Deep Commentary

This Dhammapada verse was taught by the Buddha at Vulture Peak Mountain, concerning Bhikkhuni Kisa Gotami. "In the early evening, Sakka, lord of the devas, together with many devas, gathered around the Buddha to listen to the Dhamma. They sat respectfully to one side, listening to the gentle teachings of the Blessed One. At that time, the Venerable Bhikkhuni Kisa Gotami thought: 'I will go and pay respects to the Blessed One.' She flew through the air to where the Buddha was, but seeing Sakka, she turned back. Sakka saw this and asked the Buddha: 'Venerable Sir, who came just now and then left upon seeing you?' The Buddha replied: 'Great King, that was my disciple, Bhikkhuni Kisa Gotami, who is foremost in the ascetic practices (dhutanga).' (Excerpted from Dhammapada Stories, Vol. III, p. 343). During the Buddha's time, ascetic practices were very common. The Buddha himself had endured six years of extreme asceticism. At that time, people believed that without enduring such hardships, one could not attain the desired spiritual fruits. Therefore, all ascetics or brahmins would go into the deep forest to practice austerities. This is called the dhutanga practice. 'Dhuta' is Sanskrit for 'shaken off' or 'purified.' Practitioners of dhutanga observe the following thirteen (or twelve) practices: 1. Living in a secluded forest far from crowds. 2. Going for alms regularly. 3. Going for alms in sequence without discrimination. 4. Eating only one meal a day. 5. Eating moderately, only what fits in the bowl. 6. Not drinking fruit juice after noon. 7. Wearing robes made of discarded rags. 8. Possessing only three robes. 9. Dwelling in cemeteries. 10. Living under a tree. 11. Sitting in the open air. 12. Always sitting, never lying down. In the verse above, the Buddha says that a person who practices austerities—wearing rag robes (discarded cloth collected from charnel grounds, washed and sewn into robes), being so thin that veins show, and meditating in the deep forest—such a one is called a holy man. In the story, answering Sakka's question, the Buddha identified Bhikkhuni Kisa Gotami, who was also known as Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha's foster mother. After Queen Mahamaya passed away, she succeeded her sister in raising the Buddha. She asked the Buddha for permission to ordain several times, but the Buddha did not consent. Grieving, she wept and asked Ananda to intercede on her behalf. Finally, the Buddha allowed her wish. After ordaining as a bhikkhuni, she became the leader of the nuns' community. The Buddha declared her the foremost among nuns in practicing dhutanga. Among monks, Venerable Mahakassapa was foremost in dhutanga practice."