“Bhikkhus, these four bases of psychic abilities, when developed and frequently practiced, are of great fruit and benefit.
”How, bhikkhus, are the four bases of psychic abilities developed and frequently practiced so that they are of great fruit and great benefit? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the basis of psychic ability that is endowed with |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| arising from |aspiration::a goal, an interest, an objective, a wish [chanda]| and accompanied by intentional effort thus: ‘My aspiration will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered. He dwells continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.‘ Thus with a mind that is clarified and unconfined, he develops a radiant mind.“
A bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from |determination::willpower, energy [vīriya]| and accompanied by intentional effort thus: ’My energy will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.‘ He dwells continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.‘ Thus with a mind that is clarified and unconfined, he develops a radiant mind.
A bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from [purification of] |mind::thought, intention, idea [citta]| and accompanied by intentional effort thus: ’My mind will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.‘ He dwells continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.‘ Thus with a mind that is clarified and unconfined, he develops a radiant mind.
A bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from |investigation::consideration, reflection, and examination [vīmaṃsā]| and accompanied by intentional effort thus: ’My investigation will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.‘ He dwells dwells continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.‘ Thus with a mind that is clarified and unconfined, he develops a radiant mind.
Analysis of Aspiration
Bhikkhus, what is an aspiration that is too slack? Bhikkhus, aspiration that is accompanied by laziness and associated with laziness — this is called aspiration that is too slack.
Bhikkhus, what is an aspiration that is too intense? Bhikkhus, aspiration that is accompanied by restlessness and associated with restlessness — this is called aspiration that is too intense.
Bhikkhus, what is an aspiration that is inwardly inhibited? Bhikkhus, aspiration that is accompanied by dullness and drowsiness and associated with dullness and drowsiness — this is called aspiration that is inwardly inhibited.
Bhikkhus, what is an aspiration that is outwardly scattered? Bhikkhus, aspiration that is outwardly scattered due to engagement with the five cords of sensual pleasure — this is called aspiration that is outwardly scattered.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before‘? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s mindfulness of before and after is well grasped, well attended to, well sustained, and well penetrated by wisdom. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before.’
Bhikkhus, how does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below’? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu contemplates this very body from the soles of the feet upward and from the crown of the head downward, bounded by skin and full of various kinds of impurities: ‘In this body there are hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, oil of the joints, and urine.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below.’
Bhikkhus, how does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day’? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from aspiration, accompanied by an intention of continuous effort by day, and also by night, thus: ‘My aspiration will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.’ He dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop a mind that is clarified, unconfined and radiant? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu‘s perception of brightness is well grasped, and his perception of day is well established. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant.”
Analysis of Determination
And what, bhikkhus, is determination that is too slack? Bhikkhus, determination that is accompanied by laziness and associated with laziness — this is called determination that is too slack.
And what, bhikkhus, is determination that is too intense? Bhikkhus, determination that is accompanied by restlessness and associated with restlessness — this is called determination that is too intense.
And what, bhikkhus, is determination that is inwardly inhibited? Bhikkhus, determination that is accompanied by dullness and drowsiness and associated with dullness and drowsiness — this is called determination that is inwardly inhibited.
And what, bhikkhus, is determination that is outwardly scattered? Bhikkhus, determination that is outwardly scattered due to engagement with the five cords of sensual pleasure — this is called determination that is outwardly scattered.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before?‘ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s mindfulness of before and after is well grasped, well attended to, well sustained, and well penetrated by wisdom. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu contemplates this very body from the soles of the feet upward and from the crown of the head downward, bounded by skin and full of various kinds of impurities: ‘In this body there are hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, oil of the joints, and urine.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from determination, accompanied by an intention of continuous effort by day, and also by night, thus: ‘My determination will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.’ He dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu‘s perception of brightness is well grasped, and his perception of day is well established. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant.
Analysis of Mind
And what, bhikkhus, is a mind that is too slack? Bhikkhus, a mind that is accompanied by laziness and associated with laziness — this is called a mind that is too slack.
And what, bhikkhus, is a mind that is too intense? Bhikkhus, a mind that is accompanied by restlessness and associated with restlessness — this is called a mind that is too intense.
And what, bhikkhus, is a mind that is inwardly inhibited? Bhikkhus, a mind that is accompanied by dullness and drowsiness and associated with dullness and drowsiness — this is called a mind that is inwardly inhibited.
And what, bhikkhus, is a mind that is outwardly scattered? Bhikkhus, a mind that is outwardly scattered due to engagement with the five cords of sensual pleasure — this is called a mind that is outwardly scattered.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before?‘ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s mindfulness of before and after is well grasped, well attended to, well sustained, and well penetrated by wisdom. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu contemplates this very body from the soles of the feet upward and from the crown of the head downward, bounded by skin and full of various kinds of impurities: ‘In this body there are hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, oil of the joints, and urine.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from mind, accompanied by an intention of continuous effort by day, and also by night, thus: ‘My mind will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.’ He dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu‘s perception of brightness is well grasped, and his perception of day is well established. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant.
Analysis of Investigation
And what, bhikkhus, is an investigation that is too slack? Bhikkhus, an investigation that is accompanied by laziness and associated with laziness — this is called an investigation that is too slack.
And what, bhikkhus, is an investigation that is too intense? Bhikkhus, an investigation that is accompanied by restlessness and associated with restlessness — this is called an investigation that is too intense.
And what, bhikkhus, is an investigation that is inwardly inhibited? Bhikkhus, an investigation that is accompanied by dullness and drowsiness and associated with dullness and drowsiness — this is called an investigation that is inwardly inhibited.
And what, bhikkhus, is an investigation that is outwardly scattered? Bhikkhus, an investigation that is outwardly scattered due to engagement with the five cords of sensual pleasure — this is called an investigation that is outwardly scattered.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell continuously aware: ’As before, so after; as after, so before?‘ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s mindfulness of before and after is well grasped, well attended to, well sustained, and well penetrated by wisdom. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu contemplates this very body from the soles of the feet upward and from the crown of the head downward, bounded by skin and full of various kinds of impurities: ‘In this body there are hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, oil of the joints, and urine.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As below, so above; as above, so below.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day?’ Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the base of psychic ability that is endowed with collectedness arising from investigation, accompanied by an intention of continuous effort by day, and also by night, thus: ‘My investigation will not be too slack, nor too intense, nor inwardly inhibited, nor outwardly scattered.’ He dwells contemplating ‘As before, so after; as after, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’ Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating ‘As by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.’
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu’s perception of brightness is well grasped, and his perception of day is well established. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops a mind that is clarified, unconfined, and radiant.
Thus developed and frequently practiced, bhikkhus, the four bases of psychic abilities are of great fruit and great benefit.
Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has developed and frequently practiced the four bases of psychic abilities experiences various kinds of psychic abilities: being one, he becomes many; being many, he becomes one; he appears and disappears; he passes through walls, enclosures, and mountains as though through space; he dives in and out of the earth as though it were water; he walks on water without sinking as though on solid ground; he flies through the air cross-legged like a bird with wings; he touches and strokes the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; and he wields mastery with his body even as far as the Brahmā world. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has developed and frequently practiced the four bases of psychic abilities, through the wearing away of the mental defilements, attains and dwells in the taintless release of mind and release by wisdom, having realized it with directly knowing in this very life.”