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sn.21.9 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Tissa

At Savatthi. Then the Venerable Tissa, the Blessed One’s paternal cousin, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side—miserable, sorrowful, with tears streaming down. Then the Blessed One said to him:

“Tissa, why are you sitting there, miserable, sorrowful, with tears streaming down?”

“Because, venerable sir, the bhikkhus have attacked me on all sides with sharp words.”

“That, Tissa, is because you admonish others but cannot bear being admonished yourself. Tissa, this is not proper for you, a clansman who has gone forth out of faith from the household life into homelessness, that you admonish others but cannot accept admonition in turn. This is proper for you, Tissa, a clansman who has gone forth out of faith from the household life into homelessness, that you admonish others and accept admonition in turn.”

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

“Why are you angry? Don’t be angry!
Nonanger is better for you, Tissa.
It is to remove anger, conceit, and scorn,
That the holy life is lived, O Tissa.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh


With Tissa

At Sāvatthī.
Then Venerable Tissa—the Buddha’s cousin on his father’s side—went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. He was miserable and sad, with tears flowing. Then the Buddha said to him:
“Tissa, why are you sitting there so miserable and sad, with tears flowing?”
“Sir, it’s because the mendicants on all sides provoke me with barbed words.”
“That’s because you admonish others, but don’t accept admonition yourself.
As a gentleman who has gone forth in faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to admonish others without accepting admonition yourself.
It’s appropriate for you to
admonish others and accept admonition yourself.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“Why are you angry? Don’t be angry!
It’s better to not be angry, Tissa.
For this spiritual life is lived
in order to remove anger, conceit, and denigration.”