15.7 The Story about the Elder Tissa

Dhp 205

Compare: Dhp-a 12.10; Dhp-a 25.4

Burlingame: By Righteousness Men Honor the Buddha

When Elder Tissa heard the Buddha declare his intention to finally pass away in four months time, rather than attend on the Buddha, he went to the forest to practice the teaching; the Buddha lauded him and said this is how one truly honours him, and spoke a verse.

Keywords: Grief, Heedfulness, Solitude, Practising

“Savouring the taste of solitude,” {3.267} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Vesālī with reference to a certain bhikkhu.

For when the Teacher said: “Bhikkhus, four months hence I shall pass into Parinibbāna,” seven hundred bhikkhus of his retinue were overwhelmed with shock, the Arahats experienced spiritual urgency, while those who were unattained were unable to restrain their tears. {3.268} The bhikkhus gathered in little groups and went about consulting each other and asking: “What are we to do?”

Now a certain bhikkhu named Elder Tissa thought to himself: “If it be true that at the expiration of four months the Teacher will pass into Parinibbāna, inasmuch as I am not yet free from passion, it is necessary for me to win Arahatship while the Teacher yet remains alive.” Accordingly he adopted the four postures and kept residence by himself, never associating with the other bhikkhus and never talking or conversing with any one. The bhikkhus said to him: “Friend Tissa, why do you act in this manner?” Tissa, however, paid no attention to what they said.

The bhikkhus therefore reported the matter to the Teacher, saying: “Venerable Sir, Elder Tissa has no affection for you.” The Teacher caused Tissa to be summoned and asked him: “Tissa, why do you act in this manner?” When Tissa told the motive that actuated him, the Teacher applauded his conduct, saying: “Well done, Tissa.”

Then said the Teacher to the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, he only that is like Tissa has real affection for me. For though men honor me with perfumes and garlands, they honor me not. But they that practice in accordance with the Dhamma, they alone truly honor me.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse: [30.79]

205. Pavivekarasaṁ pitvā, rasaṁ upasamassa ca,
niddaro hoti nippāpo, Dhammapītirasaṁ pivaṁ.

Savouring the taste of solitude,
and savouring the taste of peace,
he is fearless, faultless, savouring
the joyful taste of the Dhamma.

At the end of the teaching the Elder Tissa reached Arahatship, and many people had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.