Sunday 24 July 2011

The Story of Tissa, the Thera with a Stinking Body (Dhammapada 3 : 41)

III. Citta Vagga – The Mind

Verse 41:
Before long, alas, this body,
deprived of consciousness,
will lie on the earth,
discarded like a useless log.

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While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (41) of this book, with reference to Thera Tissa.
 
On one occasion the Buddha was delivering a sermon to an assembly of bhikkhus/monks, bhikkhunis (nuns), upasakas and upasikas. That day a householder of Savatthi was listening to sermon. He realized that the household life was full of difficulties and that the life of a monk is peaceful. He subsequently entered the Sangha. 
 
While training himself in the spheres of morality, concentration and wisdom, the bhikkhu became ill. There appeared on his body boils that became bigger and bigger until they burst and turned into ugly ulcers. When these sores burst, his upper and lower robes became sticky and stained with pus and blood, and his whole body was stinking. For this reason, he was known as Putigattatissa, Tissa the thera with stinking body.
His bones decayed and gave way. His body was rotting and even his relatives and disciples ceased to look after him.
 
As the Buddha surveyed the universe with the his Dibbacakkhu (divine eyes), the thera appeared in his vision. He saw the sorrowful state of the thera, who had been abandoned by his resident pupils on account of his stinking body. At the same time, he also knew that Tissa would soon attain arahatship.
 
So, the Buddha proceeded to the fire-shed, close to the place where the thera was staying. There, he boiled some water, and then going, to where the thera was lying down, took hold of the edge of the couch. It was then only that the resident pupils gathered round the thera, and as instructed by the Buddha, they carried the thera to the fire-shed, where he was washed and bathed. While he was being bathed, his upper and lower robes were washed and dried.
 
After the bath, the thera became fresh in body and mind and soon developed one-pointedness of concentration. Standing at the head of the couch, the Buddha said to him that this body when devoid of life would be as useless as a log and would be laid on the earth.
 
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
 
“aciraṃ vat’ ayaṃ kāyo paṭhaviṃ adhisessati
chuddho apetaviññāṇo niratthaṃ va kaliṅgaraṃ”
 
Before long, alas, this body,
deprived of consciousness,
will lie on the earth,
discarded like a useless log.
 
At the end of the discourse Thera Tissa attained arahatship together with Analytical Insight, and soon passed away. The Buddha attended to the obsequies of the thera, and got a stupa erected to enshrine his ashes.
 
When the monks questioned the Buddha as to the next birth of the thera. He answered that he would no more be born, and that he passed away after becoming an arahat.
 
The Buddha, answering the query, -what past kamma has been responsible for Putigatta-Tissa thera's body to have been so afflicted with oozing ulcers in that manner, if he had the fortune to pass away after attaining arhatship, said thus:
 
"Monks, this is the result of the past kamma committed by him "

"During the time of Buddha Kassapa, Putigatta-Tissa thera was born as a fowler. He caught many birds and sold them to the wealthy. He broke the wings of the birds that remained unsold in order to prevent them from escaping. He also broke their bones, and put them aside for selling them later, and when the catch was excessive he cooked some of them for his meals too. This was his past mis-deed."
 
"One day, when he had prepared a savoury meal containing a birds' curry, an arahat came on his begging round and stood at his door. The fowler was pleased at the sight of the arahat. He reflected, 'I have tasted much birds' flesh in the past. In the house there is a cooked curry of these birds' flesh now, and a monk has arrived at my door begging for alms.' He then went up to the arahat, took his begging bowl from him, went inside his house, filled the bowl with savoury food and birds' curry, and returned the begging bowl to the arahat, wishing as he offered it, "venerable sir, may I be blessed with enjoying the taste of the dharma you have been fortunate enough to taste. May I also realize nibbana as a result."
 
"The arahat thera said 'may your wish be fulfilled’, delivered a short sermon of thanksgiving, and departed."
 
"Monks, as a result of this good deed, Putigatta-Tissa thera passed into nibbana after attaining arahathood."

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