Six Unsurpassed Things

Monks, 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 (recalls/remembers).

(1) And what, Monks, 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 Brāhmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this seeing; this I do not deny. But this seeing is low, common, worldly, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, 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 grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

This is called the unsurpassed sight. Such is the unsurpassed sight.

(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 teachings of an Ascetic or Brāhmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this hearing; this I do not deny. But this hearing is low, common, worldly, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, 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 grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

This is called the unsurpassed hearing. Such is the unsurpassed sight and the unsurpassed hearing.

(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 belief in an Ascetic or Brāhmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this I do not deny. But this gain is low, common, worldly, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, decided, full of confidence, obtains confidence 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 grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

This is called the unsurpassed gain. Such is the unsurpassed sight, the unsurpassed hearing, and the unsurpassed gain.

(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 Brāhmin of wrong views, of wrong practice. There is this training; this I do not deny. But this training is low, common, worldly, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, decided, full of confidence, trains in the higher virtuous behavior (moral conduct), the higher mind (mental discipline), and the higher wisdom in The Teachings and discipline proclaimed by The Tathāgata; this unsurpassed training is for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

This is called the unsurpassed training. Such is the unsurpassed sight, the unsurpassed hearing, the unsurpassed gain, and the unsurpassed training.

(5) And how is there the unsurpassed service?

Here, someone serves a Khattiya, a Brāhmin, a Householder; or they serve various others; or else they serve an Ascetic or Brāhmin 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, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, 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 grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

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.

(6) And how is there the unsurpassed recollection (recalls/remembers)?

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 Brāhmin 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, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna.

When, however, one of settled confidence, of settled determination, 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 grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

This is called the unsurpassed recollection (recalls/remembers).

These, Monks, are the six unsurpassed things.

Having gained the best of sights, and the unsurpassed hearing, having acquired the unsurpassed gain, pleased with the unsurpassed training, attentive in service, they develop recollection connected with seclusion, secure, leading to the deathless (Enlightenment). Joyful in mindfulness, wise, restrained by virtue (practicing moral conduct), in time they realize where it is that discontentedness is eliminated.

(Reference: AN 6.30)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares “six unsurpassed things”.

He explains other things that people are doing in the world thinking that they are having sight, hearing, gain, training, service, and recollection of various aspects of life. But, he recasts this into helping Students understand that to have unsurpassed sight, hearing, gain, training, service, and recollection, they would need to develop confidence in The Buddha and/or his disciples so that they can actively work towards purification of the mind on The Path to Enlightenment.

He explains that through having confidence in him and/or his disciples establishing unsurpassed sight, hearing, gain, training, service, and recollection, this is for “purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and grief, for the passing away of pain and sadness, for the achievement of the method (to attain Enlightenment), for the realization of Nibbāna (Enlightenment)”.

The thoughts that others have of what is sight, hearing, gain, training, service, or recollection, is to The Buddha “low, common, worldly, not honorable, and unbeneficial; it does not lead to freedom from strong feelings, elimination, peace, direct knowledge (experience), Enlightenment, and Nibbāna”.

Without developing confidence in The Buddha, The Teachings, and The Community, why would anyone decide to proceed forward in applying time, effort, energy, and resources towards the attainment of Enlightenment?

It is when one gradually develops their practice observing the improvements to the condition of their mind that their confidence increases and doubt decreases. As one becomes more and more confident in The Buddha, The Teachings, and The Community, this provides the support, encouragement, and motivation to continue forward in developing one’s life practice and improving the condition of the mind through learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings.