The Story of Tissa

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (249) and (250) of this book, with reference to Tissa, a young bhikkhu.

Tissa, a young bhikkhu, had a very bad habit of disparaging other people's charities and good deeds. He even criticized the charities given by such renowned donors like Anathapindika and Visakha. Besides, he boasted that his relatives were very rich and were like a well where anyone could come for water. Hearing him boast thus, other bhikkhus were very sceptical; so they decided to find out the truth.

Some young bhikkhus went to the village from where he came and made enquiries. They found out that Tissa's relatives were all poor and that all this time Tissa had only been making a vain boast. When the Buddha was told about this, he said, "Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who is displeased with others receiving gifts and offerings can never attain Magga and Phala."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 249: People give according to their faith and their devotion; one who is displeased with others receiving food and drink cannot attain concentration (samadhi) by day or by night.

Verse 250: He who has this feeling of displeasure cut off, uprooted and removed, will surely attain concentration (samadhi) by day or by night.