Reading guide
A second vagga, closed cleanly at ten
This project's own confirmation: SN 51.20's own root Pāli colophon reads “Dasamaṁ” (“tenth”) followed by “Pāsādakampanavaggo dutiyo,” and its own uddāna verse lists exactly ten titles matching SN 51.11 through SN 51.20 — the same clean count already confirmed for Vagga 1.
The same reflection, a differently worded question
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse repeats SN 51.11's own pre-awakening bodhisatta framing almost word for word, but opens with a differently phrased question — “what's the path and practice for developing the bases of psychic power?” — where SN 51.11 asked after “the cause... the reason.”
The sixfold list, abbreviated by the translator's own note
Confirmed by direct reading, rather than repeating the sixfold list of results a second time, the English source closes with a bracketed editorial instruction: “(The six direct knowledges should be told in full.)” — a translator's own cross-reference back to SN 51.11's own full account, not new content in this discourse's own text.
A vagga name not yet explained
This project's own honest caution: “Ayoguḷavagga” (“The Iron Ball”) does not correspond to anything in this discourse's own content — consistent with this project's own established practice, the vagga's own name is not assumed to describe this opening discourse until a later discourse in the vagga confirms it directly.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought: ‘What’s the path and practice for developing the bases of psychic power?’ Then it occurred to me: ‘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. They 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.’
§2When 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. When 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.”
§3(The six direct knowledges should be told in full.)
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