Therigatha5.11

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Adapted from Archaic Translation By Mrs. Rhys Davids 1909

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

5.11 Thirty Theris Under Patachara Declare Their Anna (Enlightened state)

They, too, having made vows under former Buddhas, and accumulating good karma, consolidated the conditions for enlightenment(vimokkh, vimukti). They came to birth, in this Buddha-period, in clansmen's families in different places, heard Patachara teach, developed faith, and became ordained. To them, perfecting virtue (moral precepts) and fulfilling their duties, she one day gave this teaching:

'Men, with pestle are busy pounding rice. Men in their prime gather and store up wealth, To nourish wife and children dear. (117) But see that you dwell in The Buddha's discipline, which brings no remorse. Swiftly bathe your feet, then sit down with one mind And let your consciousness become equanimous(samatha) In order to do well in the Buddha's discipline. (118) Then those Bhikkhunis, abiding in the Theri's admonition, established themselves in insight meditation (Vipassana[1]), performed exercises in that, and brought knowledge to such maturity–the promise, too, being in them–that they attained Arahantship(enlightenment equal to Buddha), together with thorough grasp of the Dhamma(path of eternal truth) in letter and in spirit. And looking back at that, they blissfully said thus, adding the Theri's verses to their own:

Having heard her talk, under Patachara's teaching Bathing their feet, they sat down apart with one mind, And with consciousness in equanimity(samatha), with calmed mind, Following thus the discipline of the Buddha. (119) While passed the first watch of the night, there rose Long memories of the past lives(rebirths); While passed the second watch, arose within the clarified divine eye celestial, of purity; <p style="text-align:center;">While passed the last watch of the night, they burst <p style="text-align:center;">And broken aside is the gloom of ignorance. (120) <p style="text-align:center;">Then rising to their feet they praised her as blessed: <p style="text-align:center;">'Fulfilled is your will! and we take you, <p style="text-align:center;">as like Inda(Indra) chief over the thirty three(x10 million) gods(angels), <p style="text-align:center;">unconquered in celestial wars, <p style="text-align:center;">We place you as our Chief, and so shall we live. <p style="text-align:center;">The threefold Wisdom[2] we have won, <p style="text-align:center;">& worldly desires are removed'. (121)

[1] Vipassana : This refers to the foremost insight meditation called 'Vipassana'  taught by Buddha in which attention is focussed on inner phenomenon (breath,body,emotions, sensations & mind) with detachment (samata/equanimity) leading to self-awakening & enlightenment.

[2] Attainments due to enlightenment (i) recall of past rebirths, (ii) the all seeing Heavenly Eye(or divine eyesight) which can see anywhere in the universe, and (iii) the destruction of all the Asavas(sensual desires) within i.e. purity.