Chapter 44
the Buddha's discourse and gained
sakadÈgÈmÊ-phala
(a Once Returner) and then on a later
day
anÈgÈmÊ-phala
(a Never-Returner). Once he became a Never-Returner, his outlook and
behaviour changed visibly. For whereas he would go home with expectancy to see his wife,
his face full of smiles, he was now looking staid, his mien composed and mind tranquil.
His wife DhammadinnÈ was, as usual, looking through the window with a long motif
carved at the sill, awaiting his return. When she saw the sedate attitude of her husband
treading home, it struck her as strange. ‚What has gone wrong?‛ she thought. She went
down the stair and stretched out her hand to him at the landing. Although it was his custom
to take hold of his wife's welcoming hand and go up the stairs (speaking amiably together),
on that day, he withdrew his hand instead of holding hers. ‚Perhaps I shall find out about
this at the table,‛ she thought to herself. But at the morning meal, he did not sit at table
together with his wife as usual, but took his meal alone in silence, like an elderly
bhikkhu
engaged in meditation. ‚Perhaps I shall find out about this in the evening,‛ she thought to
herself.
But when evening came, VisÈkhÈ did not go into their inner chamber, instead, he had a
separate room prepared for him with a wooden cot on which he slept alone. His wife now
started worrying. ‚Is my husband in love with another woman? Or has someone tried to
cause 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 silently and standing by his side meekly, her joined palms raised in
salutation to her husband, she awaited 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, DhammadinnÈ, there is none.‛
‚Then, has someone put in a wedge between us?‛
‚No, there is none of the sort.‛
‚In that case, do you see any fault in me?‛
‚No, DhammadinnÈ, 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 talked to me much these few days.‛
When confronted thus by his wife, VisÈkhÈ pondered: ‚Supramundane Dhamma is a
profound thing, not easy to explain like mundane matters. If possible, it had better be kept
to oneself. But now, if I did not talk about it DhammadinnÈ would certainly take it amiss
and be broken hearted."
Thus thinking to himself, VisÈkhÈ said to her:
‚
DhammadinnÈ, after I have listened to the Buddha's discourses, I have comprehended
the Supramundane Dhamma. One who comprehends the Supramundane finds mundane
affairs incompatible with him. If you would agree, there are forty crore worth of treasures
that your parents have endowed to us, and another forty crore worth of treasures that my
parents have endowed to us, these eighty crore worth of treasures, I would bequeath to you
as sole owner, and treat me just as a mother or an elder sister. I shall be content with
whatever manner you might look after me. Or, if you so choose, you may take all those
wealth with you and go back to your parents' house. If you have no other man to give your
heart, I shall look after you as my younger sister or as my daughter."
On hearing these momentous and frank words from her husband, DhammadinnÈ was
deeply satisfied. She thought to herself: ‚It is no ordinary man to say such things. My
husband surely must have comprehended the Supramundane Dhamma. But is the
Supramundane solely for men? Is it possible for a woman to understand it?‛ Pondering
thus, she said to her husband: ‚My lord, is the Supramundane Dhamma solely for men? Are
women also capable of knowing it?‛