The Verses of Arahant Nun Sāmā

Twenty-five years have passed since I became a nun. During this period my mind has not achieved any meditative happiness at all.

Without self-mastery over the mind, without any unification of the mind, and while recollecting the instructions of the Buddha, I experienced a sense of urgency.

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. Today is the seventh day since my craving has dried up.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Uttamā

Previously, I didn’t have any unification of mind. I didn’t have any control over it. I would leave the monastery four or five times a day.

There was a certain nun in whom I had confidence. I approached her and she taught me the Dhamma about aggregates, elements and sense bases.

 As I listened attentively to what she taught me, my mind was overjoyed. I sat in the same cross legged position for seven days. On the eighth day, having torn apart the dark mass of ignorance, I stretched out my legs.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Uttamā (Another Nun)

The seven aids for enlightenment were taught by the Buddha. I have developed all of them.

I developed the attainment of emptiness and the attainment of signlessness as I wished. Now I am a true daughter of the Buddha, born from the Blessed One’s heart. I always live delighting in Nibbāna.

All divine and human sensual pleasures have been completely cut off. Journeying on from birth to birth has been completely ended. There is no existence for me anymore.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Dantikā

Going out from my daytime resting place on Mount Gijjhakūṭa, on the riverbank I saw an elephant just after a bath.

A man, using a hook, demanded the elephant stretch out his foot. The elephant stretched out its foot and the man climbed up on its back.

 This elephant was previously untamed. But later it was tamed by people. I was watching how the elephant was taken under control. This incident struck my heart deeply. Having gone to the forest, I concentrated and tamed my mind.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Ubbirī

[The Buddha:] In the forest, Ubbiri, you are sobbing and calling out, “Oh my daughter, Jīva!” Did you know that eighty-four thousand people were burnt in this cemetery, all whose name was Jīva? Which of them do you grieve for?

When I heard this, I plucked out the dart of sorrow I had for my daughter. It was hard to see while it was stuck in my heart.

Today I live with the dart plucked out and with craving abandoned. My mind is fully quenched. I took the Supreme Buddha, Supreme Dhamma, and the Supreme Saṅgha as my refuge.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Sukkā

This nun Sukkā is teaching the Buddha’s Dhamma. What has happened to these people in the city of Rājagaha? If they don’t come to hear her, it is as though they are drunk and asleep.

But wise people don’t miss out on this Dhamma. This Dhamma’s nature is very sweet. It is juicy with the flavour of wholesome qualities. One should listen to this Dhamma as a traveller in a desert drinks rain water.

This nun Sukkā has wholesome qualities. She is lust free and concentrated. She has defeated Māra and his army. She bears her final body.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Selā

[Māra:] There is nothing called Nibbāna in this world. So what are you doing here in seclusion? Go and enjoy sensual pleasures. Don’t regret it later!

[Nun Selā:] Hey Māra! Sensual pleasures are like poisoned swords. The five aggregates are like slabs of meat. What you call enjoyment is boring to me.

I got rid of desire for everything. I tore apart the dark mass of ignorance. Māra, know that you are defeated.

 

The Verses of Arahant Nun Somā

[Māra:] Arahantship is very hard to attain. It is attained by Great Buddhas and seers. How could such a thing be realized by a woman with a two-finger intelligence?

[Nun Somā:] Hey Māra! If the mind is well-concentrated, what failure will this woman’s state bring? When wisdom is achieved with clear insight, what failure will this woman’s state bring?

I got rid of all desire for everything. I tore apart the dark mass of ignorance. Māra, know that you are defeated.