No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★ — narrows both the subject and the outcome compared to the two preceding discourses
Why this discourse
This project's own comparison: after two discourses concerning “all the ascetics and brahmins” in any tradition (SN 51.16-17), this discourse narrows its own subject specifically to a Buddhist mendicant — and, confirmed by direct reading, narrows the outcome as well, naming only arahantship and omitting the five other supernormal powers entirely.
Reading guide
From any tradition to one specific mendicant
This project's own observation: SN 51.16-17 spoke of “all the ascetics and brahmins” in the past, future, or present, regardless of school; this discourse's own subject, confirmed directly by the text, is simply “a mendicant” (bhikkhu) — the discourse's own root Pāli title.
From six results to one
Confirmed by direct reading, where SN 51.11 gave the full sixfold list and SN 51.17 gave the first item in detail, this discourse names only the sixth and final item — “the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom” through the ending of defilements — leaving the other five unmentioned.
A pattern this project has tracked before
This project's own cross-reference: this narrowing toward arahantship alone continues a pattern already noted across SN 51.5-8, where this saṃyutta's own discourses repeatedly single out the ending of defilements as the four bases' own furthest and final fruit.
Key terms
bhikkhu — “a mendicant” — the discourse's own root Pāli title, narrower than SN 51.16-17's own “ascetics and brahmins”
āsavānaṁ khayā — “through the ending of defilements” — the discourse's own sole named outcome, the sixth item of the sixfold list given alone here
anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ — “the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom” — the classic arahant formula this project has met at each of this saṃyutta's own culminating discourses
diṭṭheva dhamme — “in this very life” — specifying that this realization is not deferred to a future rebirth
sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā — “having realized it with their own insight” — emphasizing direct, personal realization rather than received belief
The text
The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, by developing and cultivating the 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.
§2What four? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. 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.”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
How does this discourse's own subject differ from SN 51.16-17?
Correct: A. SN 51.16-17's universal scope narrows here to "bhikkhu" — a mendicant — this discourse's own root title.
Question 2 of 3
Which of the six results does this discourse name?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading: only "the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom... through the ending of defilements."
Question 3 of 3
What pattern does this project's own cross-reference connect this discourse to?
Correct: A. This project's own earlier tracking of SN 51.5-8's escalating focus on arahantship as the culminating fruit.
