Bhikkhuni Khema: The wisest chief disciple among Bhikkhunis
"My wish is to become an awakened and most wisest
bhikkhuni". This was a wish made by a lay woman about hundred-thousand
aeons ago. She was residing in the city of Hansavati, during the time of
Padumuttara Lord Buddha. She was a poor woman who was the sole bread-winner of
the family. She was keen on becoming a bhikkhuni during the time of Padumuttara
Buddha. However, the circumstances did not allow her to be a bhikkhuni. One
day, she saw Sujata, chief Female disciple of Padumuttara Buddha in her begging
rounds in the city. She had some sweets and gladly offered them to the chief
bhikkhuni Sujata. She was feeling extremely happy and thought that she must offer
alms to the bhikkhuni again. Although she was a domestic, she was a beautiful
woman who had long curly hair. As she did not have money to buy the stuff to
prepare alms, she went to a hairdresser and sold her beautiful long hair. With
the money, she prepared alms to the chief bhikkhuni Sujata. Due to the
meritorious acts she performed during Padumuttara Buddha's era, after her
death, during Vipassi Buddha's time, she was born as a princess. She entered
the Order of the Bhikkhunis and was reputed as a fine preacher. Then, again
during the time Buddha Konagama, she was born as a princess. Joining hands with
her devoted friends, they built a monastery and donated it to the Buddha. In
her Sansaric journey (Life flux), she was again born as the eldest daughter of
Gamani, ruler of the Kingdom of Kasi. Her main ambition was to become the chief
bhikkhuni to a future Buddha, and also the wisest in the order of the
Bhikkhunis. This was her ambition. During the Gautama Buddha's period, the
bhikkhu order had its own chief disciples. They were Sariputta and Moggallana.
With the dawn of Gautama Buddha era, Gamani's daughter was born again as
Princess Khema and became the chief consort of Magadha ruler Bimbisara.
Bimbisara was one of the chief devotees of Gautama Buddha. He was the builder
of the Bamboo Grove Monastery Veluwanaramaya. He was tortured and put to death
by his own son Ajasatta. Bimbisara could not escape from a previous Karma or a
sin he did in one of his past births. He was a king in his past life. One day, the
king went on deer hunting to Vipula Mountains in India.
The king saw an ascetic and he chased and killed him. The
ascetic before he died cursed him. Today, you killed me. In my next birth I
will destroy you. It is said that the ascetic was born as Ajasatta who killed
King Bimbisara in the Gautama Buddha era. Queen Khema was very conscious of her
beauty and did not want to see the Lord Buddha because the blessed one preach
loathsomeness and impermanence of forms (Rupa). When king Bimbisara heard about
her reluctance, he thought of a plan to make her see the Lord Buddha.King used
a ploy of making her hear the beauty of Veluwanaramaya via royal courtiers. One
day when queen Khema visited the monestary, lord Budhha was preaching Dhamma at
that time, mentioning that life was impermanent and it would decay. The Lord
Buddha saw the possibility khema had in understanding the Dhamma and used his
psychic power and created a lovey maiden fanning the blessed one. Khema saw a
lovely maiden, close to The Buddha fanning Him. The divine maiden was prettier
than her. With the Buddha's power, only Queen Khema saw the maiden who fanned
the Buddha. Gradually her beauty faded away and she became an old woman and
fainted. Queen Khema then realised that life was impermanent and transient.
After listening to the Buddha's sermon Khema decided to join the Order of
Bhikkhunis. It was Prince Siddhartha's foster mother Maha Prajapati Gotami, who
established the Bhikkhuni Order. The Buddha with His far-seeing wisdom saw the
dangers in having two orders - bhikkhu and bhikkhuni Sasana at one and the same
time. However, He later granted permission for the establishment of the Order of Bhikkhunis, under certain
rules and regulations. It was known as the Eight Garudhamma and they are:
1. A bhikkhuni, who is even 100 years old should salute and
honour a Bhikkhu.
2. A bhikkuni should not spend a retreat (Vas) in a place
where there are no bhikkhus.
3. A bhikkhuni should ask Bhikkhus the time of Uposatha
which means, Full Moon and New Moon days when Bhikkhus assemble to recite the
fundamental rules.
4. The Pavarana (formal termination of the retreat or rainy
season) should be held in the presence of both bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.
5. A bhikkhuni who has committed a major offence should
apologise (Manatta) in the presence of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Manatta means a
form of disciplinary action).
6. A novice bhikkhuni (Sikkamana) having trained in the six
rules for two years, should receive the Higher Ordination, from both Bhikkhus
and Bhikkhunis.
7. A Bhikkhuni should never abuse a Bhikkhu.
8. Bhikkhnis should not give admonition to Bhikkhus, but
Bhikkhus should admonish bhikkhunis.
Bhikkhuni Khema too agreed to follow the above rules and regulations - the set of disciplinary code to the letter
Garudhamma. She was very intelligent. Listening to a single sermon of
the Enlightened One, she attained the Bliss of Arahatship.The red letter day
dawned for Bhikkhuni Khema. It was a wish that she wanted to achieve in her
Sansaric journey, beginning from Buddha Padumuttara period. Accomplishing her
ambition, the Blessed One - Gautama Buddha elevated Khema to the rank of the
First chief disciple of the Order of the Bhikkhunis at a large assembly. She
was conferred the title Wisest bhikkhuni. Khema became one of the 13 great
bhikkhuni's in the Buddhist Order. One day when Khema was meditating seated in
a beautiful, pleasant environment, deity Mara approached her in the guise of a
handsome youth and requested her to enjoy life, as she is very pretty and
charming. Arahant Khema recognised Mara. She explained that life was
impermanent. She told Mara that the body was subject to decay, illness and
death.
Suranda Weediyage
BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,
surandalk@gmail.com
http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com
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