Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
2. Pāsāda-Kampana Vagga
Sutta 12
Maha-p-Phala Suttaṃ
Fruitful
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town revisiting, Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta-forest park.
The four Power-paths, beggars,
developed and made a big thing of,
are of great fruit, great profit.
How then, beggars, are the four Power-paths
developed and made a big thing of,
so as to be of great fruit, great profit?
In this case a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
"Let my wishing not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad."
Live after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
the heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
"Let my energy not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad."
Live after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
the heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
"Let my heart not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad."
Live after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
the heart becomes radiant.
He develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making thus:
"Let my investigation not be too sluggish,
not be too unrestrained,
not be inwardly cramped,
not be scattered abroad."
Live after-before-perceiving:
As before so after
as as after so before.
As above, so below,
as below, so above.
As by day, so by night,
as by night, so by day.
Thus with clear thinking,
disentangled thinking,
the heart becomes radiant.
§
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths,
the result will not be just one of the various sorts of power.
Being one he also becomes many,
being many he also becomes one.
Manifest here, transported beyond notice,
transported through walls,
transported through fortifications unsticking,
he goes whithersoever as if in space.
He jumps into and out of the earth
as though in water;
goes on water without parting it
as though on solid ground.
He goes through space cross-legged like a bird on the wing.
He touches and feels with the hand the Moon and Sun, as great and powerful as they are.
He turns up in the body even in the Brahma world.
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths,
with purified godlike hearing,
beyond that of ordinary men,
hears both sounds:
godly and man-made,
far or near.
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths —
of other beings,
of other men,
heart encompassing heart,
he knows:
Of a lustful heart: 'This is a lustful heart.'
Of a lust-free heart: 'This is a lust-free heart.'
Of a hateful heart: 'This is a hateful heart.'
Of a hate-free heart: 'This is a hate-free heart.'
Of a clogged up heart: 'This is a clogged up heart.'
Of an unclogged heart: 'This is an unclogged heart.'
Of an deranged heart: 'This is a deranged heart.'
Of a balanced heart: 'This is a balanced heart.'
Of a constricted heart: 'This is a constricted heart.'
Of an unconstricted heart: 'This is an unconstricted heart.'
Of a state of heart that is less than superior: 'This is a state of heart that is less than superior.'
Of a state of heart that is superior: 'This state of heart is nothing less than superior.'
Of useless heart: 'This is a useless heart.'
Of a beneficial heart: 'This is a beneficial heart.'
Of a heart that is not free: 'This is a heart that is not free.'
Of a heart that is freed: 'This is a heart that is freed.'
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths,
recollects not just one arrangement of previous inhabitations.
For example:
Just one birth,
just two births,
just three births,
just four births,
just five births,
just ten births,
just twenty births,
just thirty births,
just fourty births,
just fifty births,
one hundred births in all,
a thousand births in all,
a hundred-thousand births in all,
not just one evolution of a kappa,
not just one devolution of a kappa,
not just one evolution and devolution of a kappa.
That there:
Of such a name
of such a clan
of such color
of such food
of such experience of pleasure and pain,
of such coming to life's end.
Shifting away from that, re-appearing elsewhere.
In that habitation:
Of such a name
of such a clan
of such color
of such food
of such experience of pleasure and pain,
of such coming to life's end.
Shifting away from that reborn here.
Thus with it's makeup in detail,
he recollects not just one arrangement of previous inhabitations.
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths,
he sees beings with purified godlike sight
surpassing that of mankind.
He knows of beings
their shifting away, re-appearance,
being left behind, advancing,
their beauty, their uglyness,
their experiencing of pleasure, experiencing of pain,
according to their intentional deeds:
'For sure these good beings were
committed to injurious bodily conduct,
committed to injurious verbal conduct,
committed to injurious mental conduct,
denegrated Aristocrats,
held low views,
were committed to behavior in accordance with low views,
for upon the break up of the body after death
they have arisen in states of woe,
pain,
punishment,
Niraya Hell.
For sure these good beings were
committed to beneficial bodily conduct,
committed to beneficial verbal conduct,
committed to beneficial mental conduct,
spoke well of Aristocrats,
were of high view,
were committed to behavior in accordance with high view,
for upon the break up of the body after death
they have arisen in worlds of heavenly pleasures.'
Thus he sees beings with purified godlike sight
surpassing that of mankind.
And he knows of beings
their shifting away, re-appearance,
being left behind, advancing,
their beauty, their uglyness,
their experiencing of pleasure, experiencing of pain,
according to their intentional deeds.
Thus developed, then beggars,
a beggar thus making a big thing of the four power-paths,
through his own higher knowledge experiences
the destruction of the corrupting influences,
and without corrupting influences,
in this seen thing,
enters into and lives
in freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom."
