Reading guide
The same four terms, now asked for directly
Confirmed by direct reading, Ānanda's own question names all four terms at once: “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?” — and the Buddha's own answer matches SN 51.19's own definitions word for word.
The eightfold path, confirmed a second time as the deepest layer
This project's own cross-reference: as at SN 51.19, the discourse's own final and most general answer is the noble eightfold path itself — confirming a second time that this saṃyutta's own recurring formula rests on the same eight-factor foundation this project has already found underlying other saṃyuttas in this book.
A shift from teaching to dialogue
This project's own observation: unlike SN 51.19's own unprompted delivery, this discourse is explicitly framed as Ānanda's own initiative — he “went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him” before asking — the same structural content, delivered through a different occasion.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
§2“Sir, 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?” “Ānanda, take 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. This is called psychic power.
§3And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.
§4And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.
§5And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”
Self-check quiz
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