Psalms of the Sisters: Verses of Early Buddhist Nuns

What does it mean to hear the voices of women who walked the path of awakening over 2,000 years ago—to encounter the verses of early Buddhist nuns who achieved liberation and left their testimonies in poetry? Psalms of the Sisters: Verses of Early Buddhist Nuns is a translation of the Therigatha, one of the oldest collections of women's spiritual poetry in the world, preserving the words of Buddhist nuns (theris) who attained enlightenment in the Buddha's time. This is not abstract philosophy but lived testimony, by women who speak directly of their struggles, triumphs, and spiritual insights on the path to freedom from suffering.

Through these Buddhist nuns' poems, themes of liberation, resilience, and inner wisdom come alive: women who left behind lives of luxury or hardship to seek awakening, who overcame doubt and social constraints, who practiced meditation and realized the truth of impermanence and non-self. Their verses reveal the transformative power of practice, the freedom that comes from letting go, and the joy of liberation. Translated by Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids, a pioneering scholar who brought these ancient women's voices to Western audiences, this collection offers a profound glimpse into women in Buddhism and the enduring strength of their spiritual achievements.

For readers seeking contemplative wisdom and the voices of women in Buddhist history, Psalms of the Sisters serves as both sacred poetry and historical testament. This is a book for students of Buddhism seeking women's perspectives, for readers interested in the Therigatha and early Buddhist texts, for those drawn to spiritual poetry and women's voices, for practitioners seeking inspiration from enlightened women. It's a reminder that women have always walked the path to awakening, that their voices deserve to be heard across millennia, and that true liberation transcends gender, time, and circumstance.

What You'll Discover

• Translation of the Therigatha: verses of early Buddhist nuns who attained enlightenment
• Spiritual poetry on liberation, resilience, and the path to awakening
• Women's voices from the Buddha's time speaking of freedom from suffering
• Translated by Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids, pioneering Buddhist scholar
• 254 pages of ancient wisdom from enlightened women

The Therigatha ("Verses of the Elder Nuns") is part of the Pali Canon, the earliest Buddhist scriptures, and contains the spiritual poetry of 73 Buddhist nuns who lived during and shortly after the Buddha's lifetime. These women came from all walks of life—former courtesans, princesses, mothers who lost children, women who faced hardship and discrimination—yet all found liberation through the Buddha's teachings. Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids (1857–1942) was a pioneering British scholar of Pali and Buddhism who translated numerous Buddhist texts and championed the recognition of women's contributions to early Buddhism.

Perfect for: Students of Buddhism seeking women's perspectives and voices, readers interested in the Therigatha and early Buddhist texts, those drawn to spiritual poetry and women's spiritual achievements, practitioners seeking inspiration from enlightened women, anyone interested in women in Buddhism and Buddhist history, students of the Pali Canon and early Buddhist literature, readers who loved the Dhammapada or other Buddhist poetry, those exploring liberation and awakening through women's eyes, anyone ready to hear the ancient voices of Buddhist nuns who achieved freedom.

Paperback edition | 254 pages. Translation of the Therigatha—verses of early Buddhist nuns on liberation, resilience, and awakening. Translated by Caroline A. F. Rhys Davids.