The Life Stories of the Nuns – 2128
woman? Or has someone tried to cause some misunderstanding between us? Or
has he seen some fault in me?” These wild unfounded speculations gnawed at
her innocent heart. After two or three days she could not bear it any further, so
silently and standing by his side meekly, her joined palms raised in salutation to
her husband, she waited to learn how he would respond. Then he said:
“Why do you come near me at this untimely hour?”
“Untimely, yes, my lord, but you have changed now. What’s the matter with you?
Is there another woman beside me?”
“No, Dhammadinnā, there is none.”
“Then, has someone put a wedge between us?”
“No, there is nothing of the sort.”
“In that case, do you see any fault in me?”
“No, Dhammadinnā, you have no fault whatever.”
“If so, why do you stay aloof from me as though we were total strangers and not
husband and wife? You have not spoken to me much these few days.”
When confronted thus by his wife, Visākhā pondered: “The supermundane
Dhamma is a profound thing, not easy to explain like mundane matters. If
possible, it is better kept to oneself. But now, if I did not talk about it
Dhammadinnā would certainly take it amiss and will be broken hearted.”
Thinking in this way, Visākhā said to her: “Dhammadinnā, after I listened to the
Buddha’s discourses, I have comprehended the supermundane Dhamma. One
who comprehends the supermundane finds mundane affairs incompatible with
him. If you would agree, there are 400 million worth of treasures that your
parents have endowed us with, and another 400 million worth of treasures that
my parents have endowed us with, these 800 million worth of treasures, I would
bequeath to you as sole owner, just be as a mother or an elder sister to me. I shall
be content with whatever manner you might look after me. Or, if you so choose,
you may take all this wealth with you and go back to your parents’ house. If you
have no other man to give your heart to, I shall look after you as my younger
sister or as my daughter.”