Develop the four bases of psychic powers for the directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and abandonment of the five higher fetters.

SN 51.86  86 - Higher Fetters

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, uddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni. Katamāni pañca? Rūparāgo, arūparāgo, māno, uddhaccaṁ, avijjāimāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcuddhambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni.

“Bhikkhus, there are these five higher fetters. What five? Passion for form, passion for the formless, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance — these, bhikkhus, are the five higher fetters.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya cattāro iddhipādā bhāvetabbā.

For the directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and abandonment of these five higher fetters, the four bases of psychic powers should be developed.

Katame cattāro?

And what are the four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ 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; develops the basis of psychic power that is endowed with collectedness arising from |investigation::consideration, reflection, and examination [vīmaṃsā]| and accompanied by intentional effort.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ uddhambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ime cattāro iddhipādā bhāvetabbā”ti.

For the directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and abandonment of these five higher fetters, these four bases of psychic powers should be developed.”

Ogho yogo upādānaṁ,
ganthā anusayena ca;
Kāmaguṇā nīvaraṇā,
khandhā oruddhambhāgiyāti.

Floods, bonds, and clinging,
Knots, and underlying tendencies;
Sensual pleasure, hindrances,
Aggregates, fetters lower and higher.

Last updated on October 23, 2025