AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.30 Unsurpassable

Numbered Discourses 6.30 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.30

3. Unsurpassable – 3. Anuttariyavagga

AN 6.30 Unsurpassable – Anuttariyasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, these six things are unsurpassable.

“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, anuttariyāni.

1.2

What six?

Katamāni cha?

1.3

The unsurpassable seeing, listening, acquisition, training, service, and recollection.

Dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ, anussatānuttariyanti.

2.1

And what is the unsurpassable seeing?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ?

2.2

Some people go to see an elephant-treasure, a horse-treasure, a jewel-treasure, or a diverse spectrum of sights; or ascetics and brahmins of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco hatthiratanampi dassanāya gacchati, assaratanampi dassanāya gacchati, maṇiratanampi dassanāya gacchati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana dassanāya gacchati, samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā micchādiṭṭhikaṁ micchāpaṭipannaṁ dassanāya gacchati.

2.3

There is such a seeing, I don’t deny it.

Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanaṁ; netaṁ natthīti vadāmi.

2.4

That seeing is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanaṁ hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

2.5

The unsurpassable seeing is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, goes to see a Realized One or their disciple. This is in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā dassanāya gacchati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā dassanāya gacchati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

2.6

This is called the unsurpassable seeing.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ.

2.7

Such is the unsurpassable seeing.

Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ.

3.1

But what of the unsurpassable hearing?

Savanānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti?

3.2

Some people go to hear the sound of drums, arched harps, singing, or a diverse spectrum of sounds; or ascetics and brahmins of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco bherisaddampi savanāya gacchati, vīṇāsaddampi savanāya gacchati, gītasaddampi savanāya gacchati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana savanāya gacchati, samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā micchādiṭṭhikassa micchāpaṭipannassa dhammassavanāya gacchati.

3.3

There is such a hearing, I don’t deny it.

Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, savanaṁ; netaṁ natthīti vadāmi.

3.4

That hearing … doesn’t lead to extinguishment.

Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, savanaṁ hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

3.5

The unsurpassable hearing is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, goes to hear the teaching of a Realized One or one of his disciples. …

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatassa vā tathāgatasāvakassa vā dhammassavanāya gacchati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, savanānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgatassa vā tathāgatasāvakassa vā dhammassavanāya gacchati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

3.6

This is called the unsurpassable hearing.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, savanānuttariyaṁ.

3.7

Such is the unsurpassable seeing and hearing.

Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ.

4.1

But what of the unsurpassable acquisition?

Lābhānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti?

4.2

Some people acquire a child, a wife, wealth, or a diverse spectrum of things; or they acquire faith in an ascetic or brahmin of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puttalābhampi labhati, dāralābhampi labhati, dhanalābhampi labhati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana lābhaṁ labhati, samaṇe vā brāhmaṇe vā micchādiṭṭhike micchāpaṭipanne saddhaṁ paṭilabhati.

4.3

There is such an acquisition, I don’t deny it.

Attheso, bhikkhave, lābho; neso natthīti vadāmi.

4.4

That acquisition … doesn’t lead to extinguishment.

So ca kho eso, bhikkhave, lābho hīno gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anatthasaṁhito, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

4.5

The unsurpassable acquisition is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, acquires faith in a Realized One or their disciple. …

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgate vā tathāgatasāvake vā saddhaṁ paṭilabhati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, lābhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgate vā tathāgatasāvake vā saddhaṁ paṭilabhati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

4.6

This is called the unsurpassable acquisition.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, lābhānuttariyaṁ.

4.7

Such is the unsurpassable seeing, hearing, and acquisition.

Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ.

5.1

But what of the unsurpassable training?

Sikkhānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti?

5.2

Some people train in elephant riding, horse riding, chariot driving, archery, swordsmanship, or a diverse spectrum of things; or they train under an ascetic or brahmin of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco hatthismimpi sikkhati, assasmimpi sikkhati, rathasmimpi sikkhati, dhanusmimpi sikkhati, tharusmimpi sikkhati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana sikkhati, samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā micchādiṭṭhikassa micchāpaṭipannassa sikkhati.

5.3

There is such a training, I don’t deny it.

Atthesā, bhikkhave, sikkhā; nesā natthīti vadāmi.

5.4

That training … doesn’t lead to extinguishment.

Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, sikkhā hīnā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

5.5

The unsurpassable training is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, trains in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One. …

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye adhisīlampi sikkhati, adhicittampi sikkhati, adhipaññampi sikkhati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, sikkhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye adhisīlampi sikkhati, adhicittampi sikkhati, adhipaññampi sikkhati, niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

5.6

This is called the unsurpassable training.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sikkhānuttariyaṁ.

5.7

Such is the unsurpassable seeing, hearing, acquisition, and training.

Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ.

6.1

But what of the unsurpassable service?

Pāricariyānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti?

6.2

Some people serve an aristocrat, a brahmin, a householder, or a diverse spectrum of people; or they serve ascetics and brahmins of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco khattiyampi paricarati, brāhmaṇampi paricarati, gahapatimpi paricarati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana paricarati, samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā micchādiṭṭhikaṁ micchāpaṭipannaṁ paricarati.

6.3

There is such service, I don’t deny it.

Atthesā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā; nesā natthīti vadāmi.

6.4

That service … doesn’t lead to extinguishment.

Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā hīnā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya …pe… na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

6.5

The unsurpassable service is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, serves a Realized One or their disciple. …

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā paricarati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, pāricariyānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā paricarati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

6.6

This is called the unsurpassable service.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ.

6.7

Such is the unsurpassable seeing, listening, acquisition, training, and service.

Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ.

7.1

But what of the unsurpassable recollection?

Anussatānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti?

7.2

Some people recollect a child, a wife, wealth, or a diverse spectrum of things; or they recollect an ascetic or brahmin of wrong view and wrong practice.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puttalābhampi anussarati, dāralābhampi anussarati, dhanalābhampi anussarati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana lābhaṁ anussarati, samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā micchādiṭṭhikaṁ micchāpaṭipannaṁ anussarati.

7.3

There is such recollection, I don’t deny it.

Atthesā, bhikkhave, anussati; nesā natthīti vadāmi.

7.4

That recollection is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, anussati hīnā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati.

7.5

The unsurpassable recollection is when someone with settled faith and love, sure and devoted, recollects a Realized One or their disciple. …

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā anussarati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, anussatīnaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā anussarati niviṭṭhasaddho niviṭṭhapemo ekantagato abhippasanno.

7.6

This is called the unsurpassable recollection.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anussatānuttariyaṁ.

8.1

These are the six unsurpassable things.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anuttariyānīti.

9.1

They’ve gained the unsurpassed seeing,

Ye dassanānuttaraṁ laddhā,

9.2

the unsurpassed hearing,

savanañca anuttaraṁ;

9.3

and the unsurpassable acquisition.

Lābhānuttariyaṁ laddhā,

9.4

They enjoy the unsurpassable training

sikkhānuttariye ratā.

10.1

and serve with care.

Upaṭṭhitā pāricariyā,

10.2

Then they develop recollection

bhāvayanti anussatiṁ;

10.3

connected with seclusion,

Vivekappaṭisaṁyuttaṁ,

10.4

which is safe, and leads to the deathless.

khemaṁ amatagāminiṁ.

11.1

They rejoice in diligence,

Appamāde pamuditā,

11.2

alert and ethically restrained.

nipakā sīlasaṁvutā;

11.3

And in time they arrive

Te ve kālena paccenti,

11.4

at the place where suffering ceases.”

yattha dukkhaṁ nirujjhatī”ti.

11.5

Dasamaṁ.

11.6

Anuttariyavaggo tatiyo.

12.0

Tassuddānaṁ

12.1

Sāmako aparihāniyo,

12.2

Bhayaṁ himavānussati;

12.3

Kaccāno dve ca samayā,

12.4

Udāyī anuttariyenāti.