26.21 The Story about the Elder Pabbhāravāsī Tissa
Pabbhāravāsitissattheravatthu

“Whoever does not mix with the householders,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Pabbhāravāsī Tissa Thera (Tissa Who Dwelt in a Mountain Cave).

It seems that this elder received a subject of meditation from the Teacher, {4.170} went forth to the forest, and as he was looking about for a suitable lodging, came upon a certain rock cave. The moment he reached the cave, his thoughts became tranquil. He thought to himself: “If I take up my residence here, I shall be able to bring to a successful termination the duties which I have taken upon myself as a bhikkhu.”

Now the Devatā who resided in that rock cave thought to herself: “Hither has come a virtuous bhikkhu, and it will be difficult to [30.293] remain in one and the same place with him. But he will probably remain here for one night only and will then depart.” Accordingly she took her children with her and departed from the cave.

On the following day, early in the morning, the elder entered the village which was his place of resort, and went about on his rounds for alms. A certain female lay disciple saw him, and taking a liking to him, provided a seat for him in her house, gave him food, and asked him to permit her to supply him with the requisites for residence during the three months of the rainy season. The elder thought to himself: “Through this woman I can effect escape from existence,” and graciously consented. Then he returned to that same rock cave.

When the Devatā saw him approaching, she thought to herself: “Without a doubt someone must have invited him, and he will depart tomorrow or the day after.” Thus a half-month passed, and she thought to herself: “It is undoubtedly the intention of this elder to remain right here during the entire season of the rains. But it will be a difficult matter for me to dwell here with my children in the same place with a virtuous bhikkhu, and it is out of the question for me to say to him: ‘Depart hence.’ Is there perhaps some flaw in his virtue?” Therefore the Devatā surveyed by the power of the divine eye the whole course of the bhikkhu’s life, from the day he stood within the enclosure and took higher ordination. But detecting no flaw in his virtue, she said to herself: “His virtue is pure and spotless; however, I shall contrive to say something and so cast reproach upon him.”

Accordingly the Devatā went to the house of the female lay disciple who supported the elder, took possession of the body of her youngest son, and wrung his neck. Forthwith his eyes bulged out and he frothed at the mouth. When the female lay disciple saw what had happened, she screamed and said: “What does this mean?” Then the Devatā, {4.171} whose form was invisible, spoke thus to her: “I have seized your son, but do not demand him as an offering. But you must ask the elder who resorts to your house for some licorice, and mixing this with oil, you must boil it and apply it to the nose of your son; under this condition I will release him.”

Said the female lay disciple: “Let my son perish or die; I shall never be able to ask my noble master for licorice.” Said the Devatā: “If you cannot bring yourself to ask for licorice, tell the elder to put some resin powder up the child’s nose.” – “I cannot do this, either.” – “Well then, sprinkle on the head of your son some of the [30.294] water with which you have bathed the feet of the elder.” – “This I can do,” replied the female lay disciple.

So when the elder came at the usual time, she provided him with a seat, gave him rice-gruel and hard food, and as he sat eating his meal, bathed his feet. Having so done, she took the water and asked the elder: “Venerable Sir, I wish to sprinkle this water on the head of the boy.” – “Well then, sprinkle it,” said the elder. Accordingly she did so.

Instantly the Devatā released the boy and took her stand at the entrance to the rock cave. When the elder had finished his meal, he rose from his seat, and not abandoning his subject of meditation, departed from the house repeating to himself the 32-fold nature. When the elder reached the entrance to the rock cave, the Devatā said to him: “Great physician, great physician, do not enter here.” The elder stopped right there and said: “Who are you?” {4.172} – “I am the Devatā residing here.”

The elder thought to himself: “Has there ever been an occasion when I have performed the work of a physician?” He surveyed the whole course of his life from the day when he stood within the enclosure and took higher ordination, and perceiving not so much as a freckle or a black speck on his virtue, said to the Devatā: “I see no occasion when I have performed the work of a physician; why do you speak thus?”

Said the Devatā: “You see no occasion?” Said the elder: “Precisely so; I see no occasion.” – “I will inform you.” – “Yes, pray inform me.” – “Stand afar off for the moment. Was, or was there not, on this very day water with which your feet were bathed sprinkled on the head of the son of a female lay disciple who is your supporter, when he was seized by an Amanussa?” – “Yes, it was sprinkled.” – “Do you not see this?” – “Is this what you are talking about?” – “Yes, this is what I am talking about.”

The elder thought to himself: “The self within me is indeed endowed with right resolve! My conduct is indeed in accordance with the precepts of the teaching which I have received! Even this Devatā could not see so much as a freckle or a black speck on my virtue, which I have preserved in accordance with the four precepts of purity, and saw only the fact that water with which my feet were bathed was sprinkled on the head of a boy.” And as he thought upon the perfection of his virtue, intense joy sprang up within him. Suppressing this emotion, without lifting a foot from the ground, he then and there [30.295] attained Arahatship. And admonishing the Devatā, he said: “Since you have foully assailed a bhikkhu like me whose virtue is pure and spotless, no longer remain here in this place of residence; depart hence.” So saying, he breathed forth the following exalted utterance: {4.173}

Surely my life is purified,
I am a stainless ascetic,
do not defame my purity,
you must depart from this forest.

The elder continued to reside there during the remainder of the rainy season and then returned to the Teacher. The bhikkhus asked him: “Friend, have you brought to a successful termination the duties which you took upon yourself as a bhikkhu?” Then the elder told the bhikkhus the whole story of his experiences, beginning at the day when he entered upon residence. “Friend,” said the bhikkhus, “when the Devatā spoke thus to you, were you not angry?” – “No, I was not angry.”

The bhikkhus said to the Realised One: “Venerable Sir, this bhikkhu utters a falsehood. He says that even when the Devatā said this and that to him, he did not get angry.”

The Teacher listened to what they had to say, and then replied: “No, bhikkhus, my son does not become angry. He holds converse neither with laymen nor with bhikkhus; he lives a life apart, desires but little, and is contented.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

404. Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ,
anokasāriṁ appicchaṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Whoever does not mix with
the householders or the houseless,
wand’ring homeless, with few desires,
that one I say is a Brahmin. {4.174}

At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.

last updated: August 2024