A single elided sentence, continuing this vagga's own pattern
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★★ — corrects this project's own preview at SN 52.11: this vagga reaches beyond the sixfold higher knowledges into territory usually reserved for a Buddha alone
Why this discourse
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own claim — “truly understanding the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible” — is not one of the classic sixfold higher knowledges (abhiññā) this project previewed at SN 52.11; it is one of the ten powers of a Tathāgata (dasabala), traditionally described as unique to a fully awakened Buddha. This project's own preview is corrected here, not silently.
Reading guide
A correction to this project's own earlier preview
Confirmed by direct reading, this project's own honest correction: the preview offered at SN 52.11, expecting this vagga to walk through the sixfold higher knowledges alone, did not anticipate this discourse's own subject — knowledge of the possible and impossible — which belongs instead to the ten powers of a Tathāgata, a separate traditional list.
A power usually described as unique to a Buddha
This project's own observation: “knowledge of possibilities and impossibilities” (ṭhānāṭhāna-ñāṇa) is the first of the ten Tathāgata powers in the classical list — a set of attainments elsewhere described as marking a fully awakened Buddha specifically, here notably attributed to Anuruddha, a mendicant disciple, through the four foundations of mindfulness.
The vagga's own scope, now understood more broadly
This project's own revised understanding: rather than a closed walk through exactly six items, this vagga appears to draw on multiple traditional lists of attainments — the sixfold higher knowledges and, at least here, the ten Tathāgata powers — each one attributed in turn to the same four kinds of mindfulness meditation.
Key terms
ṭhānañca ṭhānato aṭṭhānañca aṭṭhānato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmi — “I truly understand the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible” — this discourse's own precise claim, naming the first of the ten Tathāgata powers
dasabala — “the ten powers [of a Tathāgata]” — the traditional list this discourse's own claim belongs to, not named directly in this discourse's own text but confirmed by this project's own cross-reference
yathābhūtaṁ — “truly” (literally, “as it has come to be”) — the discourse's own qualifier, emphasizing accurate understanding rather than mere opinion
catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā — “because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation” — the cause named for this knowledge, as for every attainment in this vagga
ṭhāna — “possible” — this discourse's own title, naming its own subject directly
The text
Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible.”
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Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
What correction does this discourse prompt to this project's own earlier preview at SN 52.11?
Correct: A. This project's own honest correction: the sixfold-list preview did not anticipate this discourse's own subject.
Question 2 of 3
What is "knowledge of the possible and impossible" traditionally classified as?
Correct: A. Confirmed by this project's own cross-reference to the classical dasabala list.
Question 3 of 3
What does this discourse's own claim state precisely?
Correct: A. The discourse's own precise, single claim, confirmed directly by the text.
