Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhipāda Saṁyutta

Kindred Sayings on the Bases of Psychic Power

Chapter I: Cāpāla

Sutta 6

Samatta Suttaṁ

Perfectly

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

'Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

Monks, whosoever in time past,
whether recluses or brahmins,
have successfully practised psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such have done so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.

Whosoever in future time,
whether recluses or brahmins,
shall successfully practise psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such shall do so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.

Whosoever in the present time,
whether recluses or brahmins,
do successfully practise psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such do so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.

What four?

Herein a monk cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
desire,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
energy,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
thought,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
investigation,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

Monks, whosoever in time past,
whether recluses or brahmins,
have successfully practised psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such have done so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.

Whosoever in future time,
whether recluses or brahmins,
shall successfully practise psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such shall do so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.

Whosoever in the present time,
whether recluses or brahmins,
do successfully practise psychic power
to a perfect degree,
all such do so
by cultivating and making much of
the four bases of psychic power.