Reading guide
A narrowing, confirmed by direct comparison
This project's own explicit observation: unlike SN 51.5's own “ascetics and brahmins” (samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā) of any tradition, this discourse's own subject is specifically “bhikkhū” (mendicants) — and unlike SN 51.5-6's own claim about psychic power (iddhi), this discourse's own claim is about the ending of defilements (āsavakkhaya) itself, the highest attainment.
The classic arahant formula, quoted directly
As general canonical background, confirmed by this discourse's own bare text: “āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihariṁsu” is the standard formula this project has met describing arahantship — freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, realized with one's own direct insight, through the complete ending of defilements.
A third variant in a developing series
This project's own running observation: SN 51.5 (partial psychic power, any tradition), SN 51.6 (complete psychic power, any tradition), and now SN 51.7 (arahantship itself, the Buddha's own mendicants) form a developing series of claims about the four bases' own reach — from psychic power broadly shared across traditions to the specific liberation attained within this teaching.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, all the mendicants in the past … future … present who realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and who live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements, 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 mendicants in the past … future … present who realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and who live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements, do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.”
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