Reading guide
Two results, unfolded into seven
Confirmed by direct reading, the seven fruits are: attaining enlightenment early in this very life; failing that, at the time of death; failing that, one of five distinct ways of becoming a non-returner — extinguished between one life and the next, upon landing in the next life, without extra effort, with extra effort, or heading upstream to the Akaniṭṭha realm.
A formula this project has met before
This project's own cross-reference: this same sevenfold structure — two forms of full enlightenment, followed by the five varieties of non-return — is the classic elaborated version of the “two results” formula this project has already translated attached to other qualities in this book, confirmed here for the four bases specifically.
Five ways of not returning, named without elaboration
Confirmed by direct reading, the discourse itself names the five non-return varieties only by their own brief technical labels — “extinguished between one life and the next... upon landing... without extra effort... with extra effort... heading upstream” — without explaining what distinguishes them, consistent with this saṃyutta's own practice of using established technical vocabulary without re-glossing it.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, there are these four bases of psychic power. What 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. These are the four bases of psychic power. Because of developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, seven fruits and benefits can be expected.
§2What seven? They attain enlightenment early on in this very life. If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, they’re extinguished between one life and the next … they’re extinguished upon landing … they’re extinguished without extra effort … they’re extinguished with extra effort … they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm. Because of developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power, these seven fruits and benefits can be expected.”
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