Reading guide
The same method, a different frame
Confirmed by direct reading, the four-basis method here is word-for-word the same as SN 51.11's own account — neither too lax nor too tense, neither constricted internally nor scattered externally, perceiving before and behind, above and below, day and night, developing an open, unenveloped, radiant mind — but now given directly as teaching, not recounted as a pre-awakening discovery.
The sixfold list, compressed by cross-reference
Confirmed by direct reading, where SN 51.11 spelled out each of the six results in full, this discourse's own English source compresses the entire list to a single sentence trailing off in ellipsis (“multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity …”) before skipping directly to arahantship — assuming the reader already has the previous discourse's own full list in mind.
“Very fruitful and beneficial”
This project's own observation: the discourse opens and closes on this same declaration — the sole new framing this discourse adds to SN 51.11's own material — naming the four bases' own value in bare terms before giving the method itself.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, when the four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they’re very fruitful and beneficial. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They think: ‘My enthusiasm won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving before and behind: as before, so behind; as behind, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance.
§2They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. They think: ‘My inquiry won’t be too lax or too tense. And it’ll be neither constricted internally nor scattered externally.’ And they meditate perceiving before and behind: as before, so behind; as behind, so before; as below, so above; as above, so below; as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. And so, with an open and unenveloped heart, they develop a mind that’s full of radiance. When the four bases of psychic power have been developed and cultivated in this way they’re very fruitful and beneficial.
§3When 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. …
§4When 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.”
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