2. Pāsādakampanavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.20

Linked Discourses 51.20

2. Pāsādakampanavagga

2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

Vibhaṅgasutta

Analysis

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā”.

“Mendicants, when the four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā?

How so?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—

It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort.

iti me chando na ca atilīno bhavissati, na ca atippaggahito bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhitto bhavissati.

They think: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’

Pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati—

And they meditate perceiving before and behind:

yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure;

as before, so behind; as behind, so before;

yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho;

as below, so above; as above, so below;

yathā divā tathā rattiṁ yathā rattiṁ tathā divā.

as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.

Vīriyasamādhi …pe…

They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy …

cittasamādhi …

mental development …

vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—

inquiry, and active effort.

iti me vīmaṁsā na ca atilīnā bhavissati, na ca atippaggahitā bhavissati, na ca ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā bhavissati, na ca bahiddhā vikkhittā bhavissati.

They think: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’

Pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati—

And they meditate perceiving before and behind:

yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure;

as before, so behind; as behind, so before;

yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho;

as below, so above; as above, so below;

yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā.

as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

Iti vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, atilīno chando?

And what is enthusiasm that’s too lax?

Yo, bhikkhave, chando kosajjasahagato kosajjasampayutto—

It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with laziness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīno chando.

This is called lax enthusiasm.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, atippaggahito chando?

And what is enthusiasm that’s too tense?

Yo, bhikkhave, chando uddhaccasahagato uddhaccasampayutto—

It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with restlessness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahito chando.

This is called tense enthusiasm.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto chando?

And what is enthusiasm that’s constricted internally?

Yo, bhikkhave, chando thinamiddhasahagato thinamiddhasampayutto—

It’s when enthusiasm is coupled with dullness and drowsiness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhitto chando.

This is called enthusiasm constricted internally.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhitto chando?

And what is enthusiasm that’s scattered externally?

Yo, bhikkhave, chando bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhitto anuvisaṭo—

It’s when enthusiasm is frequently scattered and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhitto chando.

This is called enthusiasm scattered externally.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati—

And how does a mendicant meditate perceiving before and behind:

yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure?

as before, so behind; as behind, so before?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pacchāpuresaññā suggahitā hoti sumanasikatā sūpadhāritā suppaṭividdhā paññāya.

It’s when the perception of before and behind is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and penetrated with wisdom by a mendicant.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pacchāpuresaññī ca viharati—

That’s how a mendicant meditates perceiving before and behind:

yathā pure tathā pacchā, yathā pacchā tathā pure.

as before, so behind; as behind, so before.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho viharati?

And how does a mendicant meditate as below, so above; as above, so below?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ uddhaṁ pādatalā adho kesamatthakā tacapariyantaṁ pūraṁ nānappakārassa asucino paccavekkhati:

It’s when a mendicant examines their own body up from the soles of the feet and down from the tips of the hairs, wrapped in skin and full of many kinds of filth.

‘atthi imasmiṁ kāye kesā lomā nakhā dantā taco maṁsaṁ nhāru aṭṭhi aṭṭhimiñjaṁ vakkaṁ hadayaṁ yakanaṁ kilomakaṁ pihakaṁ papphāsaṁ antaṁ antaguṇaṁ udariyaṁ karīsaṁ pittaṁ semhaṁ pubbo lohitaṁ sedo medo assu vasā kheḷo siṅghāṇikā lasikā muttan’ti.

‘In this body there is head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.’

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ, yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho viharati.

That’s how a mendicant meditates as below, so above; as above, so below.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā viharati?

And how does a mendicant meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yehi ākārehi yehi liṅgehi yehi nimittehi divā chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, so tehi ākārehi tehi liṅgehi tehi nimittehi rattiṁ chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti;

It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night.

yehi vā pana ākārehi yehi liṅgehi yehi nimittehi rattiṁ chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, so tehi ākārehi tehi liṅgehi tehi nimittehi divā chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti.

And they develop it with the same features, attributes, and signs by night as by day.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā divā tathā rattiṁ, yathā rattiṁ tathā divā viharati.

That’s how a mendicant meditates as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti?

And how, with an open and unenveloped heart, does a mendicant develop a mind that’s full of radiance?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ālokasaññā suggahitā hoti divāsaññā svādhiṭṭhitā.

It’s when a mendicant has properly grasped the perception of light, and has properly grasped the perception of day.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ vīriyaṁ?

And what is energy that’s too lax? …

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ kosajjasahagataṁ kosajjasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ vīriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ vīriyaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ uddhaccasahagataṁ uddhaccasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ vīriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ thinamiddhasahagataṁ thinamiddhasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittaṁ anuvisaṭaṁ—idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ vīriyaṁ …pe….

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ālokasaññā suggahitā hoti divāsaññā svādhiṭṭhitā.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ cittaṁ?

And what is mental development that’s too lax? …

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ kosajjasahagataṁ kosajjasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnaṁ cittaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ cittaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ uddhaccasahagataṁ uddhaccasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitaṁ cittaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ thinamiddhasahagataṁ thinamiddhasampayuttaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ cittaṁ?

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittaṁ anuvisaṭaṁ—

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittaṁ cittaṁ …pe…

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, atilīnā vīmaṁsā?

And what is inquiry that’s too lax?

Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā kosajjasahagatā kosajjasampayuttā—

It’s when inquiry is coupled with laziness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atilīnā vīmaṁsā.

This is called lax inquiry.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, atippaggahitā vīmaṁsā?

And what is inquiry that’s too tense?

Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā uddhaccasahagatā uddhaccasampayuttā—

It’s when inquiry is coupled with restlessness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, atippaggahitā vīmaṁsā.

This is called tense inquiry.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā vīmaṁsā?

And what is inquiry that’s constricted internally?

Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā thinamiddhasahagatā thinamiddhasampayuttā—

It’s when inquiry is coupled with dullness and drowsiness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ saṅkhittā vīmaṁsā.

This is called inquiry constricted internally.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittā vīmaṁsā?

And what is inquiry that’s scattered externally?

Yā, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsā bahiddhā pañca kāmaguṇe ārabbha anuvikkhittā anuvisaṭā—

It’s when inquiry is frequently scattered and diffused externally on account of the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bahiddhā vikkhittā vīmaṁsā …pe…

This is called inquiry scattered externally. …

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivaṭena cetasā apariyonaddhena sappabhāsaṁ cittaṁ bhāveti.

That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā honti mahānisaṁsā.

When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial.

Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catūsu iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu, anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti.

When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a mendicant wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity. …

Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catūsu iddhipādesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way, they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.”

Dasamaṁ.

Pāsādakampanavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Pubbaṁ mahapphalaṁ chandaṁ,

Moggallānañca uṇṇābhaṁ;

Dve samaṇabrāhmaṇā bhikkhu,

Desanā vibhaṅgena cāti.