{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an5.170/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an5.170","id":"suttacentral_an5.170","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an5.170/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time Venerable \u0100nanda was staying near Kosamb\u012b in Ghosita\u2019s monastery. Then Venerable Bhaddaji went up to Venerable \u0100nanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and Venerable \u0100nanda said to him: \u201cReverend Bhaddaji, what is the best sight, the best sound, the best happiness, the best perception, and the best state of existence?\u201d \u201cReverend, there is this Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. When you see the Divinity, that\u2019s the best sight. There are the gods called \u2018of sublime luminosity\u2019, who are drenched and steeped in pleasure. Every so often they feel inspired to exclaim: \u2018Oh, what bliss! Oh, what bliss!\u2019 When you hear that, it\u2019s the best sound. There are the gods called \u2018of universal beauty\u2019. Since they\u2019re truly content, they experience pleasure. This is the best happiness. There are the gods reborn in the dimension of nothingness. This is the best perception. There are the gods reborn in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is the best state of existence.\u201d \u201cSo, Venerable Bhaddaji, do you agree with what most people say about this?\u201d \u201cWell, Venerable \u0100nanda, you\u2019re very learned. Why don\u2019t you clarify this yourself?\u201d \u201cWell then, Reverend Bhaddaji, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, reverend,\u201d Bhaddaji replied. \u0100nanda said this: \u201cWhat you see when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sight. What you hear when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sound. The happiness you feel when the defilements are ended without delay is the best happiness. What you perceive when the defilements are ended without delay is the best perception. The state of existence in which the defilements are ended without delay is the best state of existence.\u201d","title":"With Bhaddaji","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":304}