Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
2. Pāsāda-Kampana Vagga
Sutta 19
Desanā or Bhāvanā Suttaṃ
Delineation
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
"I will delineate for you, beggars, power,
the path to power,
the development of the power-paths,
and the path going to the development of the power-paths.
Listen up!
And what, beggars, is power?
Here, beggars, a beggar experiences not 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.
This beggars, is called 'power.'
§
And what, beggars, is the path to power?
Whatever way, beggars, whatever path-tracking
results in gaining power,
gaining power acquisition —
This, beggars, is called the path to power.
§
And what, beggars, is the development of the power-paths?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This, beggars, is called the development of the power-paths.
§
And what, beggars, is the path going to the development of the power-paths?
It is this very Aristocratic Eight-dimensional Way, that is to say:
High view,
high principles,
high talk,
high works,
high lifestyle,
high self-control,
high memory,
high serenity.
This, beggars, is what is called the path going to the development of the power-paths."
[1] No nidana, no indication that it is Gotama that is speaking.
