Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Venerable Tissa, the nephew of the Lord’s father, came to the Lord crying. Then the Lord said to him: “What is wrong, Tissa? Why do you sit beside me sad and dejected and crying so many tears?”
“Lord, it is because all the monks have been mocking and teasing me.”
“Tissa, that is because although you have a sharp tongue, you cannot endure the sharp tongues of others. It is not fitting that you who have given up the household life to go forth into the homeless life should have a sharp tongue and be unable to endure the sharp tongues of others. And if you do have a sharp tongue, you should be able to endure the sharp tongues of others.”
Thus said the Lord, and he added this verse:
Why be angry Tissa? Be not angry.
Meekness is best for you,
To restrain anger, pride and hypocrisy is best.
It is for this that we live the holy life.
