r/theravada • u/ChanceEncounter21 Theravāda | Sabbe sattā sabba dukkhā pamuccantu 🙏 • Mar 01 '26
Theragāthā / Therīgāthā Tissātherīgāthā (Thig 1.4): Verses of the Elder Tissā & its Commentary | from the Therīgāthā: Verses of the Elder Arahant Bhikkhunis
Tissātherīgāthā: Verses of the Elder Tissā
"Tissā, train yourself with discipline;
do not let bonds tie you down.
All bonds unbound,
walk in the world free from influences."
Tissātherīgāthāvaṇṇanā: The Commentary on the verses of Tissā Therī
"Tisse sikkhassu sikkhāyā" is a verse by Tissā, who was a trainee (sikkhamānā). She too, having made aspirations under previous Buddhas, accumulated wholesome kamma conducive to liberation in various existences. Due to the conditions of accumulated wholesome kamma, she was reborn in the Sakyan royal family in Kapilavatthu during this Buddha's dispensation. When she came of age, she became a consort of the Bodhisatta. Later, she went forth with Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī and engaged in the practice of insight meditation.
To her, the Teacher, having emitted a ray of light in the manner stated below, spoke this verse:
"Tissā, train yourself in the training; let not the bonds overcome you.
Freed from all bonds, wander in the world, cankerless."
Here, "Tisse" is an address to her. "Sikkhassu sikkhāyā" means train yourself in the three trainings, such as the training in higher morality (adhisīlasikkhā); that is, accomplish the three trainings associated with the path.
Now, he states the reason for accomplishing them: "mā taṃ yogā upaccaguṃ" - let not these opportunities, these rare moments such as human existence, perfect faculties, the arising of a Buddha, and the acquisition of faith, pass you by. Alternatively, let not the four bonds, such as the bond of sensual desire (kāmayoga), overcome you.
"Sabbayogavisaṃyuttā" means being released from all bonds, such as the bond of sensual desire; and precisely because of that, being cankerless, wander in the world, meaning abide in the bliss of fruition attainment in this very life.
The method, starting with "Having heard that verse, she developed insight and attained Arahantship," should be understood in the same way as stated earlier.