Saṁyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṁyutta
2. Pāsāda-Kampana Vagga

Sutta 19

Desanā or Bhāvanā Suttaṁ

Delineation

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts] I Hear Tell:^[1]

"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 Brahmā 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:

Consummate view,
consummate principles,
consummate talk,
consummate works,
consummate lifestyle,
consummate self-control,
consummate mind,
consummate serenity.

This, beggars, is what is called
the path going to the development of the power-paths."

 

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^[1] No Nidana, no indication that it is Gotama that is speaking.