Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 213orious states that have already arisen; he endeavours to cause the arisingof meritorious states that have not yet arisen; he endeavours to increaseand to consciously reproduce the meritorious states that have already arisen;and to develop them fully. These are called "the activities of endeavour"."Endowed" means that one is endowed with these three qualities. Thusthe six parts of the term are completed. "Basis of supernormal power":That by which one attains to supernormal power — the "basis of supernormalpower" is only that. Therefore that state is called "basis of supernormalpower". And again, the fulfilment of the activities of endeavour and theconcentration of will—this is called the "basis of supernormal power". It isthe means of attending to supernormal power. This is the principal meaning."Develops" means: "Practises and repeats it". This is called "the developmentof the basis of supernormal power endowed with the activities of endeavourand the concentration of will". Thus that yogin practises. This isthe means of success:- Sometimes he falls back; sometimes he abides. Hecauses the arising of energy. He fulfils [442] this basis of supernormal powerwhich is endowed with concentration of energy and the activities of endeavour.(In) this means of success, he sometimes slackens, sometimes falls back,sometimes is perturbed. When the mind slackens, he produces the mentalcharacteristic of alacrity; when the mind falls away, he produces concentrationof mind; when the mind is perturbed, he produces the characteristic of equanimity.Thus his mind acquires the basis of supernormal power which is endowedwith concentration of mind and the activities of endeavour. If one has amind that is without defilement, one understands advantage and disadvantagewith ease. He practises (saying): "Now is the time to develop", or "nowis not the time to develop". Thus he accomplishes "the basis of supernormalpower which is endowed with concentration of scrutiny and the activities ofendeavour". Thus that yogin develops the four bases of supernormal power.His mind, being wieldy, responds to the body, and his body responds to themind. Thus that yogin sometimes controls the body with his mind, andsometimes the mind with his body. Depending on the body, the mindchanges; depending on the mind, the body changes. Depending on thebody, the mind resolves; depending on the mind, the body resolves. Theperception of bliss and lightness adheres to the body. In that state he accomplishesand abides. Practising thus, that yogin reaches the acme of lightness,makes his body exceedingly pliant, and attains to the capacity-limit of resolve,even as a ball of iron made red-hot is capable of being fashioned into any shapeeasily. Thus having through mental culture made his body light, he, owing tothe lightness of body, enters the fourth meditation, jhana , and is mindful andtranquil. Rising therefrom, he knows space, and resolves through knowledge.Thus his body is able to rise up in space. Having resolved through knowledge,