4ip: four iddhipāda similes from SN, DN, Ab Vb commentaries

 

It is like the case of four ministers who, aspiring to a position, 

lived in close association with the king. 

(1) Chanda

One was energetic in waiting upon [the king]; 

knowing the king's wishes and desires, 

he waited upon him night and day; 

he pleased the king and obtained a position. 

The one who produces transcendent dhamma with chanda as chief should be understood as like him. 

(2) vīriya

Another, however, thought: 

'I cannot wait upon the king daily; 

when a task needs to be done I shall please him by my valour.' 

When there was trouble on the borders he was posted by the king, 

and having crushed the enemy by means of his valour he obtained a position. 

The one who produces transcendent dhamma with viriya as chief should be understood as like him. 

(3) citta

Another thought: 

'Waiting upon the king daily, taking swords and arrows on the chest is burdensome. 

I shall please the king by the power of my counsel.' 

Having pleased the king by providing counsel by means of his grasp of state craft, he obtained a position. 

The one who produces transcendent dhamma with citta as chief should be understood as like him. 

(4) vimamsa

Another thought: 

'What need of waiting upon [the king], and so on? 

Surely kings grant positions to those of [good] birth. 

When the king grants [a position] to such a one he will grant it to me.'

So relying solely on his possession of [good] birth, he obtained a position. 

The one who produces transcendent dhamma with vimamsa as chief, 

relying on thoroughly purified vimamsa should be understood as like him. 

The above version is taken from the Digha and Samyutta commentaries... 

The Vibhanga commentary's version of this simile 

inverts the illustrations for citta and vimamss, 

so we have citta illustrated by good birth, 

and vimamsa by the power of counsel.

from THE BUDDHIST PATH TO AWAKENING by Rupert Gethin page 90 and 91