Grammatical Analysis
Iddhipāda: [m.] base of spiritual power; pathway to success. Formed by iddhi (success, psychic power, spiritual accomplishment) + pāda (foot, base, foundation).
Orthodox Definition
The Iddhipādas are the Four Bases of Spiritual Power, constituting a core quadrant of the 37 wings to awakening. They are the primary psychological foundations required to achieve absolute success in meditation, whether one is aiming for deep absorption (jhāna), psychic powers (abhiññā), or supreme liberation (Nibbāna).
The four bases are:
- Chandasamādhi-padhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṃ iddhipādaṃ: The base of power endowed with concentration founded on Desire/Zeal and the formations of striving.
- Viriyasamādhi…: The base of power founded on Energy.
- Cittasamādhi…: The base of power founded on Consciousness/Mind.
- Vīmaṃsāsamādhi…: The base of power founded on Investigation/Ingenuity.
The commentaries note that any supreme worldly or spiritual success requires one of these four factors acting as the dominant, driving force (adhipati).
Textual References
- Sutta: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) – Where the Buddha states that anyone who has perfectly developed the four iddhipādas could, if they wished, live for an entire aeon.
- Canonical: Samyutta Nikaya (Iddhipāda-saṃyutta).
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XII) – Detailing how these bases are utilized to generate the supernormal psychic powers.