• Numbered Discourses 6.30 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 6.30
  • 3. Unsurpassable 3. Anuttariyavagga

Unsurpassable Anuttariyasutta

ā€œMendicants, these six things are unsurpassable. ā€œChayimāni, bhikkhave, anuttariyāni. What six? Katamāni cha? The unsurpassable seeing, listening, acquisition, training, service, and recollection. Dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ, anussatānuttariyanti.

And what is the unsurpassable seeing? KatamaƱca, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ? 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 micchādiį¹­į¹­hikaṁ micchāpaį¹­ipannaṁ dassanāya gacchati. There is such a seeing, I don’t deny it. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanaṁ; netaṁ natthÄ«ti vadāmi. That seeing is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. TaƱca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanaṁ hÄ«naṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiƱƱāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 discover the system, and to realize extinguishment. Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā dassanāya gacchati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā dassanāya gacchati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable seeing. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ. Such is the unsurpassable seeing. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ.

But what of the unsurpassable hearing? SavanānuttariyaƱca kathaṁ hoti? 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, gÄ«tasaddampi savanāya gacchati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana savanāya gacchati, samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā micchādiį¹­į¹­hikassa micchāpaį¹­ipannassa dhammassavanāya gacchati. There is such a hearing, I don’t deny it. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, savanaṁ; netaṁ natthÄ«ti vadāmi. That hearing … doesn’t lead to extinguishment. TaƱca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, savanaṁ hÄ«naṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiƱƱāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, savanānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgatassa vā tathāgatasāvakassa vā dhammassavanāya gacchati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable hearing. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, savanānuttariyaṁ. Such is the unsurpassable seeing and hearing. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ.

But what of the unsurpassable acquisition? LābhānuttariyaƱca kathaṁ hoti? 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 micchādiį¹­į¹­hike micchāpaį¹­ipanne saddhaṁ paį¹­ilabhati. There is such an acquisition, I don’t deny it. Attheso, bhikkhave, lābho; neso natthÄ«ti vadāmi. That acquisition … doesn’t lead to extinguishment. So ca kho eso, bhikkhave, lābho hÄ«no gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anatthasaṁhito, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiƱƱāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 paį¹­ilabhati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, lābhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgate vā tathāgatasāvake vā saddhaṁ paį¹­ilabhati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable acquisition. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, lābhānuttariyaṁ. Such is the unsurpassable seeing, hearing, and acquisition. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ.

But what of the unsurpassable training? SikkhānuttariyaƱca kathaṁ hoti? 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 micchādiį¹­į¹­hikassa micchāpaį¹­ipannassa sikkhati. There is such a training, I don’t deny it. Atthesā, bhikkhave, sikkhā; nesā natthÄ«ti vadāmi. That training … doesn’t lead to extinguishment. Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, sikkhā hÄ«nā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiƱƱāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 adhisÄ«lampi sikkhati, adhicittampi sikkhati, adhipaƱƱampi sikkhati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, sikkhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye adhisÄ«lampi sikkhati, adhicittampi sikkhati, adhipaƱƱampi sikkhati, niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable training. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sikkhānuttariyaṁ. Such is the unsurpassable seeing, hearing, acquisition, and training. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ.

But what of the unsurpassable service? PāricariyānuttariyaƱca kathaṁ hoti? 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 micchādiį¹­į¹­hikaṁ micchāpaį¹­ipannaṁ paricarati. There is such service, I don’t deny it. Atthesā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā; nesā natthÄ«ti vadāmi. That service … doesn’t lead to extinguishment. Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā hÄ«nā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya …pe… na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, pāricariyānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā paricarati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable service. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ. Such is the unsurpassable seeing, listening, acquisition, training, and service. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ.

But what of the unsurpassable recollection? AnussatānuttariyaƱca kathaṁ hoti? 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 micchādiį¹­į¹­hikaṁ micchāpaį¹­ipannaṁ anussarati. There is such recollection, I don’t deny it. Atthesā, bhikkhave, anussati; nesā natthÄ«ti vadāmi. 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 hÄ«nā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiƱƱāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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 niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno, etadānuttariyaṁ, bhikkhave, anussatÄ«naṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaį¹…gamāya Ʊāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, yadidaṁ tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā anussarati niviį¹­į¹­hasaddho niviį¹­į¹­hapemo ekantagato abhippasanno. This is called the unsurpassable recollection. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anussatānuttariyaṁ.

These are the six unsurpassable things. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anuttariyānīti.

They’ve gained the unsurpassed seeing, Ye dassanānuttaraṁ laddhā, the unsurpassed hearing, savanaƱca anuttaraṁ; and the unsurpassable acquisition. Lābhānuttariyaṁ laddhā, They enjoy the unsurpassable training sikkhānuttariye ratā.

and serve with care. Upaṭṭhitā pāricariyā, Then they develop recollection bhāvayanti anussatiṁ; connected with seclusion, Vivekappaṭisaṁyuttaṁ, which is safe, and leads to freedom from death. khemaṁ amatagāminiṁ.

They rejoice in diligence, Appamāde pamuditā, alert and ethically restrained. nipakā sÄ«lasaṁvutā; And in time they arrive Te ve kālena paccenti, at the place where suffering ceases.ā€ yattha dukkhaṁ nirujjhatÄ«ā€ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Anuttariyavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sāmako aparihāniyo, Bhayaṁ himavānussati; Kaccāno dve ca samayā, Udāyī anuttariyenāti.