6: The Book of the Sixes
30. Unsurpassed Things
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, there are these six unsurpassed things. What six? (1) The unsurpassed sight, (2) the unsurpassed hearing, (3) the unsurpassed gain, (4) the unsurpassed training, (5) the unsurpassed service, and (6) the unsurpassed recollection. [n.1304] In Pāli: dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ, anussatānuttariyaṁ.
2(1) "And what, bhikkhus, is the unsurpassed sight? Here, someone goes to see the elephant-gem, the horse-gem, the jewel-gem, or to see various sights; or else they go to see an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this seeing; this I do not deny. But this seeing is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, goes to see the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed sight is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed sight. Such is the unsurpassed sight.
3(2) "And how is there the unsurpassed hearing? Here, someone goes to hear the sound of drums, the sound of lutes, the sound of singing, or to hear various sounds; or else they go to hear the Dhamma of an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this hearing; this I do not deny. But this hearing is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, goes to hear the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed hearing is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed hearing. Such is the unsurpassed sight and the unsurpassed hearing.
4(3) "And how is there the unsurpassed gain? Here, someone gains a son, a wife, or wealth; or they gain various goods; or else they obtain faith in an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this gain; this I do not deny. But this gain is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, obtains faith in the Tathāgata or in a disciple of the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed gain is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed gain. Such is the unsurpassed sight, the unsurpassed hearing, and the unsurpassed gain.
5(4) "And how is there the unsurpassed training? Here, someone trains in elephantry, in horsemanship, in chariotry, in archery, in swordsmanship; or they train in various fields; or else they train under an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this training; this I do not deny. But this training is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, trains in the higher virtuous behavior, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed training is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed training. Such is the unsurpassed sight, the unsurpassed hearing, the unsurpassed gain, and the unsurpassed training.
6(5) "And how is there the unsurpassed service? Here, someone serves a khattiya, a brahmin, a householder; or they serve various others; or else they serve an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this kind of service; this I do not deny. But this kind of service is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, serves the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed service is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed service. Thus there is the unsurpassed sight, the unsurpassed hearing, the unsurpassed gain, the unsurpassed training, and the unsurpassed service.
7(6) "And how is there the unsurpassed recollection? Here, someone recollects the gain of a son, a wife, or wealth; or else they recollect various kinds of gain; or else they recollect an ascetic or brahmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this kind of recollection; this I do not deny. But this kind of recollection is low, common, worldly, ignoble, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment, and nibbāna. When, however, one of settled faith, of settled devotion, decided, full of confidence, recollects the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata: this unsurpassed recollection is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the passing away of pain and dejection, for the achievement of the method, for the realization of nibbāna. This is called the unsurpassed recollection.
8"These, bhikkhus, are the six unsurpassed things."
9Having gained the best of sights,
and the unsurpassed hearing,
having acquired the unsurpassed gain,
delighting in the unsurpassed training,
10Attentive in service,
they develop recollection
connected with seclusion,
secure, leading to the deathless.
11Rejoicing in heedfulness,
prudent, restrained by virtue,
in time they realize
where it is that suffering ceases.
1"Chayimāni, bhikkhave, anuttariyāni. Katamāni cha? Dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ, anussatānuttariyanti.
2Katamañca, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ? 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. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, dassanaṁ; netaṁ natthīti vadāmi. 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. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dassanānuttariyaṁ. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ. (1)
3Savanānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti? 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. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, savanaṁ; netaṁ natthīti vadāmi. 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. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, savanānuttariyaṁ. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ. (2)
4Lābhānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puttalābhampi labhati, dāralābhampi labhati, dhanalābhampi labhati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana lābhaṁ labhati, samaṇe vā brāhmaṇe vā micchādiṭṭhike micchāpaṭipanne saddhaṁ paṭilabhati. Attheso, bhikkhave, lābho; neso natthīti vadāmi. 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. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, lābhānuttariyaṁ. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ. (3)
5Sikkhānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco hatthismimpi sikkhati, assasmimpi sikkhati, rathasmimpi sikkhati, dhanusmimpi sikkhati, tharusmimpi sikkhati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana sikkhati, samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā micchādiṭṭhikassa micchāpaṭipannassa sikkhati. Atthesā, bhikkhave, sikkhā; nesā natthīti vadāmi. 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. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sikkhānuttariyaṁ. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ. (4)
6Pāricariyānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco khattiyampi paricarati, brāhmaṇampi paricarati, gahapatimpi paricarati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana paricarati, samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā micchādiṭṭhikaṁ micchāpaṭipannaṁ paricarati. Atthesā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā; nesā natthīti vadāmi. Sā ca kho esā, bhikkhave, pāricariyā hīnā gammā pothujjanikā anariyā anatthasaṁhitā, na nibbidāya … pe … na nibbānāya saṁvattati. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ. Iti dassanānuttariyaṁ, savanānuttariyaṁ, lābhānuttariyaṁ, sikkhānuttariyaṁ, pāricariyānuttariyaṁ. (5)
7Anussatānuttariyañca kathaṁ hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puttalābhampi anussarati, dāralābhampi anussarati, dhanalābhampi anussarati, uccāvacaṁ vā pana lābhaṁ anussarati, samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā micchādiṭṭhikaṁ micchāpaṭipannaṁ anussarati. Atthesā, bhikkhave, anussati; nesā natthīti vadāmi. 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. 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. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anussatānuttariyaṁ. (6)
8Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anuttariyānīti.
9Ye dassanānuttaraṁ laddhā,
savanañca anuttaraṁ;
Lābhānuttariyaṁ laddhā,
sikkhānuttariye ratā.
10Upaṭṭhitā pāricariyā,
bhāvayanti anussatiṁ;
Vivekappaṭisaṁyuttaṁ,
khemaṁ amatagāminiṁ.
11Appamāde pamuditā,
nipakā sīlasaṁvutā;
Te ve kālena paccenti,
yattha dukkhaṁ nirujjhatī"ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Anuttariyavaggo tatiyo.
12Sāmako aparihāniyo,
Bhayaṁ himavānussati;
Kaccāno dve ca samayā,
Udāyī anuttariyenāti.
