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

#### The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
51. Kindred Sayings on the Bases of Psychic Power
3. [Untitled]

#### Sutta 29

#### Paṭhama Sambahulā Bhikkhū Suttaṁ

# Monks (a)

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[256]

[1][olds] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then a number of monks came to see the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.

As they sat at one side
those monks said this to the Exalted One:

"Pray, lord, what, is psychic power?

What is the basis of psychic power?

What is the practice
that leads to the cultivation of psychic power?"

"Herein, monks, a monk enjoys
in divers ways
manifold forms of psychic power such as:

From being one he becomes many,
from being many he becomes one.

Manifest or invisible
he goes unhindered through a wall,
through a rampart,
through a mountain,
as if it were through air.

He plunges into the earth
and shoots up again
as if in water.

He walks upon the water
without parting it,
as if on solid ground.

He travels sitting cross-legged through the air,
like a bird upon the wing.

Even this moon and sun,
though they be of such mighty power and majesty,
he handles and strokes them with his hand.

Even as far as the Brahma World
he has power with his body.

This, monks, is called
'psychic power.'

■

And what, monks, is the basis of psychic power?

That path, that practice which conduces to the laying hold of,
to the winning of
psychic power, -
that, monks, is called
'the basis of psychic power.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the cultivation of psychic power?

Herein monks a monk cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
desire,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
energy,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
thought,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

He cultivates that basis of psychic power
of which the features are
investigation,
together with the co-factors
of concentration
and struggle.

This, monks, is called
'the cultivation of the bases of psychic power.'

■

And of what sort, monks,
is the practice
that leads to the cultivation of psychic power?

It is just this Ariyan eightfold way, to wit:

Right view
right aim,
right speech,
right action,
right living,
right effort,
right mindfulness,
right concentration.

This, monks, is called: 'the practice
that leads to the cultivation
of the bases of psychic power'."

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