Night on Vulture Peak

Night descended upon Vulture Peak, bringing a profound and unusual stillness. The mountain breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of wild grass and the damp earth after a day of sun. From afar, large circles of light, wide enough for two or three people to embrace, drifted down one by one. They emitted a soft yet warm glow that illuminated a corner of the sky. This was the radiant aura of the devas, celestial beings from higher realms gathering to listen to the Buddha’s dharma talk.

On a large stone midway up the slope, the Buddha sat in serene darkness. Yet his entire body emanated a unique light, unmistakable and pure. His disciples had long since returned to the monastery, leaving him alone with the vast emptiness filled with listening devas.

At that time, in the Bamboo Grove Monastery at the foot of the mountain, a bhikkhuni stood in yellow robes, gazing silently toward the peak. This was Khema, once the queen of King Bimbisara, now ordained and having attained the fruit of Arhatship. She wished to visit the Buddha, but as she flew near the mountain, she paused. Before her lay a scene of immense solemnity: devas from all heavenly realms had gathered densely, their brilliant auras covering the void. They were attentively listening to the Buddha teach.

Khema smiled softly. She thought, “I have already attained enlightenment; I no longer need to hear much teaching. But the devas are different. They come here out of a deep longing for liberation. I should not intrude; let me yield this time to them.” With this thought, she bowed in reverence to the Buddha from afar, then gently flew back to the monastery without a word of complaint or a trace of regret.

Meanwhile, Sakka, the king of the devas, sitting among the celestial assembly, noticed a bhikkhuni arrive and then depart. Curious, he clasped his hands together and asked the Buddha, “World-Honored One, who was the bhikkhuni who just arrived and left? Why did she not stay to listen to the Dharma?”

The Buddha watched her figure fade into the night, then spoke in a deep, warm voice. “One of profound wisdom, skilled in distinguishing the path from non-path, having attained the supreme fruit – I call such a person a Brahmin, a noble one.”

Sakka was surprised and asked further, “Who is this person that you praise so highly?”

The Buddha replied, “It is Bhikkhuni Khema, an outstanding disciple of mine. She was once Queen Bimbisara’s consort, but upon hearing my teachings just once, she attained the fruit of Arhatship.”

Sakka exclaimed in even greater astonishment, “To attain Arhatship after hearing the Dharma only once? Truly, this is boundless merit!”

The Buddha nodded. “Indeed. She possesses not only deep wisdom but also the skill to clearly discern what is the path and what is not. Today, seeing the devas listening to the Dharma, she withdrew to make room for you. This is the action of a wise person, adapting to conditions without disturbing others.”

Hearing this, all the devas clasped their hands and bowed, their hearts filled with admiration. From then on, the reputation of Bhikkhuni Khema spread widely, shining as a model of wisdom and humility.

As for Khema, she returned to the monastery with a peaceful heart. She felt no regret for missing a session of teaching, for she understood that once one has attained enlightenment, there is nothing to add and nothing to subtract. Her yielding was not born of fear or lack of respect, but was an expression of wisdom that clearly saw the capacities of sentient beings. Thereafter, she lived quietly, rarely appearing, but when necessary, she used her supernatural powers to guide those with karmic connections.

Her story has been passed down through the ages as a lesson in the subtlety of distinguishing right view from wrong view, and in the compassion that knows how to step aside so others may hear the Dharma.

The Meaning of the Story

The lesson that Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang wishes to convey through the story of Bhikkhuni Khema is this: A wise person does not merely understand the teachings deeply, but also knows when to speak, when to remain silent, when to advance, and when to retreat. Yielding at the right moment, for the benefit of sentient beings, is a true manifestation of wisdom and compassion. At the same time, the story reminds us that outward appearance and actions do not fully reveal the inner mind. Only an enlightened being can clearly see the path and non-path in every small detail.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang