Buddhist Dhammapadha,YAMAKA VAGGA,The Twin Verses,Tissa

Chapter I - YAMAKA VAGGA - The Twin Verses

YAMAKA VAGGA - The Twin Verses

RETALIATION DOES NOT LEAD TO PEACE

Akkocchi mom avadhi mam ajini mam ahasi me
Ye tam upanayhanti veram tesam na sammati.
Akkocchi mam avadhi mam ajini mam ahasi me
Ye tam na upanayhanti veram tesupasammati.

He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me', in those who harbour such thoughts hatred is not appeased.
He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me', in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred is appeased

I:03 The old man who retaliated (Tissa)

Tissa, a cousin of the Buddha, had become a bhikkhu only in his old age. He liked to pose as a senior bhikkhu * and was very pleased when visiting bhikkhus asked his permission to do some service for him. On the other hand, he failed to pay due respect to the senior bhikkhus. Besides, he often quarrelled with the younger bhikkhus. Should anyone rebuke him on account of his behaviour he would go complaining to the Buddha, weeping, very much dissatisfied and very upset. The Buddha who understood the position advised Tissa to change his behaviour and not to harbour thoughts of hatred against anyone for hatred could only be eradicated by not harbouring hatred.

The Buddha said it was not the first time Tissa had been obstinate; he had also been obstinate in a previous life. The Buddha then revealed that in one of his past existences Tissa had been an obstinate ascetic by the name of Devala. As a result of a misunderstanding, he cursed a very holy religious teacher. In spite of the intervention and persuasion of the king to seek the pardon of the religious teacher, Devala refused to do so. Finally, the king had to physically force him to seek the pardon of the religious teacher.

Notes:

An island situated on a higher level cannot be flooded although the surrounding low lying land may be inundated. Such an island becomes a refuge to all. In the same way the wise man who develops insight should make an island of himself by attaining Arahanthood so that he may not be drowned by the four floods of sense-desires (kama), false beliefs (ditthi), craving for existence (bhava) and ignorance (avijja).

We must understand that Cula Panthaka did not attain Arahanthood in a short period. He had prepared himself over many life times. The Buddha helped him to remove his residual impurities and finally release his mind from the defilements created by ignorance.