[254] How is wisdom in fathoming sound-signs, diverse and unified, by means of the diffusion of thought (vitakkavipphāra), the knowledge (ñāṇa) of the purification of the ear element (sotadhātuvisuddhiñāṇa)?
Here a bhikkhu develops the basis for spiritual power (iddhipāda) endowed with concentration (samādhi) due to zeal (chanda), concentration due to energy, concentration due to mind (citta), and concentration due to investigation (vīmaṃsā), together with the volitional formations of striving (padhānasaṅkhāra). He thoroughly develops the mind in these four bases for spiritual power, thoroughly tames it, makes it malleable and workable. Having thoroughly developed the mind in these four bases for spiritual power, having thoroughly tamed it, having made it malleable and workable, he attends to the sound-sign (saddanimitta) of sounds even far away; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even near; he attends to the sound-sign even of coarse sounds; he attends to the sound-sign even of subtle sounds; he attends to the sound-sign even of exceedingly subtle sounds; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds in the eastern direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds in the western direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds in the northern direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds in the southern direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the eastern intermediate direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the western intermediate direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the northern intermediate direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the southern intermediate direction; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the direction below; he attends to the sound-sign of sounds even in the direction above.
With the mind thus developed, purified, and cleansed, he directs the mind, inclines the mind, to the knowledge of the purification of the ear element. With the divine ear element, purified and surpassing the human, he hears both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near.
That is knowledge in the sense of what is known, and wisdom in the sense of understanding. Therefore it is said: wisdom in fathoming sound-signs, diverse and unified, by means of the diffusion of thought is the knowledge of the purification of the ear element.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.