Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga
Sutta 30
Dutiya Sambahulā Bhikkhū Suttaṃ
A Congregation of Beggars (2)
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then a congregation of bhikkhus approached The Lucky Man and drew near.
Drawing near Bhagava and giving salutation they took seats to one side.
Seated to one side then, the Lucky Man said this to those beggars:
"What, then, beggars, 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?"
"For us bhante, things are best restsorted to rooted in the Lucky Man, channeled through Bhagava.
It would be good, bhante, if further explanation of this point were given by the Lucky Man.
That which is said by the Lucky Man will be held in memory by the beggars."
"In that case, beggars, listen well,
give over your mind
to what I say."
"Even so, bhante", those beggars then said to The Lucky Man in response.
Then the Lucky Man said this:
"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 what 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,
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, beggars, is what 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'."
