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 several mendicants (2nd).

SN 51.30 Several Mendicants (2nd)

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū bhagavā etadavoca:

“katamā nu kho, bhikkhave, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti?

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe….

“Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhotiekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhi.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādo? Yo, bhikkhave, maggo, paṭipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaṭilābhāya saṁvattati ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādo.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhi …pe… cittasamādhivīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe…

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha …

ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said to them:

“katamā nu kho, bhikkhave, iddhi, katamo iddhipādo, katamā iddhipādabhāvanā, katamā iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti?

“Mendicants, what is psychic power? What is the basis of psychic power? What is the development of the bases of psychic power? And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā …pe….

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. …”

“Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhi?

“And what is psychic power?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhotiekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti

It’s a mendicant who wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhi.

This is called psychic power.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādo?

And what is the basis of psychic power?

Yo, bhikkhave, maggo, paṭipadā iddhilābhāya iddhipaṭilābhāya saṁvattati

The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādo.

This is called the basis of psychic power.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā?

And what is the development of the bases of psychic power?

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.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanā.

This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā?

And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi

right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, iddhipādabhāvanāgāminī paṭipadā”ti.

This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”

Dasamaṁ.

Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Psychic power

Psychic power

Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.

Also known as: supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power
Pāli: iddhi, iddhimant
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Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Right livelihood

Right livelihood

Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.

Also known as: correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living
Pāli: sammāājīva
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026