The Buddha teaches on the four bases of psychic power—immersion due to enthusiasm, energy, mental development, and inquiry, each with active effort—showing how they are developed and cultivated regarding a mendicant.
“Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhi …pe… cittasamādhi … vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti— ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā.
“Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power.
Katame cattāro?
What four?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,
It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm …
vīriyasamādhi …pe…
energy …
cittasamādhi …
mental development …
vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti—
inquiry, and active effort.
ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā.
These are the four bases of psychic power.
Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.
By developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, a mendicant realizes 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.”
Tatiyaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026