7.
The Second Discourse on Ascetics and Brahmins
829.
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, in the past period of time experienced the various kinds of supernormal power -
having been one, they became many; having been many, they became one;
appearing and vanishing;
they went unhindered through walls, through ramparts, through mountains, just as through space;
they dived in and out of the earth just as in water;
they went on water without breaking it just as on earth;
they travelled cross-legged through space just as a winged bird;
they fondled and stroked with their hands even the moon and sun, so mighty and powerful;
they exercised mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world - all of them did so because of having developed and cultivated the four bases for spiritual power.
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, in the future period of time will experience the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, they will become many; having been many, they will become one; appearing and vanishing; they will go unhindered through walls, through ramparts, through mountains, just as through space; they will dive in and out of the earth just as in water; they will go on water without breaking it just as on earth; they will travel cross-legged through space just as a winged bird; they will fondle and stroke with their hands even the moon and sun, so mighty and powerful; they will exercise mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world - all of them will do so because of having developed and cultivated the four bases for spiritual power.
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, at present experience the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, they become many; having been many, they become one; appearing and vanishing; they go unhindered through walls, through ramparts, through mountains, just as through space; they dive in and out of the earth just as in water; they go on water without breaking it just as on earth; they travel cross-legged through space just as a winged bird; they fondle and stroke with their hands even the moon and sun, so mighty and powerful; they exercise mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world - all of them do so because of having developed and cultivated the four bases for spiritual power.
"Which four? Here, monks, a monk develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to desire and volitional activities of striving, concentration due to energy, etc. concentration due to mind, etc. develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional activities of striving. Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, in the past period of time experienced the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, they became many, etc. they exercised mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world - all of them did so because of having developed and cultivated these same four bases for spiritual power.
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, in the future period of time will experience the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, they will become many, etc. they will exercise mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world, all of them will do so because of having developed and cultivated these same four bases for spiritual power.
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, monks, at present experience the various kinds of supernormal power - having been one, they become many, etc. they exercise mastery with their bodies even as far as the Brahma world, all of them do so because of having developed and cultivated these same four bases for spiritual power." The seventh.