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Discourses of Ancient Nuns

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Author: Bodhi, Bhikkhu
Publisher: Buddhist Publication Society
Publication Date:
Product Type: Softcover Book
Pages:
ISBN 13:

ISBN 10:

Language:

SKU:

SKU:BPS:402143

Description

A small booklet, written by Bhikkhu Bodhi, about the Bhikkhuni-samyutta, Chapter 5 of the Sagathavagga-samyutta, the Connected Discourses with Verses, Volume I of the Samyutta Nikaya.

The Bhikkhuni-samyutta is a compilation of ten short suttas in mixed prose and verse, with a total of thirty-seven verses.

All the ten suttas are constructed according to the same pattern, a direct confrontation between Mara the Evil One, the Lord of Sensuality, and an individual nun. In each sutta a nun goes off by herself to pass the day in solitary meditation. Then Mara approaches her with a challenge a provocative question or a taunt intending to make her fall away from concentration. What Mara has failed to realize is that each of these nuns is an arahant and has seen so deeply into the truth of the Dhamma that she is utterly inaccessible to his wiles. Far from being flustered by Mara's challenge, the nun promptly guesses the identity of her adversary and overturns his challenge with a sharp reply. Once Mara realizes that his number has been called he has no choice but to vanish on the spot, "sad and disappointed."

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