SN 51.17

Dutiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhosuṁ—ekopi hutvā bahudhā ahesuṁ, bahudhāpi hutvā eko ahesuṁ; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamānā agamaṁsu, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ akaṁsu, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne agamaṁsu, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamiṁsu, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasiṁsu parimajjiṁsu; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattesuṁ, sabbe te catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.

Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd)

“Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhossanti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā bhavissanti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko bhavissanti; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamānā gamissanti, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karissanti, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gamissanti, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamissanti, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasissanti parimajjissanti; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattissanti, sabbe te catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.

future,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhonti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā honti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko honti; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamānā gacchanti, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karonti, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchanti, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamanti, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasanti parimajjanti; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattenti, sabbe te catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattāti.

or present who wield the various kinds of psychic power—multiplying themselves and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity— do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhi …pe… cittasamādhi … vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhosuṁ—ekopi hutvā bahudhā ahesuṁ …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattesuṁ, sabbe te imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.

What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhossanti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā bhavissanti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattissanti, sabbe te imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.

future,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhonti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā honti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattenti, sabbe te imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā”ti.

or present who wield the many kinds of psychic power—multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity— do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.”