2.
The Discourse on the Iron Ball
834.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"Does the Blessed One directly know, venerable sir, having approached the Brahma world by supernormal power with a mind-made body?"
"I do directly know, Ānanda, having approached the Brahma world by supernormal power with a mind-made body."
"But does the Blessed One directly know, venerable sir, having approached the Brahma world by supernormal power with this body made of the four primary elements?"
"I do directly know, Ānanda, having approached the Brahma world by supernormal power with this body made of the four primary elements."
"That the Blessed One is able, venerable sir, to approach the Brahma world by supernormal power with a mind-made body, and that the Blessed One directly knows, venerable sir, having approached the Brahma world by supernormal power with this body made of the four primary elements - this, venerable sir, is wonderful and marvellous for the Blessed One." "Wonderful indeed, Ānanda, are the Truth-finders and endowed with wonderful qualities; marvellous indeed, Ānanda, are the Truth-finders and endowed with marvellous qualities.
"At the time, Ānanda, when the Truth-finder puts together the body in the mind and the mind in the body, and, having entered upon the perception of happiness and the perception of lightness in the body, dwells; at that time, Ānanda, the Truth-finder's body becomes lighter and softer and more workable and more luminous.
"Just as, Ānanda, an iron ball heated all day becomes lighter and softer and more workable and more luminous; so too, Ānanda, at the time when the Truth-finder puts together the body in the mind and the mind in the body, and, having entered upon the perception of happiness and the perception of lightness in the body, dwells; at that time, Ānanda, the Truth-finder's body becomes lighter and softer and more workable and more luminous.
"At the time, Ānanda, when the Truth-finder puts together the body in the mind and the mind in the body, and, having entered upon the perception of happiness and the perception of lightness in the body, dwells; at that time, Ānanda, the Truth-finder's body with little difficulty rises up from the earth into the sky, and he experiences the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; etc. He exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahma world.
"Just as, Ānanda, cotton-wool or kapok, being light and carried by the wind, with little difficulty rises up from the earth into the sky; so too, Ānanda, at the time when the Truth-finder puts together the body in the mind and the mind in the body, and, having entered upon the perception of happiness and the perception of lightness in the body, dwells; at that time, Ānanda, the Truth-finder's body with little difficulty rises up from the earth into the sky, and he experiences the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, he becomes many, etc. He exercises mastery with his body even as far as the Brahma world." The second.