7.
The First Discourse on Ānanda
839.
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 -
"What indeed, venerable sir, is supernormal power, what is the basis for spiritual power, what is the development of the basis for spiritual power, what is the practice leading to the development of the basis for spiritual power?" "Here, Ānanda, a monk 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 - this, Ānanda, is called supernormal power."
"And what, Ānanda, is the basis for spiritual power? Whatever path, Ānanda, whatever practice leads to the gaining of supernormal power, to the attainment of supernormal power - this, Ānanda, is called the basis for spiritual power.
"And what, Ānanda, is the development of the basis for spiritual power? Here, Ānanda, 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. he develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to investigation and volitional activities of striving - this, Ānanda, is called the development of the basis for spiritual power.
"And what, Ānanda, is the practice leading to the development of the basis for spiritual power? It is just this noble eightfold path, as follows - right view, etc. right concentration - this, Ānanda, is called the practice leading to the development of the basis for spiritual power." The seventh.