SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Nālandā in Pāvārika’s mango grove.

Then the householder Kevaddha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, this Nāḷandā is successful and prosperous and full of people. Sir, please direct a mendicant to perform a demonstration of superhuman psychic power. Then Nāḷandā will become even more devoted to the Buddha!”

When he said this, The Buddha said, “Kevaddha, I do not teach the mendicants like this: ‘Come now, mendicants, perform a demonstration of superhuman psychic power for the white-clothed laypeople.’”

For a second time, Kevaddha made the same request, and the Buddha gave the same answer.

For a third time, Kevaddha made the same request, and the Buddha said the following.

• DN11.1. The Demonstration of Psychic Power

• DN11.2. The Demonstration of Revealing

• DN11.3. The Demonstration of Instruction

• DN11.4. On the Mendicant In Search of the Cessation of Being

• • DN11.4.1. The Simile of the Land-Spotting Bird