Arahant Nuns With Six Verses
The Verses of five hundred Arahant Nuns
We don’t know where he came from. We don’t know where he goes to. That being the case, for whom do you cry, saying, “my son”?
But you do not grieve for a person who’s coming and going. The journey of saṁsāra is unknown to you. You realize that this is the nature of all beings.
Uninvited a person comes into this world, without permission that person leaves this world. Surely having come from a certain world and having lived here for some time, that person goes to another world. Having passed away from there, that person moves on to yet another world.
That dead person, having lived here in the form of a human, departed. In whatever way he comes into this world, he departs in the same way. What is there to cry about in that?
I was truly in pain over the death of my son. That nun plucked out the vicious dart of sorrow out of my heart.
Today, my dart is plucked out. I am withdrawn from craving and am totally quenched. I am well established in the refuge of the Supreme Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Vāseṭṭhi
I couldn’t bear the pain of my son’s death. I went crazy and lost my mindfulness. I didn’t even wear clothes. With a messy head of hair, I wandered here and there.
I lived on heaps of rubbish in the streets, in cemeteries, and on highways. I wandered like this for three years, suffering from hunger and thirst.
One day, I saw the Supreme Buddha entering the city of Mithilā. I saw the Supremely Enlightened Buddha, the tamer of the untamed beings and the one who has no fear at all.
With that sight, I regained my mind and came to my senses. I went to the Buddha and worshiped him. Gautama Supreme Buddha showed pity on me and preached the Dhamma to me.
Having heard the excellent Dhamma, I became a nun. Following the Supreme Teacher’s instruction, I attained the bliss of Nibbāna.
All grief has been cut out and completely eliminated. I have comprehended all those objects that arise from grief.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Khemā
[Māra:] Dear Khemā, you are still young and beautiful. I am also young and in my prime. Come, let us enjoy sensual pleasures and delight in sweet music.
[Nun Khemā:] Hey Māra, I am disgusted and ashamed of this foul body that is subject to disease and destruction. I have rooted out craving for sensual pleasures.
Sensual pleasures are like swords smeared with poison. The five aggregates of clinging are like piles of flesh. What you call delight in sensual pleasures is now non-delight for me.
I have gotten rid of craving for everything. I tore apart the dark mass of ignorance. That is how you should understand me. Māra, in this case you are defeated.
Not knowing reality, foolish people revere superstitions and worship the fire in the forest searching for purity.
But I worship the Supremely Enlightened Buddha, the best of men. Following the great teacher’s instruction, I have been completely released from all suffering.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Sujātā
One day I was well dressed and decorated with jewelry. I was wearing flower garlands. My body was smeared with sandalwood cream. I was surrounded by my female attendants.
Taking an abundance of food, drinks, sweets and snacks I went to the park to have fun.
Having enjoyed playing there, on my way home, I visited the Añjana Forest Monastery in Sāketa.
There I saw the Supreme Buddha shining like the brightest lamp that illuminates all three worlds. I approached the Great Teacher and worshiped him. Out of compassion for me, the Supreme Buddha, the one with eyes of Dhamma, taught me the excellent teaching.
The Buddha is a great seer. Having heard the Supreme Dhamma, I realized the Four Noble Truths. Sitting on that very seat, I attained the lust free state, Nibbāna.
Thus, knowing the true Dhamma, I became a Nun. I attained the Triple Knowledge. The Supreme Buddha’s training is never in vain.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Anupamā
I was born into an upper class family that had great comforts and wealth. I was extremely beautiful. I was the daughter of Megha, a very rich merchant.
Many princes and wealthy merchants desired me. They sent my father messengers saying, “Let me marry your daughter Anupamā.
“If you tell us how much your daughter Anupamā weighs, we will give you eight times her weight in gold and jewels.”
But I saw the Enlightened Buddha who was incomparable and supreme in the world. I paid homage to my great teacher’s sacred feet and sat down.
Out of compassion for me, Gautama Supreme Buddha taught me the excellent Dhamma. Seated on that very spot, I attained the fruit of non-returning.
Then I cut off my hair and became a nun. Today is the seventh night since my craving dried up.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Mahā Pajāpatī Gotamī
The Buddha, the Great Hero, and the best of all beings, I pay my homage to you. It was you who released me and many other people from the suffering of cycle of rebirths.
I understood suffering; removed completely craving, the cause of suffering; developed the Noble Eightfold Path and attained Nibbāna, the cessation of suffering.
Not knowing the true nature of life, as a helpless being journeying on saṁsāra, at different times I was your mother, son, father, brother and grandmother.
I have indeed seen the Blessed One through the Dhamma. I am bearing my final body. Journeying on from birth to birth has been eliminated. There is no more rebirth for me.
Look at the monks, the harmonious disciples of the Buddha putting forth energy, giving the Dhamma practice top priority with strong effort. Rejoicing in their effort is the true Buddha vandana.
Truly Queen Māyā gave birth to Gautama Supreme Buddha for the well-being of many. That is indeed how the mass of suffering of those beings who are struck by sickness and death is thrust away.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Guttā
Guttā, having given up your dear children and wealth, you became a nun with a noble wish. Therefore you should work towards that wish only. Don’t get tricked by your mind!
These beings get tricked by the mind, and then they live delighting in Māra’s objects. They don’t see the true nature of this life. As a result they run on through the journey of saṁsāra for numerous rebirths.
There are five fetters: sensual desire, ill will, identity view, clinging to wrong practices, and doubt.
After abandoning these five fetters, that nun will never return to rebirth in this sensual existence again.
Abandon the fetters of the desire for form, the desire for formless, conceit, restlessness and ignorance, and put an end to all suffering.
Annihilating journeying-on from birth to birth, comprehending repeated existence fully, and removing completely craving in this very life, you will become still.
The Verses of Arahant Nun Vijayā
Previously being unable to control my mind, I didn’t have any unification of mind. I left the monastery four or five times a day.
Finally I approached the Nun Khemā. I questioned respectfully and learned the Dhamma from her. She taught me the Dhamma about aggregates, elements and sense bases.
She taught me the Four Noble Truths, The Five Spiritual Faculties, the Five Spiritual Powers, the Seven Enlightenment Factors and the Noble Eightfold Path leading to Supreme Nibbāna.
Having learned the Dhamma from her, I followed her exact instructions. In the first watch of the night, I gained the knowledge of recollecting my past lives.
In the middle watch of the night, I purified the divine eye. In the last watch of the night I tore apart the dark mass of ignorance.
I dwelled filling my whole body with joy and happiness. Having torn apart the dark mass of ignorance, on the seventh day, I stretched out my feet.