Therīgāthā 41

Verses of the Senior Nuns 5.4

The Book of the Fives

Sundarīnandā

1 “Nandā, see this bag of bones as

diseased, filthy, and rotten.

With mind unified and serene,

meditate on the ugly aspects of the body:

2 as this is, so is that,

as that is, so is this.

A foul stink wafts from it,

it is the fools’ delight.”

3 Reflecting in such a way,

tireless all day and night,

having broken through

with my own wisdom, I saw.

4 Being diligent,

rationally investigating,

I truly saw this body

both inside and out.

5 Then, growing disillusioned with the body,

I became dispassionate within.

Diligent, detached,

I’m quenched and at peace.