“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.
“Bhikkhus, any ascetics or brahmins in the past who have experienced various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they became many; being many, they became one; they appeared and disappeared; they passed through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they dived in and out of the earth as though it were water; they walked on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they flew through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they touched and stroked the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they wielded mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them did so through the cultivation and frequent practice of the four bases of psychic powers.
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.
Any ascetics or brahmins in the future who will experience various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they will become many; being many, they will become one; they will appear and disappear; they will pass through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they will dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; they will walk on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they will fly through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they will touch and stroke the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they will wield mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them will do so through the development and frequent practice of the four bases of psychic powers.
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.
Any ascetics or brahmins in the present who are experiencing various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they become many; being many, they become one; they appear and disappear; they pass through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; they walk on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they fly through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they touch and stroke the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they wield mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them do so through the development and frequent practice of the four bases of psychic powers.
Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?
What four?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti.
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the basis of psychic power that is endowed with |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| arising from |aspiration::a goal, an interest, an objective, i.e. a wholesome motivation [chanda]| and accompanied by intentional effort, develops the basis of psychic power that is endowed with collectedness arising from |determination::will power, energy [vīriya]| and accompanied by intentional effort, develops the basis of psychic power that is endowed with collectedness arising from |[purification of] mind::purification of heart [citta]| and accompanied by intentional effort, and develops the basis of psychic power that is endowed with collectedness arising from |investigation::consideration, reflection, and examination [vīmaṃsā]| and accompanied by intentional effort.
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 imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.
Bhikkhus, any ascetics or brahmins in the past who have experienced various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they became many; being many, they became one; they appeared and disappeared; they passed through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they dived in and out of the earth as though it were water; they walked on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they flew through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they touched and stroked the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they wield mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them did so through the development and frequent practice of these very four bases of psychic powers.
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 imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā.
Any ascetics or brahmins in the future who will experience various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they will become many; being many, they will become one; they will appear and disappear; they will pass through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they will dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; they will walk on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they will fly through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they will touch and stroke the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they will wield mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them will do so through the development and frequent practice of these very four bases of psychic powers.
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 imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattāti.
Any ascetics or brahmins in the present who are experiencing various kinds of psychic powers — being one, they become many; being many, they become one; they appear and disappear; they pass through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; they dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; they walk on water without sinking as though on solid ground; they fly through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; they touch and stroke the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and they wield mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahmā world — all of them do so through the development and frequent practice of these very four bases of psychic powers.”