Mittākāḷī (THIG5.6)

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.6

The Book of the Fives

Mittākāḷī

Having gone forth in faith

from the lay life to homelessness,

I wandered here and there,

jealous of possessions and honors.

Neglecting the highest goal,

I pursued the lowest.

Under the sway of corruptions,

I never knew the goal of the ascetic life.

I was struck with a sense of urgency

as I was sitting in my hut:

“I’m walking the wrong path,

under the sway of craving.

My life is short,

trampled by old age and sickness.

Before this body breaks apart,

there is no time for me to be careless.”

I examined in line with the truth

the rise and fall of the aggregates.

I stood up with mind liberated,

having fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.