The Related Suttas Collection 51.27

3. The Iron Ball

With Ānanda (1st)

At Sāvatthī.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, what is psychic power? What is the basis of psychic power? What is the development of the bases of psychic power? And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power?”

“Ānanda, take a bhikkhu who wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the Brahmā realm. This is called psychic power.

And what is the basis of psychic power? The path and practice that leads to gaining psychic power. This is called the basis of psychic power.

And what is the development of the bases of psychic power? It’s when a bhikkhu develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm … energy … mental development … inquiry, and active effort. This is called the development of the bases of psychic power.

And what is the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the practice that leads to the development of the bases of psychic power.”