasm constricted internally.

sn51.20:6 And what is enthusiasm that’s scattered externally? It’s when enthusiasm is frequently scattered and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called enthusiasm scattered externally.

sn51.20:7 And how does a mendicant meditate perceiving before and behind: as before, so behind; as behind, so before? It’s when the perception of before and behind is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and penetrated with wisdom by a mendicant. That’s how a mendicant meditates perceiving before and behind: as before, so behind; as behind, so before.

sn51.20:8 And how does a mendicant meditate as below, so above; as above, so below? It’s when a mendicant examines their own body up from the soles of the feet and down from the tips of the hairs, wrapped in skin and full of many kinds of filth. ‘In this body there is head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.’ That’s how a mendicant meditates as below, so above; as above, so below.

sn51.20:9 And how does a mendicant meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night. And they develop it with the same features, attributes, and signs by night as by day. That’s how a mendicant meditates as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

sn51.20:10 And how, with an open and unenveloped heart, does a mendicant develop a mind that’s full of radiance? It’s when a mendicant has properly grasped the perception of light, and has properly grasped the perception of day. That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.

sn51.20:11 And what is energy that’s too lax? …

sn51.20:16 And what is mental development that’s too lax? …

sn51.20:20 And what is inquiry that’s too lax? It’s when inquiry is coupled with laziness. This is called lax inquiry.

sn51.20:21 And what is inquiry that’s too tense? It’s when inquiry is coupled with restlessness. This is called tense inquiry.

sn51.20:22 And what is inquiry that’s constricted internally? It’s when inquiry is coupled with dullness and drowsiness. This is called inquiry constricted internally.

sn51.20:23 And what is inquiry that’s scattered externally? It’s when inquiry is frequently scattered and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation. This is called inquiry scattered externally. … That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

sn51.20:24 When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. … When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”

3. The Iron Ball

The Path

sn51.21:1 At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought: ‘What’s the path and practice for developing the bases of psychic power?’ Then it occurred to me: ‘It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They think: “My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.” And they meditate 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. They think: “My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.” And they meditate 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.’

sn51.21:2 When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.” (The six direct knowledges should be told in full.)

3. The Iron Ball

The Iron Ball

sn51.22:1 At Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, by God’s leave, do you have personal experience of having gone to the highest heaven by psychic power with a mind-made body?” “I do, Ānanda.” “But do you have personal experience of having gone to the highest heaven by psychic power with this body made up of the four principal states?” “I do, Ānanda.”

sn51.22:2 “It’s incredible and amazing that the Buddha is at least able to go to the highest heaven by psychic power with a mind-made body! And that he has personal experience of going to the highest heaven by psychic power with this body made up of the four principal states!” “Ānanda, the Realized Ones are incredible and have incredible qualities. They’re amazing and have amazing qualities.

sn51.22:3 Sometimes the Realized One submerges his body in his mind and his mind in his body. He meditates after sinking into a perception of bliss and lightness in the body. At that time his body becomes lighter, softer, more workable, and more radiant.

sn51.22:4 Suppose there was an iron ball that had been heated all day. It’d become lighter, softer, more workable, and more radiant. In the same way, sometimes the Realized One submerges his body in his mind and his mind in his body. He meditates after sinking into a perception of bliss and lightness in the body. At that time his body becomes lighter, softer, more workable, and more radiant.

sn51.22:5 Sometimes the Realized One submerges his body in his mind and his mind in his body. He meditates after sinking into a perception of bliss and lightness in the body. At that time his body easily rises up from the ground into the air. He wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven.

sn51.22:6 Suppose there was a light tuft of cotton-wool or kapok. Taken up by the wind, it would easily rise up from the ground into the air. In the same way, sometimes the Realized One submerges his body in his mind and his mind in his body. He meditates after sinking into a perception of bliss and lightness in the body. At that time his body easily rises up from the ground into the air. He wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven.”

3. The Iron Ball

A Mendicant

sn51.23:1 “Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. These are the four bases of psychic power. By developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”

3. The Iron Ball

Plain Version

sn51.24:1 “Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. These are the four bases of psychic power.”

3. The Iron Ball

Fruits (1st)

sn51.25:1 “Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. These are the four bases of psychic power. Because of developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, one of two results can be expected: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”

3. The Iron Ball

Fruits (2nd)

sn51.26:1 “Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. These are the four bases of psychic power. Because of developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, seven fruits and benefits can be expected.

sn51.26:2 What seven? They attain enlightenment early on in this very life. If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, they’re extinguished in the interval after death … they’re extinguished upon arrival … they’re extinguished without extra effort … they’re extinguished with extra effort … they head upstream, going to the highest ranks of the Garden. Because of developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, these seven fruits and benefits can be expected.”

3. The Iron Ball

With Ānanda (1st)

sn51.27:1 At Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

sn51.27:2 “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?” “Ānanda, take a mendicant who wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. This is called psychic power.

sn51.27:3 And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

sn51.27:4 And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

sn51.27:5 And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

3. The Iron Ball

With Ānanda (2nd)

sn51.28:1 The Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, 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?” “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide. …”

sn51.28:2 “Ānanda, take a mendicant who wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. This is called psychic power.

sn51.28:3 And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

sn51.28:4 And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

sn51.28:5 And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

3. The Iron Ball

Several Mendicants (1st)

sn51.29:1 Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “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?”

sn51.29:2 “Mendicants, take a mendicant who wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. This is called psychic power.

sn51.29:3 And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

sn51.29:4 And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

sn51.29:5 And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

3. The Iron Ball

Several Mendicants (2nd)

sn51.30:1 Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … The Buddha said to them: “Mendicants, 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?” “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. …”

sn51.30:2 “And what is psychic power? It’s a mendicant who wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. This is called psychic power.

sn51.30:3 And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

sn51.30:4 And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

sn51.30:5 And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

3. The Iron Ball

About Moggallāna

sn51.31:1 There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? What things has the mendicant Moggallāna developed and cultivated so as to have such power and might?”

sn51.31:2 “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. …” “The mendicant Moggallāna has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.

sn51.31:3 What four? Moggallāna develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. He thinks: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And he meditates 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance. He develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. He thinks: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ … And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance. The mendicant Moggallāna has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.

sn51.31:4 And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the mendicant Moggallāna wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the mendicant Moggallāna realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And he lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”

3. The Iron Ball

The Realized One

sn51.32:1 There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? What things has the Realized One developed and cultivated so as to have such power and might?”

sn51.32:2 “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. …” “The Realized One has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.

sn51.32:3 What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. He thinks: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And he meditates 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance. He develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. He thinks: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And he meditates 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. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, he develops a mind that’s full of radiance. The Realized One has become so powerful and mighty by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.

sn51.32:4 And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the Realized One wields, by God’s leave, the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the highest heaven. And by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, the Realized One realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And he lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.” (The six direct knowledges should be told in full.)

4. Abbreviated Texts on the Ganges

The Ganges River, Etc.

sn51.33-44:1 “Mendicants, the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. In the same way, a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four bases of psychic power slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment. And how does a mendicant who develops the four bases of psychic power slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort.

sn51.33-44:2 That’s how a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four bases of psychic power slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.”

sn51.33-44:3 Six on slanting to the east, and six on slanting to the ocean; these two sixes make twelve, and that’s how this chapter is recited.

5. Diligence

Diligence

sn51.45-54:1 (Tell in full as in the chapter on diligence at SN 45.139–148.)

sn51.45-54:2 The Realized One, footprint, roof peak, roots, heartwood, jasmine, monarch, sun and moon, and cloth is the tenth.

6. Hard Work

Hard Work

sn51.55-66:1 (Tell in full as in the chapter on hard work at SN 45.149–160.)

sn51.55-66:2 Hard work, seeds, and dragons, a tree, a pot, and a spike, the atmosphere, and two on clouds, a ship, a guest house, and a river.

7. Searches

Searches

sn51.67-76:1 (Tell in full as in the chapter on searches at SN 45.161–170.)

sn51.67-76:2 Searches, discriminations, defilements, states of existence, three kinds of suffering, barrenness, stains, and troubles, feelings, craving, and thirst.

8. Floods

Floods, Etc.

sn51.77-86:1 “Mendicants, there are five higher fetters. What five? Attachment to form, attachment to the formless, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. These are the five higher fetters. The four bases of psychic power should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters. What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. These four bases of psychic power should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters.” (Tell in full as in the Linked Discourses on the Path at SN 45.171–180.)

sn51.77-86:2 Floods, yokes, grasping, ties, and underlying tendencies, kinds of sensual stimulation, hindrances, aggregates, and fetters high and low. The Linked Discourses on the Bases of Psychic Power, the seventh section.