“The Three Sisters of Liberation”

In ancient India, during the time of the Buddha, three women from different walks of life would eventually find their paths converging under the Dharma. Their verses in the Therigatha tell their extraordinary journeys.

First was Patacara, born to a wealthy merchant family. Her life seemed perfect until tragedy struck – she lost her husband, two children, and parents in a series of devastating events. Mad with grief, she wandered the streets until she met the Buddha. In her verses, she describes her transformation:

“Having taken a pin,
I pulled out the wick:
The liberation of my mind
Was like the quenching of the lamp.”
(Thig 5.10)

Through her practice, she became not only an arahant but also a great teacher to many other women.

Then there was Kisagotami, known for her heart-wrenching search for a mustard seed to revive her dead child. The Buddha’s compassionate teaching led her to understand the universal nature of death and suffering. She later composed:

“The Buddha taught me the Dhamma
For the attaining of nibbana.
I learned what he said
And dwelt delighting in his teaching.”
(Thig 10.1)

The third was Ambapali, the beautiful courtesan of Vesali. Despite her wealth and fame, she found them empty. In perhaps the most striking verses about impermanence, she describes her aging body:

“My hair was black, the color of bees
Now through old age it’s like hemp
The truth of the Truth-speaker’s words
Doesn’t change.”
(Thig 252)

These three women, despite their different backgrounds – a noblewoman, a grieving mother, and a courtesan – all found their way to liberation. In their verses, we find recurring themes: the breaking of jewelry symbolizing the abandonment of worldly attachments, the cooling of passion’s fires, and the joy of freedom.

They often used nature imagery in their poetry. Patacara compared her mind to a quenched lamp, Kisagotami spoke of mountain peaks and forests, and Ambapali described the changing seasons of life.

Their stories challenged the patriarchal structures of their time. Each woman proved that gender was no barrier to enlightenment. As another theri, Soma, would famously respond to Mara’s taunts:

“What does womanhood matter at all
When the mind is concentrated well?”
(SN 5.2)

These verses remain powerful testimonies to women’s spiritual capabilities and the transformative power of the Dharma. They remind us that the path to liberation is open to all, regardless of gender, background, or past circumstances.

The Therigatha stands as the first collection of women’s spiritual poetry in recorded history, a testament to these remarkable women who found their voice and their freedom in the Buddha’s teachings.

Note: Please verify the exact quotes as translations may vary.

*Researched and written with the help of AI