From the Near Shore

“Mendicants, when these four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore. *Iddhi (Sanskrit ṛddhi or siddhi) conveys the root sense “thriving, increase, success”. In the Atharva Veda we find samṛddhi and vyṛddhi in the sense “prosperity” and “misfortune” (eg. 10.2.10). As “success, completion” (of the sacrifice) we find ṛddhi at Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 4.6.9.11. As far as I know, the Buddhist texts are where we first find iddhi in the sense of “psychic power” (or “spiritual magnification”, “heightened potency”; SN 51.10:3.2, SN 51.11:5.1). This sense is not attested in Sanskrit texts until later. The Yogasūtra elaborates many such powers and the methods of achieving them (3.17–3.37), but immediately warns that they are obstacles to samādhi (3.38). They are sometimes also numbered eight (Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.20.53, 9.21.12), and we find this number also in Jain texts, which list various kinds of ṛddhi (or labdhi; eg. Ṭhāṇaṅga 5.168, Bhagavatisūtra 8.139). Perhaps this idea was first popularized among the śramaṇa schools such as Buddhism and Jainism. All these religions, however, aim at liberation from suffering, and do not regard the attainment of psychic powers as an end in itself. Probably the interest in such abilities was drawn from the broader ascetic culture, where to this day we find a fascination with such powers. In the Indian context, it is important to avoid such terms as “supernatural”, as such phenomena, though extraordinary, are well within the realm of the natural. They do not arise from the intervention of God or any other metaphysical means, but rather from the development and amplification of abilities latent in all beings. This teaching framework, accordingly, focuses on those things that form the bases (pāda) of psychic power. The powers themselves are mere adornments to the path, whose true purpose is to lead “from the near shore to the far shore”.What four? *See SN 51.13 and SN 51.20 for further analysis.It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. *“Enthusiasm” (chanda) is skillful desire to accomplish the path. The word chanda itself is neutral, and sometimes means “sensual desire” (kāmacchanda) or “consent” (Kd 2:23.1.5, Pli Tv Bi Pm:9.1).They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort. *The four factors map straightforwardly onto the final three factors of the noble eightfold path. “Enthusiasm” and “energy” both fall under “right effort”, while citta is “right immersion”, and vīmaṁsā is “right wisdom”.They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort. *Here, citta (“mental development”) means the development of the mind in immersion. This sense is common for citta in the context of the path, for example cittasampadā = samādhisampadā (DN 8:15.2); cittabhāvanā = samādhibhāvanā (SN 1.23:2.2). The same sense is apparent in cittānupassanā (“observation of the mind”) in satipaṭṭhāna, although there we see that the sense is somewhat broader, encompassing the mind as it goes through the process of development leading to immersion.They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. When these four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.”

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattanti. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“Mendicants, when these four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore. *Iddhi (Sanskrit ṛddhi or siddhi) conveys the root sense “thriving, increase, success”. In the Atharva Veda we find samṛddhi and vyṛddhi in the sense “prosperity” and “misfortune” (eg. 10.2.10). As “success, completion” (of the sacrifice) we find ṛddhi at Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 4.6.9.11. As far as I know, the Buddhist texts are where we first find iddhi in the sense of “psychic power” (or “spiritual magnification”, “heightened potency”; SN 51.10:3.2, SN 51.11:5.1). This sense is not attested in Sanskrit texts until later. The Yogasūtra elaborates many such powers and the methods of achieving them (3.17–3.37), but immediately warns that they are obstacles to samādhi (3.38). They are sometimes also numbered eight (Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.20.53, 9.21.12), and we find this number also in Jain texts, which list various kinds of ṛddhi (or labdhi; eg. Ṭhāṇaṅga 5.168, Bhagavatisūtra 8.139). Perhaps this idea was first popularized among the śramaṇa schools such as Buddhism and Jainism. All these religions, however, aim at liberation from suffering, and do not regard the attainment of psychic powers as an end in itself. Probably the interest in such abilities was drawn from the broader ascetic culture, where to this day we find a fascination with such powers. In the Indian context, it is important to avoid such terms as “supernatural”, as such phenomena, though extraordinary, are well within the realm of the natural. They do not arise from the intervention of God or any other metaphysical means, but rather from the development and amplification of abilities latent in all beings. This teaching framework, accordingly, focuses on those things that form the bases (pāda) of psychic power. The powers themselves are mere adornments to the path, whose true purpose is to lead “from the near shore to the far shore”.“Cattārome, bhikkhave, iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattanti. What four? *See SN 51.13 and SN 51.20 for further analysis.Katame cattāro? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. *“Enthusiasm” (chanda) is skillful desire to accomplish the path. The word chanda itself is neutral, and sometimes means “sensual desire” (kāmacchanda) or “consent” (Kd 2:23.1.5, Pli Tv Bi Pm:9.1).Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort. *The four factors map straightforwardly onto the final three factors of the noble eightfold path. “Enthusiasm” and “energy” both fall under “right effort”, while citta is “right immersion”, and vīmaṁsā is “right wisdom”.vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort. *Here, citta (“mental development”) means the development of the mind in immersion. This sense is common for citta in the context of the path, for example cittasampadā = samādhisampadā (DN 8:15.2); cittabhāvanā = samādhibhāvanā (SN 1.23:2.2). The same sense is apparent in cittānupassanā (“observation of the mind”) in satipaṭṭhāna, although there we see that the sense is somewhat broader, encompassing the mind as it goes through the process of development leading to immersion.cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. When these four bases of psychic power are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.” Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattantī”ti.