U Aung Thein Myat - Women in the Eighth Stage of Buddha

Namo-tassa, the forest of the Bhagavad Gita, the forest of the Arahant, the True Buddha,

Part (A)

The venerable Therisa

1. Venerable Rattanu Etadagra Theri

The venerable Mahapajapati Gotami Theri was the sister of the Blessed One's mother and therefore the Blessed One's aunt (stepmother). Therefore, the venerable one is also called the stepmother Gotami.

The great mother of the Bhikkhunī order, the founder of the Bhikkhunī order, the Venerable Mahapajapati Gotami Theri, “She attained the state of Rāttanyu. When we look back at her past life, we find this:

More than a hundred thousand worlds ago, the Buddha Padumuttara appeared in the Sāra world.

At that time, his stepmother, Gotami Longlya, was of an unknown lineage in the land of Hanshavadi. When she grew up, she would go to the Buddha's monastery without fail, listen to the Dhamma, and observe the precepts.

On one occasion, the stepmother of the Blessed One Padumuttara, a nun, was listening to the Blessed One's sermon with her followers. At the end of the sermon, the Blessed One Padumuttara placed her stepmother in the "Rattanyu" position.

Mahapajapati Gotamilanglya had a desire to be like that great saint. So he made a large donation to the monks led by the Blessed One Padumuttara. Then he made this request to the Blessed One:

"May I, through the good deeds and good intentions I have performed now, become the Buddha's stepmother in the teachings of future Buddhas, just like this nun, and attain the same state of Eta-daga."

The Blessed One, Padumuttara, looked with his foresight and saw that Dayikama's prayer would be fulfilled, so he uttered a prophecy.

"Daiyikama, in the Buddha world, which will be one hundred thousandth aeon after the Sāra world in which I appeared, the Buddha Gotama will appear. At that time, you will be the Buddha's stepmother, named Mahapajapati Gotami, and you will breastfeed and give birth to the Bodhisattva, the son of your sister."

That dayikama began to practice the virtues of charity from that time on. After living a normal life, he passed away in the Tavatimsa celestial realm. When he returned from that celestial life, he was in the house of a rich man in Varanasi. He was called "Jethakadasi" and was in charge of the rich man's five hundred servants.

The women under the Jhethakadasi lived in the same house with their husbands and attended to their husbands' affairs during the day. They attended to their own affairs only at night.

It's a day nearing the end of the month.

The five great Buddhas, who had resided on Mount Gandhamadana, had come to the rich man's house to repair the monastery, as they were about to enshrine it. It was at that time, on the day of the Jettakadashi, that he went out to the harbor with a water pot.

Zethakadasi looked around and went to the waterhole. When he returned from the waterhole, he saw the monks returning from the rich man's house. He lowered his water pot and respectfully bowed down to him.

"Your Majesty, what is the matter with you entering the rich man's house and leaving now?"

“It is a matter of repairing the Waso school that will be built, Dayikama.”

"Did you get it?"

"I can't find it. I'll have to look for it in a suitable place," said Jethaka Dasthi, so he began to investigate.

"Is it possible for your school to be run by kings and rich people? Isn't it possible for your disciples to be run by hired laborers?"

"Anyone can do it, Dayikama."

The king was delighted and continued to pray with joy.

"Then, Lord, let the disciples work hard and repair the school. Please accept our alms offerings for tomorrow as well."

The good lords patiently departed. The lady of the house returned home happily. She gathered the women who were working under her and asked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, do you want to be free from slavery or not?"

"What are you talking about? I would like to be free now if I had the chance."

When the women in charge answered enthusiastically, the Zethaka Das explained thus.

"We, the monks, did not practice special ordination in the past, so we are now slaves to others. Only the accumulation of good deeds and treasures will enable us to rise up and make a difference."

The workers were listening eagerly to what Zethta had to say.

"Well, I have invited the venerable Paccekabuddha, who is seeking alms to repair the temple, for tomorrow. Then, I will persuade your husbands to be calm and let us repair the Waso temple for the venerable one."

The women happily agreed. When they returned from work, they told their husbands about it, and they were filled with joy and happiness. Then they gathered at the house of Jethakadasi and happily cooked alms. When the morning dawned, they joyfully offered offerings to the Buddha, who had come to them.

Then, they inquired about the old school site and jointly renovated it. In addition, they built and donated new sanctuaries, pavilions, pavilions, tents, and day and night sanctuaries.

The servants, led by the Jethakadasi, take turns offering two kinds of food (food and medicine) throughout the three months of the fast that the venerable one is fasting. When the fast is over and the venerable one is about to depart, they collect one hundred pieces of silver and then offer the robes of the tsivareet.

Therefore, after they had lived their lives, they were in the Tusita heaven. But when Jethakadasi was born from that heaven, she became a weaver near Varanasi. The weaver, who had five hundred weavers, became the daughter of a great man and, when she grew up, became the wife of a rich man.

Once upon a time, a weaver's daughter and her husband's wife had a rare opportunity. It was to serve the Buddha, the son of Queen Padumavathi. The good karma and devotion she had shown to that great Buddha for three months during Lent even led her to the higher realms when she passed away.

After wandering for a hundred thousand worlds in the realms of men and gods, Dayikama became the queen of the great king Insana.