Born in a low caste,Poor was I; had only scanty meals,
A low livelihood was mine-
A disposer of faded flowers.
. . .
Despised, abused and flayed,
By people,
And so humbled,
I bend down on my knees,
In deference to them.
. . .
Behold my fortune!
I saw the Buddha,
With his train of bhikkus,
Entering the capital city
of Magadha.
. . .
Laying aside my carrying-pole,
I went up to him,
To pay my obeisance,
And he, the Lord of men,
Paused upon his way,
In compassion just for me.
. . .
Worshipping His feet,
And standing apart,
I begged His leave
To enter the Order.
. . .
Then the Master,
The most kind and compassionate,
Called me, "Come bhikku!"
Thus was ordination given to me.
. . .
So I dwelled in the forest,
Alone,
And followed the Master's advice,
With diligence.
. . .
In the first watch of the night,
I became conscious of my past births;
In the middle watch
Clarified was my divine eye.
In the last watch of the night,
Just as the day dawned,
I broke asunder the gloom of ignorance.
. . .
Then came the Indra and Brahma,
With folded hands,
They paid reverence to me;
Hail unto thee thou noblest of men!
Hail unto thee thou highest of men!
Deserving of reverence are you,
For all your desires have perished.
. . .
The Master
Seen me revered by the gods
Smiled and said thus:
"One becomes holy
By discipline, celibacy, virtue
And wisdom. Here is holiness supreme!
-Thera Sunita
