5.
The Book of the Fives
1.
Verses of a Certain Elder Nun
Not even for a finger-snap's moment, did I attain peace of mind.
Having raised my arms, crying out, I entered the dwelling.
She taught me the Teaching, the aggregates, sense bases, and elements.
I know past lives, the divine eye has been purified.
Supernormal power has been realized by me, the elimination of mental corruptions has been attained by me;
The six higher knowledges have been realized, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
... A Certain Elder Nun...
2.
Verses of the Elder Nun Vimalā
And stiff with youth, I despised other women.
I stood at the harlot's door, like a hunter having spread a snare.
I practised various deceit, laughing aloud at many people.
Seated at the root of a tree, an obtainer of that without applied thought.
Having exhausted all mental corruptions, I have become cool, quenched."
... The Elder Nun Vimalā, the Former Courtesan...
3.
Verses of the Elder Nun Sīhā
I was agitated before, not having control over my mind.
I did not obtain tranquillity of mind, subjected to the control of a lustful mind.
Neither by day nor by night did I find happiness, being greatly afflicted.
Better for me is hanging here, than to practise what is inferior again.
I threw the snare around my neck, thereupon my mind was liberated."
... The Elder Nun Sīhā...
4.
Verses of the Elder Nun Sundarīnandā
Develop the mind towards foulness, fully focused, well concentrated.
Foul-smelling and putrid it blows, delighted in by the foolish.
Then with my own wisdom, having broken through, I shall see.
This body was seen as it really is, within and without.
Diligent, unbound, I am at peace, quenched."
... The Elder Nun Sundarīnandā...
5.
Verses of the Elder Nun Nanduttarā
Having gone to the river fords, I descended into the water.
I make my sleeping place on the ground, at night I did not eat a meal.
I tended to this body, distressed by sensual lust.
Having seen the body as it really is, sensual lust was uprooted.
Unbound from all mental bonds, I have attained peace of mind."
... The Elder Nun Nanduttarā...
6.
Verses of the Elder Nun Mittākāḷī
I wandered here and there, eager for material gain and honour.
Having come under the control of defilements, I did not understand the goal of asceticism.
I had gone astray, having come under the control of craving.
Before this body breaks up, there is no time for me to be negligent.
With liberated mind I arose, the Buddha's teaching has been fulfilled."
... The Elder Nun Mittā Kāḷī...
7.
Verses of the Elder Nun Sakulā
I saw the stainless Teaching, Nibbāna, the imperishable state.
Having had my hair cut off, I went forth into homelessness.
I abandoned lust and hate, and the co-existent mental corruptions.
The divine eye has been purified, spotless, well developed.
I abandoned all mental corruptions, I have become cool, quenched."
... The Elder Nun Sakulā...
8.
Verses of the Elder Nun Soṇā
Then I, weak and old, approached a nun.
Having heard the teaching from her, having cut off my hair, I went forth.
I know past lives, where I dwelt before.
I was one with immediate deliverance, quenched by non-clinging.
Fie on you, wretched, contemptible ageing, there is now no more rebirth."
... The Elder Nun Soṇā...
9.
Verses of the Elder Nun Bhaddākuṇḍalakesā
Perceiving fault in the faultless, and seeing the faulty as faultless.
I saw the stainless Buddha, honoured by the community of monks.
'Come, Bhadda,' he said to me, that was my full ordination.
Free of debt for fifty years, I have eaten food obtained from the people.
Who gave a robe to Bhaddā, free from all mental knots."
... The Elder Nun Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā...
10.
Verses of the Elder Nun Paṭācārā
Nourishing children and wife, young men gain wealth.
Not attain Nibbāna, being not lazy, not agitated?
And having seen the foot-water, flowing from high ground to low.
Then having taken a lamp, I entered the dwelling;
Having looked at the sleeping place, I sat down on the small bed.
Like the extinguishing of a lamp, there was deliverance of the mind."
... The Elder Nun Paṭācārā...
11.
Verses of the Thirty Elder Nuns
Nourishing children and wife, young men gain wealth.
Quickly having washed your feet, sit down on one side;
Engaged in serenity of mind, practise the Buddha's teaching."
Having washed their feet, they sat down to one side;
Engaged in serenity of mind, they practised the Buddha's teaching.
In the middle watch of the night, they purified the divine eye;
In the last watch of the night, they shattered the mass of darkness.
Like the deities of the Thirty-three honour Indra, unconquered in battle;
Having put you in front, we shall dwell, we are possessors of the threefold true knowledge, without mental corruptions."
Thus about thirty elder nuns declared the final liberating knowledge in the presence of Paṭācārā.
12.
Verses of the Elder Nun Candā
Without friends and relatives, I did not obtain food and cloth.
Burning with cold and heat, for seven years I wandered.
Having approached, I said, 'The going forth into homelessness'.
Then having exhorted me, she urged me towards the supreme goal.
The lady's exhortation was not futile, I am a possessor of the threefold true knowledge, without mental corruptions."
... The Elder Nun Candā...
The Book of Fives is concluded.