The Story of Venerable Ambakhadaka Mahā Tissa

Let alone a thera of the Venerable Sāriputta’s stature during the lifetime of the Buddha, even little known Mahā Tissa of Ciragumba in Sri Lanka, long after the demise of the Buddha, had strictly observed the disciplinary rules. Once Mahā Tissa, while travelling during a famine, became weary and weak owing to lack of food and tedious journey. So, he lay down at the foot of a mango tree, which was full of fruit. Several mangoes fell everywhere on the ground near him. But he would not think of picking up some to eat in spite of his hunger.

At that time, an old man came near him and, seeing him in the state of exhaustion, prepared some mango juice and offered to him. Then, carrying him on his back, the man took him where he wanted to go. While being carried thus, the Mahā Tissa thought to himself: “This man is not my father, nor my mother, nor any relative of mine. Yet, he carries me on his back; this is only because of the morality I possess.” Reflecting thus he admonished himself to keep his morality and concentration of mind intact without blemishes. He then developed Vipassanā Insight and while still being carried on the back of the man, he attained arahatship through successive stages of the Path.

This Venerable is a noble person whose abstemiousness in food serves as an example for emulation.

While Purification of livelihood (Ajivapārisuddhi-sīla) is to be practised with energy (vīriya), Morality which depends upon the four requisites (Paccaya sannnissita-sīla) should be fulfilled with wisdom (paññā). Since only men of wisdom can discern the advantages and dangers of the four requisites, Paccaya sannissita-sīla is the morality which is fulfilled through wisdom. Therefore, one should make use of the four requisites, which have been obtained lawfully, without craving for them and after reflecting with wisdom in the aforesaid manner.