Reading guide
A universal mechanism, not a sectarian claim
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own threefold statement (“all the ascetics and brahmins in the past... future... present”) attributes any partial manifestation of psychic power, by anyone of any tradition, to the same underlying cause — the four bases of psychic power — rather than claiming this attainment as exclusive to the Buddha's own community.
Iddhipadesa: a portion, not the fullest attainment
As general canonical background, not asserted beyond what this discourse's own bare text states: “iddhipadesa” (“a portion, part, or share of psychic power”) is a qualified claim — this discourse speaks of partial manifestations, not necessarily the complete mastery a fully awakened one might possess.
Samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā: a recurring canonical pairing
As general canonical background, not asserted beyond what this discourse's own bare text states: “ascetics and brahmins” (samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā) is a standard canonical pairing covering renunciant wanderers and the brahmin priestly class together, used elsewhere in the canon to mean religious practitioners broadly rather than any one specific group.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past who have partly manifested psychic powers have done so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power. All the ascetics and brahmins in the future who will partly manifest psychic powers will do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power. All the ascetics and brahmins in the present who are partly manifesting psychic powers do so by developing and cultivating the four bases of psychic power.
§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. All the ascetics and brahmins in the past who have partly manifested psychic powers have done so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power. All the ascetics and brahmins in the future who will partly manifest psychic powers will do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power. All the ascetics and brahmins in the present who are partly manifesting psychic powers do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.”
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