Great Tragedy | Patacara Theri | Animated Buddhist Stories

Summary

Patacara, a once-privileged daughter of a wealthy merchant, faces immense personal tragedy after defying her family's wishes to elope with a servant. Through a series of devastating events, she loses her husband, two sons, and her family in a storm and river crossing. Driven to madness, Patacara eventually finds solace in the teachings of the Buddha. She learns the impermanence of life, releases her attachments, and attains spiritual enlightenment. The story underscores the inevitability of suffering and the path to liberation through mindfulness and detachment.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Patacara was the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who lived a life of comfort and privilege.
• 🏰 Despite being locked in a tower by her parents, Patacara fell in love with one of their servants and ran away with him to elope.
• 👶 After facing hardships and housework, Patacara gave birth to two sons but faced tragedy while traveling to her parents' home.
• 🌧️ During a storm, her husband was killed by a snake, leaving her to give birth alone and face more misfortune.
• 🦅 A bird snatched her newborn, and her older son was swept away by a river's current, leaving Patacara devastated.
• 🔥 Upon reaching her home city, Patacara learned that her parents and brother had died in a storm, pushing her into madness.
• 🧘‍♀️ The Buddha helped Patacara regain her mindfulness and explained the cycle of suffering and loss through rebirth.
• 🌊 Patacara realized the impermanence of all things and, by contemplating her suffering, became a Sotapanna (stream-enterer).
• 💡 Patacara's deep contemplation led her to understand the transient nature of life, eventually attaining the state of Arahant.
• 📿 The moral of the story highlights the futility of attachment, as all things in life are impermanent and lead to suffering.

Q & A

Who is Patacara and what was her initial social status?

Patacara was the beautiful daughter of a rich merchant in Savatthi. She lived a comfortable life with servants attending to her every need.

Why did Patacara's parents lock her in a tower?

Patacara's parents locked her in a tower when she was sixteen to keep her away from the young men who were pursuing her.

How did Patacara's life change after she fell in love with a servant?

Despite being locked in a tower, Patacara fell in love with one of her parents' servants and started an affair with him.

What drastic action did Patacara take upon learning about her arranged marriage?

Upon learning about her arranged marriage, Patacara ran away with her lover to a distant village to elope.

What was Patacara's life like after she eloped with her lover?

After eloping, Patacara's life changed drastically as she had to do all the housework and chores that her parents' servants used to do for her.

Why did Patacara want to return to her parents' house when she became pregnant?

Patacara wanted to follow the tradition of giving birth in her parents' house and hoped they might forgive her for her past actions.

What was the outcome of Patacara's second pregnancy and her attempt to return to her parents' house?

During her second pregnancy, Patacara's husband refused to take her to her parents' house. She went into labor during a storm, and her husband was bitten by a venomous snake and died.

How did Patacara's children meet their tragic ends?

Patacara's first son was taken by a large bird while she was crossing a river, and her second son was swept away by the river's current when he thought she was calling for him.

What devastating news did Patacara receive about her family when she reached the edge of Savatthi?

Patacara learned that her parents' house had collapsed during a storm, killing her parents, brother, and they had all been cremated.

How did Patacara's mental state deteriorate after the series of tragedies?

After losing her husband, sons, and learning of her family's death, Patacara lost her sanity, ripped off her clothes, pulled out her hair, and wandered the city weeping and talking to herself.

What was the turning point for Patacara in her spiritual journey?

The turning point was when the Buddha allowed her to approach him despite her state of madness, and he told her to regain her mind, which she did.

How did Patacara achieve liberation after joining the Bhikkhuni order?

Patacara became an Arahant, a fully liberated one, after contemplating the impermanence of life using the metaphor of water flowing and sinking into the ground while rinsing her feet.