The Superiority of Dhamma over Worldly Existence : หน้า 69/141

33. You were fed by me the milk that could relieve thirst (only) momentarily; But I was fed by you the dhamma-milk that is perpetually peaceful. In this passage, a comparison is made between worldly motherhood and spiritual paternity, the fostering of the physical body and that of the dhamma-body, the thirst-relieving efficacy of ordinary milk and the milk that is dhamma. In all cases of such a comparison, the superiority of the spiritual side over the worldly side is demonstrated. According to the verses quoted above, some points can be made of verses in particular Verse 31 implies that Gotami was ‘spiritually reborn’ to the noble clan through the realization of truths, initiated with the teaching of the Buddha. Thus, the Buddha is her spiritual father. Such a declaration indicates her state of being a noble disciple, as her declaration of emancipation affirms. The mention of ‘happiness of truths’ implies also that such a realization brings about happiness. In verse 32, she declares that her blameless or pleasurable dhammakāya was brought up by the Buddha. This has a number of implications regarding dhammakāya. First, the term dhammakāya in this passage is used as a substantive ‘dhamma-body.’ Secondly, her mention of ‘my dhammakāya’ (dhamma káyo mama) implies its relation to her spiritual attainment, being her new identity corresponding to her spiritual new birth in the supramundane plane. Once obtained, it is ‘her dhammakāya.’ Thirdly, the statement that her dhammakāya was brought up (sāvaddhita) by the Buddha implies its different levels. It suggests that there can be a number of levels of dhammakāya, and that the dhammakāya can be developed to a higher state up to its final perfection. Fourthly, her dhammakāya is regarded as blameless (aninido, anindivo), or pleasurable (ānandiyo, ānindito). While more information is required in order to further analyze these aspects of dhammakāya precisely, at least some initial implications can be appreciated right away. For example, its quality as being blameless implies its completeness or perfection, and its quality as being pleasurable connotes joy, delight, or happiness. This could be