Therigatha1.4

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Adapted from Archaic Translation By Mrs. Rhys Davids 1909

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

1.4 Tissa, Daughter of the Sakiyas, Kapilavatthu

The following verse is that of Tissa, a student. Accumulating merit under former Buddhas, Tissa was, in this Buddha-period, reborn at Kapilavatthu in the noble clan of the Sakiyas. Made a lady of the Bodhisat's court, she renounced the world with Great Pajapati the Gotami (The sister and co-wife of the Buddha's departed mother as well as head of nuns order), and practised herself in insight meditation(Vipassana[1]). Then the Master(Buddha), sitting in his 'Fragrant Chamber' of the Vihara(monastery), sent forth his radiant ethereal form, and revealing himself as if seated before her, uttered the verse above :

O Tissa! train yourself in the trainings three[2]. See that the great opportunity now at hand Pass you not by! Unloose all other yokes, cleansed from the worldly Desires. (4) And she, when she heard the verse, her insight meditation(Vipassana[1]) grew, and she attained Arahantship(enlightenment equal to Buddha). From that time on she was accustomed to repeat the lines.

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

[2] Three trainings are : i. Sheel(Moral precepts) ii. Samadhi(Meditation & achieving trance states) iii. Panna (Direct divine understanding borne from the meditative trance states)