• Linked Discourses 51.28 Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.28
  • 3. The Iron Ball 3. Ayoguḷavagga

With Ānanda (2nd) Dutiyaānandasutta

The Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda: Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “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?” “katamā nu kho, ānanda, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. …” Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe….

“Ānanda, take a mendicant who wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity. “Idhānanda, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti—This is called psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhi.

And what is the basis of psychic power? Katamo cānanda, iddhipādo? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. Yo, ānanda, maggo yā paṭipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaṭilābhāya saṁvattati—This is called the basis of psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādo.

And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā cānanda, iddhipādabhāvanā? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … Idhānanda, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, energy … vīriyasamādhi …pe… mental development … cittasamādhi … inquiry, and active effort. vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—This is called the development of the bases of psychic power. ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādabhāvanā.

And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? Katamā cānanda, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi—This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.” ayaṁ vuccatānanda, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.