Sagathavagga: Bhikkhunisamyutta

 

1:         This is apparently the nun Sela, who is also featured in #9.

 

Marah’s temptation is typical—enjoy sensual pleasures now—and probably he did not recognize her as an arahant.

 

2:         The old bias that women aren’t wise enough for arahantship is here voiced by Mara, rather than by some monk.

 

As one sees correctly into Dhamma: Soma was an arahant.

 

3:         Kisagotami was the woman whose son had died: the Buddha sent her from house to house seeking a mustard seed from someone who had not known death. Thus Mara is playing on that in his verse.

 

4:         The music of the fivefold ensemble: although the commentary glosses this with the names of various instruments, what’s important is that this is an invitation for a sexual encounter.

 

last verse: the first three padas refer to form realm, formless realm, and third to the eight meditative attainments—all of which would serve to dissolve emphasis on the senses.

 

5:         Interesting that this one deals in supernormal powers, which the fully enlightened are said to possess—but which the Buddha warns against making them seem relatively important.

 

6:         Cala’s verse is a very good description of a basis for dependant origination:

 

For one who is born there is death;

Once born, one encounters sufferings—

Bondage, murder, affliction—

Hence one shouldn’t approve of birth.

 

7:         It should be noted that the Cala women: Cala, Upacala, and Sisupacala—were Sariputta’s three younger sisters.

 

Here is an excellent description of the deva realms and why rebirth is not desirable there. Devas remain in sensual bondage.

 

8:         Here other teachings are “creeds”. Note that this fits in well with the sutra to the Kalamas, when Sisupacala says:

 

Outside here the followers of creeds

Place their confidence in views.

 

9:         This is a fine description of dependant origination.

 

10:       A great description of no-self, non-being. The aggregate of parts we call a ‘chariot’—as the aggregate of parts we call a ‘being’.