Saṁyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṁyutta
3. Ayo-Guḷa Vagga

Sutta 30

Dutiya Sambahulā Bhikkhū Suttaṁ

A Congregation of Beggars (2)

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

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 resorted 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 Brahmā 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:

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'."