Arahant Nuns with Single Verses
The verse of a certain Arahant Nun
Nun, you made this robe from a rag cloth. You can live very happily wearing it. You were freed from lust just like leaves that were burnt and shrivelled in a pot.
The verse of Arahant Nun Muttā
Muttā, you must be freed from Māra, the evil one, like the moon is freed from Rāhu. You must use your alms food with a mind that has been completely freed from defilements and is without debt.
The verse of Arahant Nun Puṇṇā
Puṇṇā, you must fill your life with noble qualities like the full moon on the Uposatha day. With fulfilled wisdom, split the darkness of ignorance.
The verse of Arahant Nun Tissā
Tissā, be trained in the training of virtue, concentration and wisdom. Don’t miss this very rare opportunity! Liberate yourself from all fetters. Live without taints in the world.
The verse of Arahant Nun Tissā
Tissā, practice the Dhamma. Don’t miss this very rare opportunity! Those who have missed this excellent opportunity suffer when they fall into hell.
The verse of Arahant Nun Dhīrā
Dhīrā, you should experience Nibbāna, the end of suffering. The absence of unwholesome perceptions is peaceful. Yes, liberate yourself from these defilements and gain unsurpassed Nibbāna.
The verse of Arahant Nun Vīrā
Nun, with strong effort develop the faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. Keep on practicing the Dhamma. Having defeated Māra, the evil one, and his army, bear your last body.
The verse of Arahant Nun Mittā
Mittā, you became a nun out of faith. Delight in the association of noble friends. Develop wholesome qualities for the attainment of Arahantship.
The verse of Arahant Nun Bhadrā
Bhadrā, you became a nun out of faith. Therefore you must delight in this excellent, beautiful Dhamma. Develop wholesome qualities for the attainment of Arahantship.
The verse of Arahant Nun Upasamā
Upasamā, it is very hard to cross over the realm of Māra, the evil one. However you should cross over the flood of saṁsāra. Defeat Māra, the evil one, and his army. Bear your last body.
The verse of Arahant Nun Muttā
It is good that I am released from everything. I am well released from the three crooked things: the mortar, pestle, and my husband. I am also released from the cycle of birth and death along with craving that leads to rebirth.
The verse of Arahant Nun Dhammadinnā
The only desire in my mind was to attain Nibbāna. I wasn’t distracted by any other desires. I contacted Nibbāna with my mind. One whose mind is not attached to sensual pleasures is called one heading up-stream.
The verse of Arahant Nun Visākhā
If you don’t want to do something you will regret later, then follow the Buddha’s instructions. Wash your feet quickly and sit down to meditate!
The verse of Arahant Nun Sumanā
Understand the four great elements as suffering and do not be born again in this saṁsāra. Discarding the desire for existence, live with a still mind.
The verse of Arahant Nun Uttarā
I was restrained in my body, speech and mind. I plucked out craving from its root. I became cool and quenched.
The verse of Arahant Nun Sumanā, who became a nun when she was old.
Old lady, sleep peacefully in the robe that you sewed from rag cloths. Your lust has ceased. Therefore, become cool and quenched.
The verse of Arahant Dhammā
My body was so weak. I went on my alms round using a walking stick, with my hand and legs shaking. That day, when I fell down, my mind focused on the danger of this body and I was released from all defilements.
The verse of Arahant Saṅghā
I gave up my beloved sons and daughters, my cattle and animals and my house. I became a nun. Eventually, I also gave up lust and hatred. Discarding ignorance, and plucking out craving from its root, I became stilled and quenched.
Arahant Nuns with Two Verses
The Verses of Arahant Nun Gorgeous Nandā
Nandā, see carefully this disgusting body that is diseased, impure, rotten, oozing, and filthy. With a well-concentrated mind, develop the meditation on the impurities of the body.
Develop insight meditation which is free from signs of defilements. Uproot the conceit in the mind. Abandoning conceit with full understanding, live in peace.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Jentā
As the way leading to Nibbāna, these seven aids for enlightenment were taught by the Supreme Buddha. I have developed all of them.
I have indeed seen the Blessed One through the Dhamma. This is my final body. Journeying on from birth to birth has ended. There is no longer any existence for me.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Sumangalamātā
You are released from everything. Yes, you are well released. It is good that you are released from the pestle. My husband had no shame whatsoever. I disliked even his umbrella. My pots even stank badly.
I destroyed lust and hate with a sizzle and pop. Now, when I go up to the foot of a tree, I think, “Oh, what a wonderful happiness.” I meditate with immense happiness.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Aḍḍhakāsī
My wage for being a prostitute was set equal to half the tax revenue of the province of Kāsi. The people of the province fixed that price and made me their prostitute.
But now, with full understanding I have become disenchanted with my body. I have become dispassionate. I will never run through the journeying-on from birth to birth again. I have attained the Triple Knowledge and completed the training of the Buddha.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Cittā
I am very thin, sick and weak. But still, leaning on a stick, I climbed the Mountain Gijjhakūṭa.
I put my bowl aside, turning it upside down, and put my double robe aside as well. I sat on a rock. I tore apart the dark mass of ignorance.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Mettikā
I was in great pain, weak, with my youth gone. But still, leaning on a stick I climbed the Mountain Gijjhakūṭa.
I put my bowl aside, turning it upside down, and put my double robe aside as well. I sat on a rock. There, my mind was completely released from taints. I have attained the Triple Knowledge and completed the Buddha’s training.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Mettā
Previously, I observed uposatha, keeping eight precepts. My wish was to be reborn in heaven.
But now I eat a single meal. I live with a shaved head, a bowl, and robes. I have removed all defilements from my heart. Now, I no longer wish for a rebirth in heaven.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Abhayamātā
Mother, from the soles of the feet upwards, from the head and hair downwards, reflect on this impure, evil smelling body.
34. [According to the advice of my son Abhaya,] I wisely reflected on this body. I rooted out all desire. I have cut out the burning fever of defilements. Now I have become cool and quenched.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Abhayā
Abhayā, ordinary people are attached to the body. But the reality is the body is fragile. Having wisely reflected on this fact with clear mindfulness, I will discard this body.
I used this life full of pain only for practicing the Dhamma diligently. Craving has been destroyed. I have attained Nibbāna and completed the Buddha’s training.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Sāmā
Previously, I was unable to gain any unification of mind. I had no control over my mind. I left the monastery four or five times a day.
But finally, when the eighth night passed since I became a nun, I completely rooted out craving. I took the Dhamma practice seriously because of the many pains in this life. Craving has been destroyed. I have attained Nibbāna and completed the Buddha’s training.