“Reverend, there is this Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. When you see the Divinity, that’s the best sight. There are the gods called ‘of sublime luminosity’, who are drenched and steeped in pleasure. Every so often they feel inspired to exclaim: ‘Oh, what bliss! Oh, what bliss!’ When you hear that, it’s the best sound. There are the gods called ‘of universal beauty’. Since they’re 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.”

“So, Venerable Bhaddaji, do you agree with what most people say about this?”

“Well, Venerable Ānanda, you’re very learned. Why don’t you clarify this yourself?”

“Well then, Reverend Bhaddaji, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, reverend,” Bhaddaji replied. Ānanda said this:

“What 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.”

Numbered Discourses 5.171 18. A Lay Follower Timidity