02 Ven. Khemā

Aspiring to be foremost in wisdom under Buddha Padumuttara, she was reborn as Princess Samaṇī in Buddha Kassapa’s time, she remained chaste, memorized the Mahā-nidāna-sutta, and was later reborn as Queen Khemā. Fearful the Buddha would criticize her beauty, she avoided him until King Bimbisāra’s plan lured her to his monastery. The Buddha used his powers to age a beautiful maiden before her, sparking spiritual urgency. He then taught the very discourse she had memorized in a past life, leading her to Stream-entry. She renounced her queenship, became a nun, and through meditating on a lamp’s flame, she attained full Awakening. Later, she famously taught King Pasenadi that the Buddha does not answer questions about a sentient being after death because he has eradicated all clinging to the aggregates that define such a concept.