• Linked Discourses 51.12 Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.12
  • 2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse 2. Pāsādakampanavagga

Very Fruitful Mahapphalasutta

ā€œMendicants, when the four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they’re very fruitful and beneficial. ā€œCattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulÄ«katā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā. How so? Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā kathaṁ bahulÄ«katā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaį¹…khārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—They think: ā€˜My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ iti me chando na ca atilÄ«no bhavissati, na ca atippaggahito bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saį¹…khitto bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhitto bhavissati. And they meditate perceiving before and behind: PacchāpuresaƱƱī ca viharati—as before, so behind; as behind, so before; yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; as below, so above; as above, so below; yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance. Iti vivaį¹­ena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … VÄ«riyasamādhi …pe… mental development … cittasamādhi … inquiry, and active effort. vÄ«maṁsāsamādhippadhānasaį¹…khārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—They think: ā€˜My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ iti me vÄ«maṁsā na ca atilÄ«nā bhavissati, na ca atippaggahitā bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saį¹…khittā bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhittā bhavissati. And they meditate perceiving before and behind: PacchāpuresaƱƱī ca viharati—as before, so behind; as behind, so before; yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure; as below, so above; as above, so below; yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance. Iti vivaį¹­ena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā evaṁ bahulÄ«katā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā.

When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity. … Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catÅ«su iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulÄ«katesu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti …pe….

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 in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.ā€ Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catÅ«su iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulÄ«katesu, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paƱƱāvimuttiṁ diį¹­į¹­heva dhamme sayaṁ abhiƱƱā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatÄ«ā€ti.

Dutiyaṁ.