English
5. The Connected Discourses of Bhikkhunīs 1. The Discourse with Āḷavikā 162. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, having dressed in the morning, taking her bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Having wandered for alms in Sāvatthī, after her meal, returning from her alms round, she approached the Andhavana, desiring solitude. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, desiring to dislodge her from solitude, approached the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā; having approached, he addressed the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā with a verse: “There is no escape in the world, What will you do with solitude? Enjoy the pleasures of sense, Lest you regret later.” Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā: “Who is this, a human or a non-human, speaking a verse?” Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā: “This is Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in me, desiring to dislodge me from solitude, speaking a verse.” Then the bhikkhunī Āḷavikā, knowing “This is Māra, the Evil One,” replied to Māra, the Evil One, with verses: “There is an escape in the world, It is well-touched by my wisdom; O Evil One, kinsman of the heedless, You do not know that state. “Sense pleasures are like a spear and stake, The aggregates are their chopping block; What you call the pleasure of sense, That was suffering for me.” Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking “The bhikkhunī Āḷavikā knows me,” sad and dejected, vanished right there. 2. The Discourse with Somā 163. Sāvatthī as the occasion. Then the bhikkhunī Somā, having dressed in the morning, taking her bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Having wandered for alms in Sāvatthī, after her meal, returning from her alms round, she approached the Andhavana for her day-dwelling. Having entered the Andhavana, at the root of a certain tree, she sat down for her day-dwelling. She sat down for her day's abiding. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in the nun Somā, desiring to dislodge her from concentration, approached the nun Somā. Having approached, he addressed the nun Somā with a verse: “That state to be attained by sages, A place difficult to achieve; It cannot be reached by a woman With two-finger wisdom.” Then it occurred to the nun Somā: “Who now is this, a human or non-human, speaking this verse?” Then it occurred to the nun Somā: “This is Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in me, desiring to dislodge me from concentration, speaking this verse.” Then the nun Somā, knowing “This is Māra, the Evil One,” replied to Māra, the Evil One, with verses: “What can a woman's state do When the mind is well concentrated? When knowledge is present, Rightly discerning the Dhamma. “If one should think, ‘I am a woman’ or ‘I am a man,’ Or ‘I am something else,’ Then Māra is fit to address them.” Then Māra, the Evil One, sad and dejected, thinking “The nun Somā knows me,” vanished right there. 3. The Kisāgotamī Sutta 164. Thus have I heard. At Sāvatthī. Then the nun Kisāgotamī, having dressed in the morning, taking her bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Having wandered for alms in Sāvatthī and returned from her alms round after the meal, she approached Andhavana for her day's abiding. Having plunged into Andhavana, she sat down for her day's abiding at the root of a certain tree. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in the nun Kisāgotamī, desiring to dislodge her from concentration, approached the nun Kisāgotamī. Having approached, he addressed the nun Kisāgotamī with a verse: “Why are you like one whose child has died, Sitting alone, tear-faced? Alone in the midst of the forest, Are you seeking a man?” Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī: "Who now is this, a human or a non-human, speaking a verse?" Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī: "This is Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in me, desiring to dislodge me from concentration, speaking a verse." Then the bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī, knowing "This is Māra the Evil One," replied to Māra the Evil One with verses: "I am one whose son is utterly dead, O man, this is the end of it; I do not grieve, I do not weep, I do not fear you, friend. Everywhere delight is destroyed, The mass of darkness is shattered; Having conquered the army of Death, I dwell without defilements." Then Māra the Evil One, [thinking] "The bhikkhunī Kisāgotamī knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 4. The Discourse on Vijayā 165. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then the bhikkhunī Vijayā, having dressed in the morning... (rest omitted)... sat down for her day-dwelling at the root of a certain tree. Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in the bhikkhunī Vijayā, desiring to dislodge her from concentration, approached the bhikkhunī Vijayā; having approached, he addressed the bhikkhunī Vijayā with a verse: "You are young and beautiful, And I am young and handsome; With a five-instrument orchestra, Come, lady, let us enjoy ourselves." Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Vijayā: "Who now is this, a human or a non-human, speaking a verse?" Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Vijayā: "This is Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and goosebumps in me, desiring to dislodge me from concentration, speaking a verse." Then the bhikkhunī Vijayā, knowing "This is Māra the Evil One," replied to Māra the Evil One with verses: "Forms, sounds, tastes, scents, And pleasant touches; I give them back to you, Māra, I have no need of them. With this pu with a body that is perishable, that breaks apart. I am disgusted, I am ashamed, craving for sensual pleasures is uprooted. Those beings who are reborn in forms, and those who dwell in formless realms; and that peaceful attainment, darkness is dispelled everywhere. Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The bhikkhunī Vijayā knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 5. Uppalavaṇṇā Sutta 166. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, having dressed in the morning… (as before) … stood at the root of a certain well-blossomed sal tree. Then Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and horripilation in the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, desiring to dislodge her from concentration, approached the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā; having approached, he addressed the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā with a verse: Having approached the top of a well-blossomed tree, alone you stand at the root of a sal tree; there is no second one for you, O beautiful one, foolish one, do you not fear the rogues? Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, "Who is this, a human or a non-human, speaking this verse?" Then it occurred to the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, "This is Māra, the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and horripilation in me, desiring to dislodge me from concentration, speaking this verse." Then the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā, knowing "This is Māra, the Evil One," replied to Māra, the Evil One, with verses: Even a hundred thousand rogues, of such a kind, might come here; I do not tremble a hair, I do not fear, I do not fear you, Māra, even alone. Here I vanish, or I enter your belly; even between your eyebrows, you will not see me standing. I am master of my mind, the bases of psychic power are well-developed; I am freed from all bonds, I do not fear you, friend. Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 6. Cālā Sutta At Sāvatthī. Then the bhikkhunī Cālā, having dressed in the morning, sat down for her day's abiding at the foot of a certain tree. Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the bhikkhunī Cālā; having approached, he said to the bhikkhunī Cālā – "What is it, bhikkhunī, that you do not like?" "I do not like birth, friend." "Why do you not like birth? One who is born enjoys sensual pleasures. Who has urged you to this, 'Bhikkhunī, do not like birth'?" "For one who is born, there is death; one who is born experiences sufferings; bondage, slaughter, defilement. Therefore, I do not like birth. The Buddha taught the Dhamma, the transcendence of birth; for the abandoning of all suffering. He established me in the truth. And those beings who go to form, and those who abide in the formless; not knowing cessation, they are bound to come back to renewed existence." Then Māra, the Evil One, [thinking] "The bhikkhunī Cālā knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 7. Upacālā Sutta 168. At Sāvatthī. Then the bhikkhunī Upacālā, having dressed in the morning, sat down for her day's abiding at the foot of a certain tree. Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the bhikkhunī Upacālā; having approached, he said to the bhikkhunī Upacālā – "Where, bhikkhunī, do you wish to be reborn?" "I do not wish to be reborn anywhere, friend." "The Tāvatiṃsa and Yāma gods, and also the Tusita gods; the Nimmānaratī gods, and the Vasavattī gods; Direct your mind there, you will experience delight." "The Tāvatiṃsa and Yāma gods, and also the Tusita gods; the Nimmānaratī gods, and the Vasavattī gods; They are bound by the bonds of sensual pleasure, they come again under Māra's sway. All the world is ablaze, all the world is enveloped in smoke; all the world is aflame, all the world is trembling. Untrembling, un- It is blazing, unshakeable, not frequented by ordinary folk; Where Māra has no access, there my mind delights. Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The bhikkhunī Upacālā knows me," sad and dejected, vanished right there. 8. The Discourse to Sīsupacālā 169. Occasion in Sāvatthī. Then the bhikkhunī Sīsupacālā, having dressed in the morning… sat down for her day's abiding at the root of a certain tree.