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Iddhipāda (Pali; Skt. ṛddhipāda) is a compound term
composed of "power" or "potency" (iddhi; ṛddhi) and "base," "basis" or
"constituent" (pāda).[1] In Buddhism, the "power"
referred to by this compound term is a group of spiritual or
psychic powers that include teleportation and other forms of bodily
transformation. Thus, this compound term is usually translated
along the lines of "base of power" or "base of spiritual
power."[2]
In the Buddhist pursuit of Enlightenment, the associated spiritual powers
are secondary to the four "base" mental qualities that achieve such
powers. In traditional Buddhist literature, this set of four mental
qualities is one of the seven sets of qualities lauded by the Buddha as conducive to Enlightenment
(bodhipakkhiyādhammā).
Canonical
analysis
In the Pali Canon, a major source of information
on the iddhipāda is in the Samyutta Nikaya, ch. 51, entitled,
"Connected Discourses on the Bases for Spiritual Power"
(Iddhipāda-saṃyutta).
Four
components
In the "Neglected" discourse (Viraddha Sutta, SN 51.2),
it states:
- "Bhikkhus, those who have neglected the four bases for
spiritual power have neglected the noble path leading to the
complete destruction of suffering. Those who have undertaken the
four bases for spiritual power have undertaken the noble path
leading to the destruction of suffering."[3]
The four bases of such power are concentration (samādhi) on:
- Desire or purpose or zeal (chanda)
- Energy or will (viriya)
- Mind or consciousness or thoughts (citta)
- Investigation or discrimination (vīmaṃsā)[4]
Corequisites:
concentration and striving
In most canonical discourses these four bases of
power are developed in tandem with "volitional formations of
striving" (padhāna-saṅkhāra).[5] For
instance, in the "Concentration due to Desire" discourse
(Chandasamādhi Sutta, SN 51.13), it states:
- "Bhikkhus, if a bhikhu
gains concentration, gains one-pointedness of mind based upon
desire, this is called concentration due to desire. He generates
desire for the nonarising of unarisen evil unwholesome states; he
makes an effort, arouses energy, applies his mind, and strives. He
generates desire for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome
states ... for the arising of unarisen wholesome states ... for the
maintenance of arisen wholesome states ...; he makes an effort,
arouses energy, applies his mind and strives. These are called
volitional formations of striving. Thus this desire and this
concentration due to desire and these volitional formations of
striving: this is called the basis for spiritual power that
possesses concentration due to desire and volitional formations of
striving."[6]
This discourse similarly analyzes the latter three bases of
powers as well.
Associated spiritual
powers
In terms of the spiritual powers associated with the development
of these bases, the "Before" Discourse (Pubba Sutta, SN
51.11) states:
- "When the four bases of spiritual power have been developed and
cultivated in this way, a bhikkhu wields the various kinds of
spiritual power: having been one, he becomes many; having been
many, he becomes one; he appears and vanishes; he goes unhindered
through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as though
through space; he dives in and out of the earth as though it were
water; he walks on water without sinking as though it were earth;
seated cross-legged, he travels in space like a bird; with his
hands he touches and strokes the moon and sun so powerful and
mighty; he exercises mastery with the body as far as the brahmā
world."[7]
See also
- Abhijna - six types of
higher spiritual knowledge found in the Pali Canon.
- Bodhipakkhiyādhammā - seven sets of
37 mental qualities conducive to Enlightenment
- Four Right Exertions - similar to
aspects of "volitional formations of striving"
- Iddhi - spiritual powers
discussed in canonical Buddhism
Notes
- ^
See, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 120-1, entry for
"Iddhi" at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:3204.pali
(retrieved 2008-02-07).
- ^
E.g., see Bodhi (2000), pp. 1718-49; and, Thanissaro (1997). Bodhi
(2000), p. 1939, n. 246 notes that the post-canonical Pali commentaries state that this compound term
could be translated as either "base for spiritual power"
or "base which is spiritual power."
- ^
Bodhi (2000), p. 1718.
- ^
The English translations here are based on: Bodhi (2000), ch. 51,
pp. 1718-49; and, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 120-1,
entry for "Iddhi".
- ^
"Volitional formations of striving" is Bodhi (2000)'s translation
of padhāna-saṅkhāra. Alternatives include
Thanissaro (1997) translation of "fabrications of exertion." The
Pali term padhāna is the same as that found in the Four
Right Exertions (Pali: sammappadhāna; Skt.:
samyak-pradhāna or samyak-prahāṇa), which is another of the bodhipakkhiyādhammā sets.
- ^
Bodhi (2000), pp. 1729-30.
- ^
Bodhi (2000), p. 1727.
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