lost in despair, grief, or even madness. This uncompromising com-
mitment to diversity is a powerful message in itself.
Many of the wise nuns featured in this collection of poems
recount their disappointments and hardships; several speak of their
wild minds: “no peace in my heart, no control over my mind.” Some
became nuns in reaction to intensely unhappy marriages. Still others
were devastated by grief following the loss of a child, driven com-
pletely mad by their anguish. Some practiced for many years before
letting go of their suffering, a theme that still resonates for practitio-
ners today.
The stories of these female disciples are personal, vivid, and down
to earth, and their delight in liberation is palpable. With the variety
of the testimonials of ultimate freedom found in these poems, this
text can inspire, guide, and liberate practitioners regardless of their
sex, gender, culture, situation, background, or challenges. The mes-
sage for those who hear these voices is that we too, in this very life,
have the potential to become free and to rest in the unsurpassed
safety of liberation.
For these early female arahants, the goal is reflected in the path,
for the path toward complete release already embodies qualities of
freedom. Just as the poems of the Therigatha give the listener a taste
of nibbana, so too for practitioners today: our small steps toward
letting go of greed, hate, and delusion give us a real taste of freedom.MEG GAWLER leads retreats in Europe and the US in the Theravada tradition, both in
French and English, and holds a master’s degree in Buddhist Studies. She is currently
living in France.24 BUDDHADHARMA: THE PRACTITIONER'S QUARTERLY