Overview
Worldly people often consider seeing a famous person, hearing beautiful music, or gaining great wealth to be unsurpassed experiences. The Buddha redefined what is truly “unsurpassed” (anuttariya) by pointing to the six spiritual experiences that decisively turn a being away from saṃsāra and lead to ultimate liberation.
The List
- Dassanānuttariya - Unsurpassed Seeing: The supreme sight. Seeing the Fully Awakened Buddha or his Noble Disciples with a heart full of faith.
- Savanānuttariya - Unsurpassed Hearing: The supreme sound. Hearing the true Dhamma taught by the Buddha or his Noble Disciples.
- Lābhānuttariya - Unsurpassed Gain: The supreme acquisition. Gaining unshakeable faith (saddhā) in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha.
- Sikkhānuttariya - Unsurpassed Training: The supreme education. Training in the higher virtue, higher mind, and higher wisdom of the Noble Eightfold Path.
- Pāricariyānuttariya - Unsurpassed Service: The supreme action. Serving the Buddha or his Noble Disciples with a pure heart.
- Anussatānuttariya - Unsurpassed Recollection: The supreme memory. Continuously recollecting the virtues of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha to purify the mind.
Textual References
- Canonical: Anuttariya Sutta (AN 6.30) – The Buddha contrasts worldly seeing, hearing, and gaining with these six spiritual equivalents, declaring them supreme.