Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga
Sutta 27
Paṭhama Ānanda Suttaṃ
Ānanda 1
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then the Elder Ānanda approached The Lucky Man and drew near.
Drawing near Bhagava and giving salutation he took a seat to one side.
Seated to one side then, the elder Ānanda said this to The Lucky Man:
"What, then, bhante, is power?
What is the path to power?
What is the development of the power-paths?|| ||
What is the path going to the development of the power paths?"
"Here Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, is what is called 'power'.
■
And what, Ānanda, is the path to power?
Whatever way, Ānanda, whatever path-tracking results in gaining power, gaining power acquisition —
This, Ānanda, is called 'the path to power'.
■
And what, Ānanda, is the development of the power-paths?
Here, Ānanda, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
he develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
This, Ānanda, is what is called 'the development of the power-paths.'
■
And what, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, is what is called 'the path going to the development of the power-paths'".
